Materials
Recycled teak furniture is built from teak that was used before: wood taken from old houses, bridges, boats and other structures, then cleaned, cut and made into new pieces. In the trade you will also hear the words reclaimed and salvaged. They mean the same thing. This guide explains what recycled teak looks like, why importers ask for it, and what to check before you order a container.
Suppliers in Java describe recycled teak as coming from century-old houses in villages, from old bridges and from boats. The supply is limited by what is available to salvage. A furniture brand that works with it has pointed out that few old houses and bridges are left to draw from.
Sources differ from supplier to supplier, so ask what the wood was before it became your furniture. A supplier who can answer that clearly usually has a clear process behind it.
Age leaves its mark. Recycled teak shows more variation in tone and grain than new teak, and pieces carry the markings of earlier use. Makers who work with it say this is the point: no two pieces are identical. Sellers also report that very old wood has already done most of its natural movement, which can make it stable once it is built into furniture. Moisture still needs to be checked on every batch, so ask your supplier how the wood is dried and finished.
If your customer expects a uniform, clean surface, recycled teak is not the right choice. If they want warmth and character, it often is.
Do not assume recycled wood needs no paperwork. The rules differ by market and they change. The European Union replaced its older timber regulation with a new one, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, and the treatment of reclaimed wood should be checked under the current text. In the United States, the Lacey Act declaration has a special-use designation for reclaimed material, which APHIS explains here.
The practical step is simple. Before you place the order, ask your customs broker how reclaimed teak is treated in your country, and tell us what documents you need. Our SVLK certificate number is VLHH-33-07-0788, and we can send a copy with the export documents. See the export and logistics page for the order terms.
Recycled teak is one of the materials we work with, alongside teak, mahogany, mindi, recycled pine, metal, brass, leather, shagreen and rattan. Tell us which piece you want and that you want it in recycled teak, and we quote it as custom work. The minimum order is one 20-foot container with mixed products allowed, and lead time is 30 to 60 days. For how teak compares with other woods, read our guide to teak, mahogany and mindi, or browse the material and finish directory.
Yes. Recycled, reclaimed and salvaged teak all refer to teak that has been used before.
Not exactly. Each batch comes from different timber, so tone and markings vary. Approve a sample and agree the range you accept.
Yes. The minimum order is one 20-foot container, and different products can be mixed in it.
Send us the piece, the quantity and the finish you want through the quote form, or message us on WhatsApp.
Tell us the products, quantities and any changes you need. We reply with sizes and a quotation.
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