Singapore Expats

My wife and I have been in Singapore since the start on 2006, so now we are looking to add some furniture to our collection.

We have been up to Dempsey Road to take a look. I've been warned about some of the Teak in Singapore. It can crack.

Any advice on the Teak from Dempsey Road. Is it likely to crack when we return to Australia...considering the dryer climate?
I know the expensive stuff has a "floating panel" to prevent cracking, but anyone got any experience with this ?

Thanks..

I would not advise buying there, most of the stuff is of rather low quality (not in all shops, though). There are better (and cheaper) teak furniture outlets on this island.

I have bought there before and shipped it back to Europe (and back again to Singapore...). After 4 years no cracks.

The thing is, sometimes they use old wood to 'construct' new pieces, so it will look antique, but it is in fact a new piece, made of old wood. You can verify by asking for this and then if they say it is an original old piece itself, ask for the certificate of origin, which it should have in case it is antique.

I find the better quality to be found at the 3 or 4 shops at Pagoda street in Chinatown, more expensive, but higher quality as well.

Eric

I agree with CD and Eric. I have not moved much teak back to the US, but know people who woke up in the middle of the night to the ungodly sound of their newly shipped furniture rending. Cracks an inch wide. They spend a fortune on it and it was not from Depsey Rd.

Here's the thing: old teak that is recycled into new pieces is supposed to weather fluctuations in humidity much better (and has the added bonus of not contributing to deforestation). True antiques tend to do better as well.