Teak is a tropical hardwood tree species. Teak wood is very water resistant, durable, and resistant to pests, diseases, and rot. Therefore, it is extremely popular for building things like outdoor furniture and boats, which would be exposed to the elements.[1] Because of these great qualities, teak wood is also very expensive. By looking closely at color, grain, scent, and weight, you can make sure the teak you're getting is real and authentic.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Checking Physical Characteristics

  1. 1
    Look for dark golden-brown to yellowish-white wood. The color of teak wood varies depending on what species a tree is and what part of the tree the wood is from. Color ranges from dark golden-brown to yellowish-white.[2] Knowing what type of teak you're looking for is important when examining color.
    • The outer layer of the tree is called sapwood and is yellowish-white in color. This wood has a higher moisture content and is therefore weaker than heartwood.[3]
    • The core of the tree is called heartwood and ranges from golden brown to darker brown.[4] This wood is harder, stronger, more expensive, and generally more desirable than sapwood.
  2. 2
    Ask if the wood is stained. Some teak dealers or stores may stain the wood, therefore masking its true color. Make sure to ask if the wood you're interested in has any stains on it. If it does, you'll need to identify the wood in a different way.
    • Since teak wood gets darker with age, you should also ask about the age of the wood so you can make sure you get the type of wood you want.[5]
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  3. 3
    Look for a straight grain. The grain of true teak wood is generally straight. It will look like straight streaks or lines of a darker color than the rest of the wood.[6] If the wood grain doesn't look straight or at least mostly straight, you'll want to ask some questions.
    • Depending on how the wood was cut, the grain could also be slightly wavy.[7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Smelling and Weighing the Wood

  1. 1
    Identify teak wood by its leather-like smell. Scent is a great indicator of real teak wood. Teak wood has a high amount of natural oils, which helps it resist disease.[8] Pick up the wood and smell it. You should be able to smell the natural oils, which smell like leather.[9]
  2. 2
    Pick up the wood to check for heavy weight. Weight is another way to identify teak wood. If it is real teak wood, it will be very dense and moderately heavy.[10] Pick up the wood and test it. It should be heavier than particle board.
    • If it feels light and porous in your hands, it is probably not teak wood.
  3. 3
    See if the wood matches all of the above characteristics. Create a checklist of factors like color, grain, scent, and weight. That way, you can clearly see how many boxes are checked by the piece of wood you're interested in. True teak wood should check all the boxes.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How much does a cubic foot weigh?
    Shrade Knowlton
    Shrade Knowlton
    Community Answer
    It depends on what kind of wood it is, the dryness and quality of the wood.
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About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 196,653 times.
228 votes - 92%
Co-authors: 6
Updated: December 22, 2020
Views: 196,653
Categories: Wood
Article SummaryX

To identify teak wood, look for wood with a straight grain that looks like lines or streaks of a darker color. You should also ask the seller if the wood is stained, since staining wood masks its true color. If the wood isn't stained, teak will appear dark golden-brown to yellowish-white in color. In addition to checking its physical characteristics, smell the wood for the leather-like scent of real teak wood, which is caused by the high amount of natural oils. For more advice, like how to identify teak wood by its weight, scroll down!

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