Choosing which material to use for your home needs to be given more thought as it will be a part of your living space. If you’re thinking about using wood as the material for your furniture, teak, and mahogany are both great choices. While both are considered great hardwoods to use, there are definitely differences between the two.
Both teak and mahogany are strong and durable hardwoods but, teak is a better choice for outdoor furniture and shipbuilding. Mahogany, on the other hand, is a great choice for indoor use such as cabinetry, furniture joinery, as well as for musical instruments.
This article will talk about the difference between teak vs mahogany so you can have an idea of what hardwood to choose to make decision-making a little easier for your home. If you are wondering about the differences between teak and mahogany, read on!
What Is Teak?
Teak is a hardwood tree that is native to South and Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, India, and Burma. It has a golden honey color which can darken over time and it can grow up to 150 to 160 feet high with 6 to 8 feet trunk diameter. Teak wood was initially used to build the homes of native tribes in the south of Asia but now, teak is widely used in the furniture industry.
Teak is a hard, dense, and durable wood that is commonly used as a material for outdoor furniture. It also has natural oils and rubber which makes it resistant to water damage as well as repels insects.
Teak wood is also easy to work with and is popular dues to its fine appearance. Aside from being used in furniture making, teak is also used in floorings and wood decorations among others.
What Is Mahogany?
According to history, mahogany was first discovered in Belize and it was then found to be indigenous to the Americas. Mahogany can grow as much as 150 feet high and 12 to 15 feet in trunk diameter.
Mahogany trees can be found in Southeast Asia, such as the Philippine Mahogany. However, “Genuine Mahogany” actually grows in countries in Central and South America such as Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Northern Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, the Bahamas, and the southern tip of Florida. Genuine mahogany refers to Swietenia macrophylla. The other types of mahogany are African mahogany, Cuban mahogany, and Philippine mahogany.
Mahogany wood is a popular choice for woodworkers because of its durability and resistance to rotting. Since mahogany is one of the prized and widely used wood, it is overly exploited and is now listed as an endangered species.
Teak Vs Mahogany
Both teak and mahogany are popular choices for woodworkers and these pieces of wood have their similarities and differences.
Appearance
Both teak and mahogany differ greatly in terms of their coloring. Wood generally goes through a natural aging process, especially when exposed to the sun and this will change the wood’s coloring over time.
Teak has more of a golden honey color and it will turn to a light silver-grey color as it age. If you want to maintain its original coloring, you can sand the wood and apply a coating that is designed for teak furniture. Teak also has a close-grained and straight-grain pattern that can be occasionally wavy or interlocked.
Mahogany has a reddish brown color and it also changes its color as the wood ages. Mahogany wood changes its color when it is exposed to high temperatures and to both natural and artificial light. It does fade in the sun and it can also turn into a lighter wood that has a greyish tinge to it. Mahogany can also darken over time but is not super dark.
Like teak wood, you can prevent mahogany from fading quickly by applying a good coat of lacquer to seal the wood’s surface. Unlike teak where the grains are sometimes wavy or interlocked, mahogany wood’s grain patterns are straight and uniform with a few knots and blemishes.
Durability
Both mahogany and teak are very durable hardwoods. They are both good choices for making furniture such as dining tables and chairs.
If we compare the two hardwoods, teak is more durable than mahogany. Teak is also a popular choice for building outdoor furniture, boats, and decking. A teak’s natural oil and rubber make it one of the best candidates for outdoor use. Teak wood furniture is also resistant to warping, water and sun damage, and pest damage.
Mahogany can also be used for outdoor furniture but, these pieces of furniture should be kept away from direct sunlight. It is best to keep mahogany furniture under shaded areas as exposure to direct sunlight over long periods of time can damage the wood.
If cared for properly, mahogany and teak can last many years outdoors. If you are looking for wood furniture to spice up your outdoor space, teak is the best choice between the two.
Hardness
We have established that teak is more durable than mahogany because of teak’s natural oils and rubber which makes it water and rot-resistant.
In terms of hardness, teak has a higher Janka rating than mahogany. The Janka rating system rates different types of wood in terms of its resistance to dent and wear.
Teak has a Janka rating of 1000 to 1155 lbf (pound-force) while genuine mahogany has a Janka rating of 800 to 900 lbf. A high Janka rating means that the wood is more resistant to damage such as scratches and dents.
Strength
Since teak has a higher Janka rating than mahogany, it means that teak is a harder piece of wood. Teak wood is much more resistant to scratches and dents which makes it stronger than mahogany wood.
With teak being a strong and durable wood, it is a better choice for boat and shipbuilding. Aside from outdoor furniture, teak is also used for boat deckings and floorings.
Weather-resistance
Both teak and mahogany are water-resistant but, teak can withstand various weather elements better than mahogany. Teak’s natural oils can repel water and keep the wood from becoming brittle which can cause warping and cracking.
Mahogany, on the other hand, does not do well when exposed to direct sunlight. It does last many years outdoors when properly maintained but, it is not as weatherproof as teak wood.
Mahogany is also best placed under well-shaded areas to prevent it from fading quickly. Teak is usually the best choice for outdoors but for indoor furniture, mahogany can be a great option.
Maintenance
In terms of maintenance and restoration, mahogany can require a lot more preparation (usually multiple passes of sanding as well as staining) compared to teak wood. Water stains can also occur more in mahogany which is why regular maintenance is needed if you have mahogany furniture.
Linseed oil, Danish oil. and tung oil are some of the wood oils that can be used for both teak and mahogany wood. Staining both teak and mahogany can give them a very nice finish. It can also bring back their original color if the pieces of wood start to fade.
If you have mahogany furniture outdoors, keep them in a shaded area to keep it from fading due to exposure to direct sunlight. You can also use furniture covers to protect your outdoor furniture from exposure to various weather elements.
Uses
Teak and mahogany furniture are used by a lot of homeowners. While this is true, teak is the preferred material for outdoor furniture as it is resistant to water damage. Teak wood’s natural oils keep the wood from rotting and warping quickly. Teak is also used in boat building, carving, exterior construction, turnings, and teak veneer.
Mahogany wood is used to make high-quality indoor flooring because it is harder than other woods like pine or oak. Mahogany’s reddish brown color also makes for an interesting choice for floorings. Aside from floorings, mahogany is also used for furniture joinery, and musical instruments.
Price
While teak and mahogany are both relatively expensive wood choices, teak is usually more expensive compared to mahogany. Teak wood can last up to 70 years or more, especially if it is genuine teak. Meanwhile, genuine mahogany can last up to 40 years. While mahogany is also a strong and durable hardwood, teak is far more stronger and durable than mahogany which adds to the cost.
Sustainability
Wood is a natural resource so it is a sustainable material to use. However, both teak and mahogany are listed as endangered species. With both types of wood being popular among woodworkers, it is being over-exploited and illegally logged by some loggers. Finding alternative woods to both teak and mahogany can ensure the protection and sustainability of these endangered species.
Wrap Up
Teak and mahogany are both great choices for furniture making. Both of these hardwoods have their pros and cons and the decision of which wood to choose will lie on how you are going to use them.
For outdoor use, teak is the best choice as it is resistant to water and rotting, and it has natural oils that can repel insects. Mahogany, on the other hand, is a great choice for indoor use because its reddish-brown color can add to the beauty of your interior space. Mahogany is also a durable wood and can last long if cared for properly.
Hopefully, this article helped you in deciding which type of wood to use for your home. If you have any questions, let us know via the contact form on our website!
