Fabrication specification photograph · Konkaya Workshop
Works Layout, Owerri
Clients regularly ask us: 'Should we specify solid Iroko or plantation Teak for our new duplex?' Both hardwoods hold legendary status in West Africa, but they exhibit distinct mechanical properties that make each suited to specific architectural applications.
Nigerian Iroko (Milicia excelsa, locally revered as Oji in Igbo) is extraordinarily dense, interlocked in grain, and packed with naturally occurring chlorophorin. This organic phenol acts as an impenetrable biological deterrent against subterranean termites, powder-post beetles, and fungal rot. For statement 10-seater dining tables, heavy internal stair treads, and structural pergola beams, Iroko delivers unmatched dimensional rigidity.
West African Teak (Tectona grandis), by contrast, contains a high natural concentration of silica (sand crystals within the cellular fibers) and protective essential oils. This high silica level gives Teak almost complete immunity to water immersion and salt air, making it the supreme choice for bathroom vanities, sauna duckboards, and coastal waterfront homes in Port Harcourt and Lagos.
In our finishing bay, Iroko requires a pre-wash to neutralize natural surface tannins before polyurethane application, while Teak requires solvent wipe-downs to ensure our German moisture seals bond permanently with its oily grain.
Nigerian Iroko (Milicia excelsa, locally revered as Oji in Igbo) is extraordinarily dense, interlocked in grain, and packed with naturally occurring chlorophorin. This organic phenol acts as an impenetrable biological deterrent against subterranean termites, powder-post beetles, and fungal rot. For statement 10-seater dining tables, heavy internal stair treads, and structural pergola beams, Iroko delivers unmatched dimensional rigidity.
West African Teak (Tectona grandis), by contrast, contains a high natural concentration of silica (sand crystals within the cellular fibers) and protective essential oils. This high silica level gives Teak almost complete immunity to water immersion and salt air, making it the supreme choice for bathroom vanities, sauna duckboards, and coastal waterfront homes in Port Harcourt and Lagos.
In our finishing bay, Iroko requires a pre-wash to neutralize natural surface tannins before polyurethane application, while Teak requires solvent wipe-downs to ensure our German moisture seals bond permanently with its oily grain.
Workshop Engineering Rule
Every piece of timber cut at Konkaya is seasoned in-house for a minimum of 21 to 30 days to reach 10%–12% equilibrium moisture content (EMC). We seal all six faces of every component with industrial polyurethane moisture barriers to resist coastal humidity and dry Harmattan winds.
K
Chibuike Okoye (Principal Joiner)
Works Layout, Owerri, Nigeria
