Teak

Tectona grandis

Teak is known for its lovely golden brown color, although, when freshly machined, it can sometimes have a variable pattern. Over time, and with exposure to sun and air, the streaks mellow into the signature golden brown appearance for which teak is so prized. Vertical grain teak is highly sought after for boat decking applications because of its consistent appearance, strength, and ease of matching across a wider surface. J. Gibson McIlvain only buys FEQ (First European Quality) teak lumber with consistent color and grain patterns.

FEQ teak lumber is extremely durable and stable.  Teak has a very high naturally occurring silica content from the sandy soil in which it grows, and this silica impregnates the fibers of the wood, making it nearly waterproof. The silica content is much lower in plantation-grown teak; as a result, we at McIlvain only purchase old growth teak sourced from Southeast Asia. Adding to teak’s natural water resistance are the wood’s natural oils, which do double duty as natural insect repellants.

Once milled, Teak holds its shape extremely well, and that stability makes it such an attractive wood for yacht builders, as well as other builders whose materials must perform under harsh conditions and within tight tolerances.

J. Gibson McIlvain is one of the largest suppliers of  old growth FEQ Teak in the country, and we carry a variety of sizes and thicknesses to suit our customers’ needs.  We carry many unusual sizes, including very wide (24″+) and very long (20′+) lumber to specifically serve the boating industry.