Teak vs. Mahogany vs. Oak: Which is the Best Wood for Bangladeshi Furniture & Climate?
When buying furniture in Bangladesh, Teak, Mahogany, and Oak wood dominate the mass choice. Though they are all of the hardwood category, they vary in aspects like color, durability, source, resistance, use case, and price. To make the best choice, learning about their key characteristics, benefits, and limitations is crucial.
You just can’t be indifferent when choosing a wood to design your home or make furniture. Even with effort, you may find it hard to pick the wood that not only can realize your dream, but also cater to all your necessities. Making the decision becomes more difficult when the options include premium woods, like Teak, Mahogany, and Oak. All of them are at their peak of popularity in the Bangladeshi market, and each one has a strong standing in its position. For inquisitive buyers, this blog will outline all the major characteristics, benefits, and disadvantages of these woods to help you make a safe and wise pick.
The King of Woods: A Deep Dive into Teakwood(Shegun - সেগুন)
Let’s start with the unbeatable monarch in the kingdom of woodcraft, Teakwood. For seekers of durable wood for humid climates, especially one that can be used outdoor, nothing can be a better choice than Teakwood. Robust in build and splendid in look, Teak has been reliable for versatile usage. Its inherent resistance to water and concrete structure has made its usage possible in fields like boatmaking, outdoor decoration, and rooftop designs.
What is TeakWood? (The Gold Standard)
Teakwood grows in South and Southeast Asia, and it is native to most tropical countries. Goes by the scientific name Tectona gandis, Teakwood is a deciduous, large tree that grows up to 50 meters in height. Its closed-grined, golden brown wood has unique features that make it work in all weather conditions.
1. Appearance & Characteristics
Let’s learn what makes Teakwood the superior wood it is. Look at these characteristics not just to be informed, but also take them as a tool to recognize the wood at a glance.
2. Grain and Hardness
Teakwood grains are long and remain in parallel stripes. They can also be wavy and disoriented. But short grains and many knots are found in lower-grade versions. The supple joint between straight grains may allow a neat and non-edgy cut. But they are good at enduring daily wear.
3. Robust and Heavy Structure
Teakwood has been at the forefront as the ideal furniture material and gained popularity mostly due to its nearly indestructible structure. Common wood issues, moisture, age, and elemental exposure, have a less or no effect on them.
4. Multiple Color Variants
From yellowish-golden to darker-brown, Teakwood comes in a wide color spectrum. Within it, there is a fine point called golden-brown, celebrated as perfection by the lovers.
How to Identify Real Shegun Wood?
Your road to authentic Teakwood will be rather slippery if you don’t know how to distinguish good from better and original from fake. To identify high-quality Teak, looking into the characteristic details is the key.
1. The Longer the Grain, The Finer
Long, straight, and parallel grains are trademarks of the highest quality. In lower-grade varieties, the grains are shorter and awry.
2. Durability Comes at the Expense of Knots
Knots are the natural quality killer in wood. Despite aesthetic appeal, knots come between grains, make joints weaker, and reduce longevity.
3. Not All That Glitters is Gold Teak
The warmth of the wooden yellow, gold, and brown color palette embraces Teakwood with an unmatchable aura. Fakers polish low-quality wood with glossy finishes to create a similar look.
4. It Passes the Test of Water and Scratch
Super dense and rich with natural oil, Teakwood is nonporous to water and can withstand minor scratches. If you spill water on its surface, instead of getting absorbed, it will make globular drops and stay like that. For small scratches with nails or a piece of metal, there will be no bold or permanent stains.
The Pros: Why Bangladeshis Have Trusted Teakwood for Generations
The surplus of natural oil and compact grain makes trek unbelievably useful in woodwork. Shaping them into any form is easy, as there is little ruggedness on the edges to polish. Other benefits include:
- Outdoor Usage: Teakwood is outdoor savvy. Neither the sun nor the rain affects their quality.
- Hard to crack: Natural oil works as a protective barrier and saves from warps, crooks, or cracks due to moisture.
- Minimal Maintenance: Teakwood doesn’t need careful and special treatment. Simple cleaning, sealing, and occasional burnishing can keep them fit and glowing for over a century.
- Many Variations: Woodworkers bring variations by applying shades of oils on the wood surface. Popular examples are tung, lemon, walnut, and linseed. Glossy and plain finishes create distinct appeal, too.
- Fine Aging: Teak, instead of growing pale or soft, gets a silvery-gray patina over time. Aging works as a beauty enhancement for them.
- Pest Control: The natural blend of silica and oil is moisture and insect-repelling. It helps them sustain in any climate and setting without losing quality.
The Cons: The Reality of Buying Teakwood in Bangladesh
Certain aspects of Teakwood have kept it from reaching ultimate perfection. Like:
- Upfront Cost: Teakwood comes at a premium price, and its craft demands a master touch. Both add up to a high initial cost.
- Routine Care: Despite their strong stand against elemental damage, Teakwood needs regular attention. To keep it intact from seasonal impacts, you must apply sealants and polishes at least once or twice a year.
- Allergenic Behaviour: For some, Teakwood may trigger allergic symptoms, like irritation in the eye, nose, and skin. In severe cases, rash, swelling, and asthma.
Approximate Price in BD
Renowned furniture and interior solution providers, like Oak Wood Craft BD, offer a stunning furniture collection made from 100% seasoned and raw Teakwood. Here are the products made by Shegun Kath prices in Bangladesh:
| Product | Price (৳) | Product Link |
| Maverick Wing Arm Chair | ৳38,500 – ৳46,700 | Maverick Wing Arm Chair |
| Willow Arm Chair | ৳39,500 | Willow Arm ChairOakwood Craft BD |
| Toussaint English Arm Chair | ৳39,500 | Toussaint English Arm Chair |
| Lush Tuxedo Arm Chair | ৳45,500 | Lush Tuxedo Arm Chair |
| Shimura Dining Table | ৳185,000 | Shimura Dining Table |
| Gyanand Dining Table | ৳74,500 | Gyanand Dining Table |
The Versatile Contender: Understanding Mahogany (Mehogoni - মেহগনি)
Mahogany wood in Bangladesh is the most prevalent for woodwork. There is a chance that every household has at least a piece of furniture made of this wood, if not the whole set. The factors that influence the tremendous popularity of Mahogany among Bangladeshis can be marked in its availability, quality, and look.
What is Mahogany Wood? (The Smart Choice)
Swietenia mahogani, aka Mahogany, grows along tropical coasts and zones in many countries. In Bangladesh, Mahogany plants are native and have been used in woodwork since the beginning of time. Worldwide, there are three varieties of mahogany, two of which are found in Bangladesh:
- Swietenia Macrophylla: Also known as Honduran or big-leaf mahogany, prevalent and native in Central and South America. These are types that grow beside our houses and are used in our daily woodcraft.
- Swietenia Mahogani: These are grown in campasses and at roadsides mostly for ornamentation.
Appearance & Characteristics
Several unique qualities set Mahogany apart from the crowd. They are easily identifiable by:
- High Hardness Measure: In the Janka hardness test, Mahogany scores around 1000 lbf, which makes it one of the hardest woods in the world.
- Glowing Reddish Tone: Mahogany wood can catch the eye even without a polish. Its rich and refined blend of the wooden brown and red is a mark of lavishness. It can be made extravagantly grand with a buff of the right shade.
- Textures and Grains: Mahogany grains are almost nonporous and interlocked, which means hardwood at its highest strength, with the ability to endure wear and tear. The wood surface has a harsh texture that needs machining and sanding before becoming smooth.
The Pros: The Perfect Balance of Beauty and Budget
When in confusion, you need to know more than just features to pick one from many options. Choose Mahogany if these benefits can elevate your life.
- Larger Panels: A matured Mahogany tree can have a diameter of up to 6 meters. It allows for hefty panels and boards that require fewer joints during furniture making.
- Malleable Structure: Cutting, adjusting, and edging out is effortless with Mahogany. It makes them a popular choice for building all kinds of furniture.
- Aesthetic Value: By applying sealants and burnishes, the raw reddish brown aura of Mahogany wood can be darkened to give it a more aristocratic look.
- Durability: Long and collateral grains form a compact and solid structure. It makes Mahogany heavy and stable. But on the exterior, the wood is hard and can resist elemental damage and last long.
The Cons: What to Watch Out For
Now, let’s sort out when not to buy a Mahogany and find a better alternative.
- Premium Price: Naturally grown Mahogany is becoming limited due to deforestation. The impact is a noticeable rise in their price.
- Medium Weight: Stability and solidity are other terms for weight. Mahogany, having a tough build, weighs more than resembling options, like walnut or cherry.
- Maintenance: Mahogany needs to be treated right if you seek generational longevity.
Approximate Price in BD
At Oak Wood BD, you will find a vast collection of furniture build with Grade A Mahogany. If you want to know the Mahogany wood rate, here is a comprehensive chart of the most sold items and their price range.
| Product | Price Range (৳) | Product Link |
| Aabdar Dining Table | ৳72,000 – ৳72,000 | Aabdar Dining Table (Oakwood Craft BD) |
| Shivren Dining Table | ৳78,000 – ৳174,000 | Shivren Dining Table (Oakwood Craft BD) |
| Roulette Dining Table | ৳78,000 – ৳171,000 | Roulette Dining Table (Oakwood Craft BD) |
| Gizmo Dining Table | ৳87,000 – ৳228,000 | Gizmo Dining Table (Oakwood Craft BD) |
| Pinnacle Bed | ৳82,500 – ৳107,500 | Pinnacle Bed (Oakwood Craft BD) |
| Toussaint English Arm Chair | ৳82,500 | Toussaint English Arm Chair (Oakwood Craft BD) |
| Primrose Ottoman | ৳22,500 | Primrose Ottoman (Oakwood Craft BD) |
| Trill Wardrobe | ৳85,000 – ৳95,000 | Trill Wardrobe (Oakwood Craft BD) |
The Modern Aesthetic: Introducing Oak
Oak wood in Bangladesh is the most popular in the imported category. Its foreign exterior with a light, vibrant hue has caught the attention of the general aficionados of luxurious furniture. Among its many variants, Red Oak has outstripped others in popularity for its reddish tone, which draws close to the natural color of the local wood, but also radiates with a foreign glow. Be it custom furniture in Dhaka or a readymade lavish piece for your plush interior, Oak is undisputably the top choice for you right now.
What is Oak Wood? (The International Style Icon)
Oak is not ingenious in the tropical climate. So, in Bangladesh, companies featuring them in their interior design scheme or furniture catalogs outsource them from other countries. Oak trees are native to regions of the Northern Hemisphere and come in around 600 species. In woodcraft, the use of White Oak and Red Oak is the most prominent.
Appearance & Characteristics
Oak has exceptional characteristics that make it remarkable and outstanding. You can recognize Oak by their:
- Biege Color: Oak wood’s color depends on its species. White oak comes in a light beige and an occasional brown hue. Whereas red oak is draped in a pinkish to reddish tone.
- Super High Hardness: The Janka test gives Oak around 1500 lbf score, which denotes its significantly high strength.
- Grains and Textures: Grains are extensively long and straight. Its coarse texture when polished creates a patterned effect on the surface.
- Paint Absorbance: Oak is pretty sticky to paints and stains. Once colored, it will hold it without fading out for years to come.
To better understand Oak wood’s suitable application, let’s dive into the Oak wood pros and cons that are unanimously claimed about it.
The Pros: A Fresh and Contemporary Look
Let’s see what makes Oak wood worthy of your consideration:
- Modern Choice: In Bangladesh, Oak wood fills the gap between the local options and lets people bring an exotic appeal to their interior, without costing much.
- Wide Varieties: Choosing Oak wood will leave you with at least 60 available species, each with a unique texture and hue.
- Termite and Fungal Protection: When in search of wood resistant to termites in Bangladesh, Oak comes as a reliable option. It is rich in tannin, an element that naturally prevents pest attack.
- Attractive Aging: With time, Oak gradually slides away from its initial shade, taking on a more appealing and brighter tone.
- Hard Build: Oak is heavyweight and doesn’t warp under pressure or heat. One buy will last for your lifetime and more.
The Cons: Is Oak Right for the Bangladeshi Climate?
When buying Oak wood, overlooking certain factors may lead to dissatisfaction. Be careful of its:
- Premium Price: Oak is often imported or cultivated in a limited facility. Consequently, it demands a bit more price than native wood.
- Heavy Maintenance: Like most imported foreign materials, Oak needs special treatment to look vivid and last long.
- Porous and Stain Grabbing: Long, harmonious grains are not interlocked tightly in Oak wood. So they are vulnerable to moisture and stains.
Approximate Price in BD
Wooden furniture price in Bangladesh, involving different Oak species, varies in range. There are also categories, like solid, veneer, and engineering wood. On average, furniture made with Oak wood spans across the price range of ৳30,000 to ৳ 1,50,000.
Key Takeways
- Teak, Mahogany, and Oak are the most demanded woods for furniture making and home decoration in Bangladesh
- Teak is the best choice for luxurious and outdoor settings, and its upfront cost is nominal against its appeal
- Mahogany is the most available wood, also the most demanded for its unique reddish hue and strong build
- Oak leads the most popular exotic wood lineup, coming in a color that matches the Bengali sentiment, while setting an outlandish glory
Our Expert Verdict: The Right Wood for Your Budget, Style, and Homee
When shopping or designing furniture, choosing the perfect wood makes all the difference. Beyond the budget and favourites, the purpose and settings should be your prime considerations. Teakwood comes as the best wood for the Bangladeshi climate, and perhaps the top choice for outdoor decor. But for people who want to buy solid wood furniture online, the decision between Teak vs Mahogany wood will be a matter of personal preference. Oak wood Craft BD furniture stands on a different ground in this race, offering exotic charm at a reasonable rate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
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How can I identify real Chittagong Teakwood from fakes?
Chittagong Teakwood has set the industry standard for the ultimate grade of Teak. They have long and fine grains, a gleaming golden brown tone, and fewer knots.
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Is Mahogany wood completely waterproof after polishing?
Mahogany becomes exposable to moderate moisture after a polish. It’s notable that, with Mahogany, a total water resistance can’t be met with any processing method.
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Which wood is best for my main door in Bangladesh?
The main door is your first barrier to any calamities. So, it demands a solid build with the toughest material. Either the Teakwood(Shegun), Mahogany, or Gorjon will be a wise choice.
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What is Seasoned Wood?
Seasoned wood goes through several drying processes, like air, kiln, solar, and chemical dry. The goal is to extract water from wood to reduce its weight, enhance its utilities, and make it more stable and less prone to decay.
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Does OakwoodcraftBD use seasoned wood?
Yes. Oak Wood Craft BD enhances the quality, durability, and look, and reduces about 50% weight by drying or seasoning their wood through multiple processes.
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Is Mahogany Wood Termite-Resistant?
No, Mahogany is not completely termite or pest resistant even after a fair burnish of pesticides. To get a lasting experience without infection from termites or bugs, relevant treatment once or twice in year is advised.
