Are you confused about selecting the best wood for your flooring or furniture? Moreover want, to save your money and time from wasting, but do not know which wood will be the best.
The acacia and Teak are the two famous kinds of wood used for flooring and making furniture. Acacia and Teak give us a lot of advantages. Let’s discuss which one will suit you most? Before entering into the deep details, firstly understand what acacia wood vs teak.
Acacia Wood
The acacia is a voluminous plant and has thousands of species. It is known as the most complicated wood among all others. These shrubby trees come from India, Africa, and Australia, where arid weather remains forever.
The appearance of acacia makes it different from other hardwoods. Wood derived from acacia is very heavy and has distinguished grain markings. These markings are either linear or wavy. The smell of its raw timber is also very different, just like urine.
Teak
Teak is an evergreen tree that grows in the Myanmar region and is cultivated in southeastern Asia. Its other name is the king of hardwoods. The indigent and managed community of teak plants are very infrequent because a teak plant takes almost eighty years to become completely mature.
So, difficult to obtain Teak due to its slow growth rate. Grain markings in Teak are very close to each other. Teak is durable and ornamental because rich in minerals and oils. Teak wood offers resistance to decaying and germs invasion. The leathery smell of Teak makes it different from others.
Acacia vs Teak Properties
Properties of Acacia Wood
Diversity
Acacia is much more diverse and has more species than the teak plant.
Grain Pattern
Grains are arranged in a closed or curved design. These patterns cleave with time.
Color
Acacia has a traditional reddish-brown appearance. The natural colour remains unaffected for a long time.
Crack Resistance
The density of acacia is considerably good, but cracks can’t produce quickly on it. So, your expensive floor, chair, or tables do not get cracked. But when compared with Teak, scratches are formed in acacia easily. But these can be fixed by simple procedures.
Stain Acceptance
Stains are more beautifully accepted by the acacia plant without smudges than the Teak.
Oil and Mineral Content
Acacia can remain unaffected for a long time with protective treatment only. Because of lower oil and mineral content.
Low Maintenance
Maintenance of boards or products from acacia is affordable and straightforward because acacia can remain new for more than 40 years without any expensive procedure or protection.
Properties of Teak Wood
Diversity
Teak has fewer varieties than acacia.
Grain Pattern
Acacia has unique grain patterns. Grain arrangement depends on the quality, cultivation locality, and its way of cutting. So, you can beautifully decorate your final product.
The Teak has a linear grain pattern. Grains are closely packed and don’t shear with time.
Color
The Teak is a light-brown appearance. Teak loses its original colour and becomes chocolate brown with time. Its original immense, dark brown colour makes elegant and attractive furniture. Teak is the king of all timber and is very expensive.
Stain Acceptance
Stain acceptance of Teak is not as good as acacia.
Crack Resistant
Teak does not easily crack, just like acacia.
Oil and Mineral Content
Oil and mineral content is relatively high in teaks as compared to acacia. So it doesn’t require any protective covering because natural oil prevents the wood and maintains its original texture.
Luxurious Wood
Teak is considered luxurious wood best for outdoor furniture without any protective coating.
Acacia vs Teak Advantages
Benefits of Acacia Wood
Durable
Acacia is considered a dense wood all over the world. That’s why it offers resistance against damaging components.
Practicable
After cutting acacia, wood becomes highly flexible. So, you can turn it into your desired shape quickly. After that, it becomes solid and durable.
Required Sized Items
Whether you want to create an extended product or a short product, acacia wood is the best for your need. Long and shortboards of acacia are used in making these products.
Highly Sustainable
One thousand two hundred species of acacia are cultivated in different areas of the world. The significant advantage of acacia is that it is highly accessible. Different locality cultivation prevents the extinction of acacia varieties.
Grain Arrangement
Spiral and curly grain patterns’ attractive diversities produce a more beautiful texture than Teak.
Shiny Texture
Acacia becomes so shiny after polishing than Teak. Polyurethane coating makes it shiny.
Benefits of Teak Wood
Durable
Teak has interlocked, thick, and rough structure. Teak wood is bulky, making it highly durable and robust. Teak wood comes from conifers with high content of oil and minerals that make it highly reliable.
Weather Resistant
Temperature change does not cause any effect on the teak wood because Teak is tough. Teak does not shrink or expand, just like other hardwoods. The dimensional stability of the Teak is relatively good. Teak can bear the extreme hot weather of summers and the freezing temperature of winters. Teak offers to dominate resistance against water than any other wood.
Pest Resistant
The oil and mineral contents in the teak wood offer resistance against pests. These contents act like anti-pest coating on the wood. Therefore Teak does not require any protective coating. Oil also prevents the Teak from decaying.
Carpenters Friend
Teak wood is carpenters friendly. Carpenters enjoy working with Teak. Teak is strong wood and does not break away easily. Carpenters can make any desired products on teak wood easily.
Enduring
The durability, hot, cold, and pet resistivity give the long-lasting capability to the teak wood. Teak doesn’t require extra care or protection. Its maintenance is very cheap and easy.
Acacia vs Teak Disadvantages
Disadvantages of Acacia Wood
Susceptible to Extra Heat
A moderate temperature is required for the acacia wood to remain intact for a long time. Keep your acacia furniture away from fire or heat. Otherwise, it will shrink.
Darkening of Wood
When acacia furniture remains outside for a long time, air and light particles attack it. Then the beautiful light colour of acacia turns dark. To prevent your furniture from darkening, move your furniture frequently. When you keep hot plates or cups on the acacia wood daily, it also causes darkness of acacia wood.
Break and Crumble
Specific drying conditions are necessary for acacia wood to dry completely. If it is not completely dry, it can break or shrink.
Scratch Formation
Acacia is a strong wood but frequently gets some scratches. When scratches form, not easily remove
Disadvantages of Teak Wood
Expensive
It is expensive because of its demand and low growth rate. It is only affordable and cheap in its growing localities.
Maintenance
Teak needs simple maintenance daily according to weather conditions. Outdoor furniture can remain unaffected with simple care for a long time. But maintenance of Teak is also less than other hardwoods.
Difficult Workability
Teak is a highly dense hardwood, so it is not easy for woodworkers to work with it. For teak carving, sharp and pointed tools are required. Nailing and screwing are done with a drill machine.
How to Differentiate Acacia from Teak?
Sometimes buyer becomes confused while buying teak wood. Because when the buyer goes for buying Teak but the vendors sell acacia, not the Teak and charge double the money of Teak.
So, you need to know the flowing parameters well. Then you can differentiate acacia and Teak. Otherwise, sellers cheat you because of similar teak and acacia properties.
| Variables | Acacia | Teak |
| Look | Linear to wavy grain arrangement | Linear grain arrangement |
| Odor | Smell like urine on cutting | Dominating pungent or leathery odor |
| Density | 1100 to 4070 mm according to Janka hardness | 2330 mm according to Janka hardness |
| Cost | Affordable than teak wood | Expensive |
| Suitability for outdoor furniture | Suitable | Suitable |
| Carving-friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Workable | Yes | Yes |
| Botanical Information | Short shrubby tree | Tall tree |
Acacia Wood vs Teak Outdoor Furniture
To buy wood that will be best for outdoor furniture. Two kinds of wood, acacia, and Teak, are considered as best woods for making furniture. The density of acacia is much less than teak wood because of its low oil and mineral content.
But Teak contains a higher content of oil and minerals and remains new for a long time without treatment. Acacia wood cannot last for a long time without a protective procedure. Teak wood is considered a well-reputed precious selection for outdoor furniture. Although Teak is not affordable, it will be beneficial when you invest in Teak.
Is Acacia Wood the Same as Teak?
Acacia and Teak are tropical woods. America imports them and uses them in making furniture, hardwood floors, and other things. Acacia and teak wood are the same to some extent when you select flooring. They are the better alternative to each other. Both are the best options for hardwood flooring. Both are durable and dense products, only differ in price and aesthetics. Acacia is an affordable choice as compared to teak wood.
What Wood is Similar to Acacia?
Locust species are also considered false acacia. Both acacia and locust have many same characteristics. Authentic acacia is not similar to locust, only similar to black acacia.
Can you Teak Oil on Acacia Wood?
Yes, the application of teak oil on acacia wood is the best option. Acacia wood becomes good and shiny after the teak oil application. Now here the question arises which teak oil is best for acacia wood. Starbrite Teak Oil is best for the application on acacia outdoor furniture. Teak oil is the combination of linseed oil, polish, Tung oil, and spirits rich in minerals to protect the surface of hardwood from damage.
How to Apply Teak Oil on the Acacia Wood?
Firstly, dip the unhygienic cloth in the teak oil. Then carefully rub the teak oil in grain marking for a light coat. To care for acacia wood apply the teak oil in this way on acacia furniture for long life. One thing keeps in mind is that your acacia wood must be dry before oil application. When you did coat, with a cloth, then apply oil with the paintbrush. When the oil dries, acacia wood looks classy and shiny.
You may read the acacia wood comparison below:
FAQs
Is Acacia or Teak Better?
Both acacia and Teak are better for hardwood flooring because of their relatively same durability. The wood, which carpenters can easily handle and gives beautiful finishing, is the best. Teak is better than acacia because of its durability and oil content. Teak has a relatively high content of minerals and oil. That’s why it can remain unaffected for a long time without any protective coating. Acacia can also remain unaffected for more than 40-50 years but after passing protective treatments.
Is Acacia a Real Wood?
Yes, acacia is natural hardwood. It is mainly cultivated in Southeastern Asia, Australia, and United States. Acacia is durable and helpful in making the best furniture, cabinet, and hardwood flooring.
Is Acacia Wood Waterproof?
Yes, acacia wood offers good resistance against water or moisture. The density of acacia wood is comparatively high, making it durable. These qualities make wood best for making furniture and floors that daily contact with moisture. If water spells on the floor, clean it with a cloth. Water does not harm the acacia wood.
Wrapping Up
So, concluding Acacia vs Teak, both are best rely on your working need. Both can give you equal satisfaction at a time, buy the wood after analyzing the nature of your work. Then you can invest in cheap or expensive according to your requirement. You have a plan in mind that how much you can pay, for this work as per your budget.
No doubt, Teak is the king of all woods and expensive. But acacia is the best alternative for the Teak. Both have the same properties and similar durability. When you buy hardwood flooring, both of them are equally best. Choose one from acacia and Teak according to your budget. The oil and mineral content of acacia is less than that of Teak. Extra protective treatment is necessary for the acacia wood then acacia can be last for a long time.