Common names: redwood, sequoia, California redwood, coast redwood, vavona (burl)
Short Description: The tall tree can range from 200 to 400 ft tall with a trunk diameter of 6 to 12 ft. Redwood emits a distinctive odor when used in woodworking.
Country of Origin: Pacific coast of northwestern United States
Color: light pinkish brown to reddish brown heartwood; pale yellow or pale white sapwood
Janka Scale Hardness: 450 lbf (2000 N)
Dried Average Weight: 26 lbs/ft3 (415 kg/m3)
Common Uses: panels, decks, fences, garden furniture, veneer, construction, musical instruments, turning, small specialty items
What Is Redwood?
Redwood is a sought-after wood for its usefulness in furniture making, construction, and other things. It grows in the coastal area of the northwestern United States. Redwood trees thrive in areas where heavy rainfall occurs. Redwood is called such because of their high tannin levels that give the reddish brown color to its bark and heartwood.
Redwood is often confused with giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), a related species, because of their similar lumber. Redwood slabs are rated as moderately to very durable in decay resistance. Slabs from older redwood trees are more durable than younger ones.
Is Redwood a Good Option for Outdoor Furniture?
Yes, redwood is a beautiful wood species for outdoor furniture. Redwoods have moisture- resistant qualities that allow them to survive rain and snow. They are also insect resistant. Its weathering capabilities give redwood a spot as one of the best choices for outdoor wood, along with cypress, cedar, and black locust.
How Workable Is Redwood?
You can easily work with a live edge wood slab from redwood for any woodworking project. The redwood live edge slab is easily manipulated with hand tools and machinery. But, tear-out may occur on figured redwood pieces that have irregular, wavy, or curly redwood grains. It also stains, paints, glues, and finishes well.
FAQs
Is redwood hardwood or softwood?
Redwood is a softwood with a hardness rating of 420 on the Janka scale, but this rating is lower than most softwoods. A live edge redwood slab is usually soft and light. However, it is a stable wood for woodworking and causes minimal shrinkage. It also has a decent strength-to-weight ratio, as with other softwood.
Is redwood easy to source?
Most redwood trees are no longer harvested. Almost 82% of ancient redwood forests are in parks and reserves and protected from logging. They also grow slowly, adding to their limited supply. While you can still purchase redwood slabs, expect to spend more because they are likely expensive compared to other softwoods.
Can redwood cause allergies?
Severe allergic reactions to redwood are uncommon. But, it is considered a sensitizer. It means that the more exposed you are to its fine particles, such as sawdust, the more sensitive you become. Reactions may include but are not limited to eye and skin irritations and respiratory symptoms.
Where To Buy Redwood
Due to limited supply but increased demand, local sawmills and regular shops may not have redwood in stock. A specialty lumber store is the best place to purchase a high-quality live edge redwood slab.
We at Alderfer Lumber Company Inc have a good inventory of wood slabs, including special and exotic pieces such as redwood. We provide reasonable prices and ensure that all the live edge slab options we have are sourced sustainably and transported and handled with care throughout the process.
Give us a call or send us an email for inquiries.
