• The word "thekku" in the Indian Malayalam language of Southeast Asia refers to a tree that produces a dense, oily wood used for centuries for furniture and building. In the West, it is called "teak." It is indigenous to Southeast Asia and the Philippines, and species also grow in tropical regions of South America. The species grown in Brazil is called "cumaru," and flooring materials made with Brazilian teak are available throughout North America. The wood has an attractive golden to amber color and a high oil content. It is also one of the hardest woods available.
  
  

Durability

• White oak is one of the hardest domestic hardwoods. It has a rating of about 1200 on the Janka scale of hardness. Brazilian teak, on the other hand, has a rating of 3500, which makes it almost indestructible by comparison. Many advantages exist for such a hard floor. It retains its original condition without requiring sanding for as long as you own your house, and it adds to the resale value. Because it is so dense, it insulates better than other materials, and the dense, close grain is easy to keep clean.
  
  

Oil Content

• Teak is an especially oily wood, especially if it comes from old-growth trees. The oil doesn't allow water to permeate, which gives the wood a natural resistance to stains. You don't have to finish Brazilian teak with polyurethane or varnish, and, in fact, these materials may not even adhere to the oily surface. Instead rub on teak or tung oil with a rag, which is a much simpler process. When the finish becomes faded, you need only apply a little more oil to bring it back to full luster.
  
  

Aesthetics

• The golden yellow to dark amber hue of Brazilian teak makes it versatile enough for use in a variety of decors. It looks equally attractive in the living room, where it is easily highlighted by ornate woodwork and furniture, in the kitchen, where it can blend with countertops of the same or similar material and in the recreation room, where it will withstand the most abuse. The color of teak combines well with off-white wall colors to brighten up a room, as well as with warm, darker ones to give the room a somber, more luxurious feel.
  
  

Sustainability

• Because of its popularity, Brazilian teak is among the many hardwoods that are grown on plantations. Even if this were not the case, its use is not a cause of rain forest depletion because it is a dry weather deciduous tree that does not grow in rain forests. It is true that the high demand for teak has decimated the species worldwide. In light of this fact, worldwide trade in teak is regulated to restore teak resources. Natural stands are left to grow while plantations supply kiln-dried material for export. When you purchase Brazilian teak flooring, you receive the farmed variety of wood.