Teak vs Bamboo Shower Seat: Which One Is a Better Choice?

Shower seats have been around for a (very) long time now. It became widely popular back in the 1930s-40s. But, of course over the itinerary of time shower seats have drastically evolved. One such factor is its “build material.”

Shower seats are now available in various forms, but Bamboo and Teak wood remain the two most approved kinds of wood for shower seats. Why? The obvious reasons are due to their excellent water resistant capacity and of course their aesthetic factor.

This has led to the development of a dilemma over which is better, teak or bamboo? While both the woods have their respective pros and cons.

I will make side by side comparisons of Teak vs Bamboo shower seat to help you understand the difference, and hopefully, help you make your ideal purchase.

Main Difference between teak and bamboo

1. Growth/ Species

Did you know that Bamboo has over 1,200 different kinds of species? In fact, Bamboo has one of the highest numbers of species over any other kind of wood (ish). Teak wood, on the other hand only exists in 3 different kinds. But, the only sought-after kind is the “Tectona Grandis” (which is used for making shower seats).

However, teak wood has one major advantage to make up for its limited species; they are classified as a proper tree. On the other hand, Bamboo in its natural and biological state is actually grass.

2. Eco-friendly

The importance of utilizing eco-friendly products has never been more crucial, so why skip that when you are considering a shower seat, right?

Well, the good thing is that both the teak and bamboo are entirely eco-friendly. They are both grown in plantations, which means that their cutting process does not disrupt our ecosystem.

Both the teak and the bamboos are planted in large magnitude to compensate for chopping them down for such purposes.

In fact, bamboo is known to be one of the quickest growing trees/ grass and can grow up to 12 inches a day.

3. Structure

In terms of structure, teak shower seats are mostly manufactured with solid teak wood, which promotes excellent toughness and durability.

Bamboo shower seats, on the other hand, are mostly manufactured from laminated wood.

While both teak and bamboo shower bench offers good structural durability, teak wood due to their solid wood construction is a stronger material.

4. Resistance

Teak wood is naturally resistant to mold, water, rot and insects which enhances its active lifetime duration.

Bamboo, however, is only water-resistant in its natural form. To make it resistant to mold, rot and other foreign interferences, it has to be chemically treated.

5. Maintenance

The maintenance process of both the teak and bamboo shower seats is relatively easy. You won’t have to break your back trying to clean either one of them.

However, the frequency of the cleaning procedure is different. While teak shower seats require maintenance only once every 3-6 months. A bamboo shower seat requires maintenance more frequently than its counterpart.

The bamboo seat also requires a special bamboo sealer a few times a year to protect its waterproof capability.

6. Cost

For most people, deciding which shower seat to purchase ultimately comes down to their price tag.

Bamboo seats provide a cheaper option between the two as they cost almost as half as its counterpart. However, purchasing the bamboo seat for a lower price means more maintenance and a significantly shorter lifespan of the seat.

Which is better, teak or bamboo?

Based on the brief comparisons given above, you must have gotten a good deal of information about the key differences between the teak and bamboo shower seat.

On the question of which wood material is better, teak or bamboo? The answer depends on what factors you are looking for in your shower seat.

If you can look past the frequent maintenance procedure, the bamboo shower seat is your ideal pick. It can offer you a wide availability of choices with a much cheaper price tag.

On the other hand, the teak wood shower seat gives you optimal functionality and durability. They are much stronger and reliable as compared to the bamboo seats with a higher price tag of course.

Overall, teak wood shower seats come off as the better choice between the two due to their natural strength and durability. However, bamboo shower seats are an excellent budget option as well.

Still not sure which material to use? In that case, check our best materials for the shower bench article, where we compare all materials.

Conclusion

There is no definite answer to the comparison between Teak vs Bamboo shower seat. In all fairness, both the teak and bamboo shower seat make up an excellent purchase option.

If you are looking for a budget shower seat, a bamboo shower seat is an excellent choice.

However, if some extra bucks do not impact your pocket size significantly, it is better to buy a teak wood seat with less maintenance, more durability, and a longer lifetime.