Acacia hardwood and teak are common types of exterior wood used in many homes for constructing Pergolas, Patio, and other structures. Acacia wood is typically reddish-brown, and teak is light tan to a darker golden brown.
However, there are several differences between them such as strength, stability, and weight. Here we’re going to compare acacia wood vs teak: which is stronger?
General characteristics of both blocks of wood
Acacia has superior hardness compared to other woods. This also makes it more durable; however, that implies that it will be less flexible and much heavier than other types (both good and bad qualities).
On the other hand, Teak is a very dense hardwood, which means that you can find larger pores and a more consistent texture. It’s an excellent choice for any outdoor project due to its water resistance.
Differences between Acacia wood and Teak Woods
Structure:
Teak is considered one of the hardest woods in the world. This implies that it’s practically impossible to break or even scratch it because of its very high density approximately 150 lbs per cubic foot.
That being said, Acacia wood could be a better option if you need something lighter and easier to work with since it has a lower density than teak (80-90 lbs/cubic foot). Although this type beats most other types in terms of hardness, it’s more flexible than teak.
Weight and Strength
Let’s briefly discuss how weight affects both products’ strength and durability. Generally speaking, Teak is more resistant to humidity changes, therefore it becomes stronger along with the time since it adapts.
That being said, Acacia has a lower natural resistance to elements. However once installed on your deck or other outdoor structure, it will be protected from direct contact with bad weather.
Forest farming
Both plants are cultivated in plantations in order to be used later on when they’re mature enough.
Acacia trees can grow up to 25 m in height while its trunk has a diameter of 70 cm at the most. Acacia wood is easy to work with and can be used for a broad range of DIY projects.
The teak tree, on the other hand, reaches its full height at about 5–10 years of age and has a trunk diameter of up to 60 cm. This plant needs less effort to maintain because it grows in areas that are not too cold or do not have an excessive amount of rain.
Additionally, eight trees can produce enough wood for four sawmills every year without replanting. Acacia grows well in almost every type of soil as long as it has an adequate amount of water, while teak prefers deep and well-drained soils that are not prone to flooding.
In terms of yield per hectare, acacia provides about 2.5-3 cubic meters of wood per hectare, whereas teak can provide up to 4 cubic meters per hectare.
Mechanical properties
The strength of acacia wood is very good because it doesn’t have any large differences in terms of its grain size or moisture content. Besides this, it has a high resistance to abrasion and compression, which make it suitable for applications where these features are required.
On the other hand, teak has higher mechanical performance when compared with acacia due to superior strength properties that resist bending forces better than the latter material. It has better stiffness as well as hardness with satisfactory results in terms of impact resistance.
They are both perfect for applications where they’re exposed to moisture and or repeated wetting and drying cycles, or when they need resistance against fungi, termites, and marine borers.
Availability
You can find acacia trees in Central America as well as South Asia, Africa, and even Australia. In fact, you will be able to choose from a large variety of species that have numerous properties if you buy wood from this plant for your own needs.
In terms of availability, it has the upper hand because there are about 800 million hectares where this plant can grow as long as it has a proper water supply. On the other hand, teak is more scarce which makes its price higher compared with acacias.
This material comes from Myanmar and India with a smaller quantity produced in Thailand, Central America, and Malaysia. Now that you know the differences between acacia and teak, you can decide which plant meets your needs.
Acacia wood, though heavier than teak, is just as excellent if properly seasoned, according to a specialist at the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST). According to him, acacia costs Rs 400 per cubic foot, while teak costs between Rs 1,600 and Rs 2,000. However, because acacia wood is equally useful for furniture, IWST is attempting to popularize Acacia cultivation outside of forests by launching agroforestry initiatives. Hunsur in Karnataka and Baitul in Madhya Pradesh produce the best teak wood in India.
Similarities Between Acacia wood and Teak Woods
Acacia and teak are two types of lumber that are used extensively in the flooring industry. Both kinds of wood have many similarities, but there are also some major differences between them.
An artisan can work with acacia or teak to produce an attractive natural wood floor depending on the design style they prefer.
Appearance
The main similarity between acacia wood and Teak is their appearance. Both are decorative hardwoods with straight grains which are very attractive when stained giving it a rich brown color.
Of course, most types of lumber need to be stained to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. You might prefer one type of wood over another because of its looks, but this is mostly a personal opinion that you will have to decide on your own.
Durability
Both acacia and teak are fairly durable types of lumber that are difficult to damage with daily use in high-traffic areas. An artisan can create many design styles with each type of wood including flooring, furniture, cabinets, decorative accents, and other projects.
Acacia trees are native to Africa while teak trees originate from Southeast Asia where both types of wood are plentiful. This has increased their popularity throughout the world in recent years due to their scarcity elsewhere in the world.
Cost
The cost for both types of wood will vary depending on the area you live in as well as the size and features of your project.
Larger projects where you are purchasing large amounts of lumber will usually have lower costs per board foot compared to smaller jobs that require only a few boards.
You can expect to pay more for both acacia and teak simply because it is in demand due to their quality. This makes these two types of wood an excellent value in regards to durability, stability, and beauty.
Uses
Acacia wood and Teak have many uses besides flooring including furniture, decorative accents, cabinets, paneling, molding, and other projects.
Both types of woodwork are great with power tools but also sand very well when using hand tools if you are looking to achieve a smooth finish on the wood.
The durability of these two types of lumber makes them perfect for projects that will see heavy daily use such as flooring, furniture, and other décor pieces in your home or business.
Maintenance
There is little maintenance required with either acacia or teak when it is finished with a protective coating of polyurethane. This type of finish protects the wood from getting damaged by moisture including water, oil, wine, and other liquids.
Acacia versus Teak can be easily cleaned with soap and water which is one reason they are great choices for floors in kitchens where spills are common. All you need to do between cleanings is sweep or blow off any debris that accumulates without causing too much wear and tear on the finish.
Strength
Both acacia wood and Teak have good strength properties making them difficult to dent or ding when subjected to daily activities in high traffic areas such as foyers, hallways, kitchens, laundry rooms, and great rooms.
The durability of these two types of lumber makes them ideal flooring choices for active households with pets, children, and heavy daily activities that can wear on your floors over time.
Texture
Acacia wood has a coarse texture while teak is close to its fine texture which gives you many options when working with both types of lumber.
You will have no problem creating the look you want for your project whether it is rustic, modern, or traditional gas other design styles depending on the type of saw blades you use to cut the lumber.
Both acacia and teak are easy to work with hand tools or power tools which will give your project a smooth finish in no time at all.
Aromatic oils
Teak contains a lot of aromatic oils which is what gives both types of lumber their pleasant smell. Many people use both acacia wood and Teak in rooms such as bedrooms, sewing rooms and home offices because the fragrance can help enhance your mood and create a relaxing environment.
Grain
The grain on acacia is very straight while teak has a combination of straight, wavy, and curly grain patterns depending on where the tree was grown to give you many visual options for your project.
Both types of lumber look wonderful when used with contrasting colors including gray floors with cherry cabinets or chocolate-stained cabinets with white trim and moldings.
Teak will have more grains than acacia adding to its beauty and appeal for different projects in any design style you choose to use.
Conclusion
If you need an extremely durable wood that can withstand any type of climate condition, then teak is the best choice for you.
On the other hand, if you need something lighter and easier to work around with, Acacia might be a better option.
This is because it’s harder than most types of lumber along with being more flexible.
Overall, acacia wood and teak are two excellent choices for decking due to their durability and resistance against humidity changes, therefore both are equally good options for your next project.