Teak VS Burma Teak Premium Grade
- Leads on lightness, machining ease — a narrow but consistent edge
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Tie |
| Strength (MOR) | Tie |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Tie |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Teak |
| Lightness | Teak |
Engineering data
| Property | Teak | Burma Teak Premium Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1070WD lbf | 1070 lbf |
| Density | 0.55FPL g/cm³ | 0.66PROSEA g/cm³ |
| MOE | 10.7FPL GPa | 10.7 GPa |
| MOR | 100.0FPL MPa | 100.0 MPa |
| Durability | Class 1 Very Durable | Class 1 Very Durable |
| Stability | Moderate | Moderate |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class B indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 2.6WD % | 2.5 % |
| Tangential Shrink | 5.3WD % | 5 % |
| T/R Ratio | 2.04 | 2.0 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor decking / pergola | 🥇 Teak | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Teak | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Teak | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Teak | ★★★☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Teak | ★★☆☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Teak
Advantages relative to Burma Teak Premium Grade
Limitations relative to Burma Teak Premium Grade
Burma Teak Premium Grade
Advantages relative to Teak
Limitations relative to Teak
Recommendation
Choose Teak if…
- Boat decks and marine construction, bridges, docks, quays and floodgates, exterior joinery, doors and cladding, high-end and garden furniture, flooring and decorative veneer where either grade of teak performs the documented traditional role and cost or availability is the deciding factor
- General teak specifications where the documented Class 1 durability and Class B fire class of the species are the baseline
Choose Burma Teak Premium Grade if…
- Yacht and boat decking (the timber's defining application), luxury furniture and cabinetry, high-end joinery, doors and window frames, and coastal and outdoor furniture where the premium old-growth grade is specified and the higher-density stock is what the project is buying
- Coastal and outdoor furniture and high-end interior joinery where the higher-density old-growth teak stock is specified for its documented service-life and finish behaviour
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Teak or Burma Teak Premium Grade?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 1, Very Durable). Outdoors, movement will not separate them either — 5.3% against 5.0% tangential. The practical difference is weight: Burma Teak Premium Grade runs 0.66 g/cm³ against 0.55, so Teak is the easier fix overhead and the cheaper one to freight.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Both are EN 350 Class 1, and tangential movement runs 5.3% for Teak against 5.0% for Burma Teak Premium Grade — close enough that decay resistance will not choose between them, and Burma Teak Premium Grade holds its dimension marginally better. Hardness is effectively level (1,070 vs 1,070 lbf), so choose on weight.
Is Teak harder than Burma Teak Premium Grade?
They measure the same on the Janka scale (1070 lbf each) — effectively equal in surface hardness.