Teak and walnut are both hardwoods and they are a popular choice amongst woodworkers. These two kinds of wood have many characteristics and properties that are well sought after by many people.
Teak and walnut are both good choices for your home. Both kinds of wood are durable, strong, and used as a material for furniture. The decision on whether to get teak vs walnut lies on where you will place it. These two kinds of wood can both be placed indoors and outdoors but one is a better choice than the other.
If you’re not sure whether to get teak or walnut wood for your home, this article will talk about the difference between these two kinds of wood. We will also talk about their similarities, differences, and the many ways both pieces of wood can be used.
What Is Teak?
Teak is a type of close-grained hardwood native to South and Southeast Asia. It is a popular choice for making furniture because of its many properties.
Teak wood is high in natural oils and rubber making it very durable and resistant to different weather conditions. Teak wood is also resistant to rotting and warping.
Since teak wood is one of the most durable woods used in furniture making, teak furniture is a common sight in many outdoor spaces. Teak wood has a golden honey color which adds to its beauty.
Teak wood is typically used to make tables, dining chairs, and sun lounges. Aside from being used for outdoor furniture, teak is also a common material used in boat deckings and floorings.
Not all teak wood is the same. Here are the different varieties of teak wood:
– Burmese teak
– Indonesian teak
– African teak
– Plantation teak
What Is Walnut?
Walnut wood is a type of hard, dense, and tight-grained wood that has a dark coloring. Walnut wood is sourced from walnut trees and is native to North and South America, Southern Europe, and the West Indies.
Since walnut wood is widely available in the United States, it is also a popular choice for woodworkers to use, particularly the Black Walnut, also called the American Black Walnut. The walnut wood’s rich chocolatey color makes it a popular material for desks, bookshelves, coffee tables, and dining sets.
Like teak wood, walnut wood is also a strong and durable hardwood that can be used in making outdoor furniture. Aside from the American Black Walnut, there are other varieties of walnut wood:
– English walnut wood
– Claro walnut wood
– White walnut wood
– Bastogne walnut wood
– Peruvian walnut wood
What Are The Differences Between Teak Vs Walnut?
Both teak and walnut wood are very durable and they are both widely used to make furniture. Aside from their coloring, both teak and walnut have their differences.
Appearance
Teak and walnut can somewhat appear similar and one way to know which is which is their coloring. Both walnut and teak change in coloring as they age but, both are brown wood types. The difference is, teak has a lighter golden honey color while walnut wood has a rich chocolatey color.
Teak wood can have a variety of colors ranging from light to dark brown. When exposed to various kinds of weather, teak wood darkens over time. Walnut wood, on the other hand, gets lighter as it ages. Walnut wood has a consistent dark coloring and will not get even darker over time.
In terms of grain patterns, teak and walnut both have straight grain patterns. Walnut wood has broader grains while teak wood has shorter grains.
Durability
Both teak and walnut woods are durable.
Teak is known for having natural oils, making it water-resistant and less prone to rotting. Compared to walnut wood, teak performs better outdoors.
Walnut is still a durable wood however, direct exposure to sun, rain, and snow can shorten its lifespan. While you can still use walnut wood for outdoor furniture, you need to keep it protected.
Walnut wood does fade over time when exposed to direct sunlight and using furniture covers can prevent it from happening. Place walnut furniture under shaded areas to preserve its rich coloring. Teak, on the other hand, can withstand various weather conditions.
Hardness
There is a system for measuring a wood’s hardness. The Janka hardness test is used to measure a sample of the wood’s resistance to dent as well as wear and tear. The black walnut has a Janka rating of 1010 while teak wood has a rating of 1155. This rating is both high but as you can see, teak is harder than the black walnut.
Strength
Both teak and walnut are strong hardwoods. Since teak has weather-resistant properties, it is the preferred furniture by most people, especially for outdoor use. If you have an outdoor space, teak is the best choice for outdoor furniture.
Sustainability
Wood in general is a sustainable material because it is a natural and renewable resource. Since teak is a widely preferred wood choice, it is also over-exploited.
Teak wood is already on the endangered list and sourcing teak wood has been regulated in most countries to control the production of teak. There are also countries where it is illegal to harvest and trade teak wood.
Walnut, on the other hand, is sustainably harvested as it is not as rare as teak. Both teak and walnut are sustainable resources but since teak is considered endangered, it might be harder to find teak than walnut wood.
Weather Resistance
Both walnut and teak wood are weather resistant. However, teak has natural oils making it more resistant to water and warping. Teak is the preferred material for outdoor furniture as it can withstand various elements, may it be rainy, snowy, or sunny. Teak wood can also be left out in the rain and direct sunlight and has a higher rot and decay resistance.
Walnut can also be used outdoors but, it is not as weather-resistant as teak wood. When maintained properly, walnut wood can last long outdoors but it is advisable to cover walnut furniture or place it under shady areas. If you want wood that is more resistant to outdoor elements, teak is the best option between the two.
Maintenance
Maintaining both teak and walnut is easy. There are different kinds of wood oil to maintain these wood surfaces. Tung oil, linseed oil, and Danish oil are some of the wood oils that can be used on both walnut and teak wood.
Maintaining wood furniture regularly will ensure that it will have a layer of protection to keep it durable and strong for many years. No matter what type of wood you get, keeping it clean and well-maintained will keep it from decaying and rotting quickly.
Uses
Walnut and teak wood are both commonly used to make furniture. Aside from being used as materials for indoor and outdoor wooden furniture, teak and walnut are also used in carvings, floorings, cabinetry, musical instruments, and walnut and teak veneer. Teak plywood is a common product used for cabinetry.
While they have common uses, walnut is one of the preferred materials to use for musical instruments because of its tonewood. Teak wood, on the other hand, can be very hard to glue together as it is high in natural oils. Gunstocks are also mostly made of walnut wood because it is shock-resistant and can hold well under recoil.
Price
With teak being high in demand but low in supply, it is more expensive than walnut wood. Being imported from South and Southeast Asian countries also adds to the cost of teak wood. Teak wood is also more expensive because it is durable, rot-resistant, and weather-resistant.
Walnut is also one of the expensive hardwoods as it is durable and strong. With that being said, it is cheaper to get walnut lumber because it is sourced in the United States and does not need to be imported.
Teak and Walnut Alternatives
If teak or walnut wood is not available in your area, you can go for other woods such as mahogany and alder.
Wrap Up
For some people, various hardwoods can look similar to one another. Some have the same coloring while some look like they have similar grain patterns.
Teak and walnut often look similar but they do have their differences. Both are strong, durable, and a popular wood to use when making pieces of furniture. If you’re looking for wood to decorate your outdoor space, teak is a better option. However, walnut wood is also a great addition to your home.
If you’re not sure which wood is better, this article talked about the differences between teak and walnut wood. If you have questions, let us know via the contact form on our website!
