Redwood lumber is a popular building material due to its natural resistance to pests and distinctive color. It is graded by quality and can be reclaimed from old growth trees or damaged trees. When selecting redwood lumber, people should look for straight boards with no signs of warping or twisting.
Redwood lumber is lumber cut from redwoods, trees of the cypress family found primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Redwood has a number of characteristics that make it popular with builders and furniture makers. Wood products made with redwood are generally available at lumber yards and home improvement stores and can be ordered by special request if products of a particular type or quality are needed.
As the name suggests, redwood lumber has a naturally reddish color, which can be very bright when fresh. Over time, it will darken to a deep brown. Redwood tends to be close-grained, and while it’s a softwood, it’s also very resistant to bugs, mold, and mildew. The distinctive color and resistance to pests make redwood lumber a popular building material for decks, trim and furniture. It can also be used to make structural supports and other components of a structure.
Like other wood products, redwood lumber is graded by quality before it is sold. The best redwood has a tight, even grain and is free from defects such as knots and holes. Lower grades may have small defects, resulting in very large knots in poor quality wood. Redwood lumber can also be reclaimed, both from existing redwood structures and trees damaged by storms and fires. Trees struck by lightning, felled in bad weather, or partially burned by fire can still produce usable lumber.
Some of the finest redwood lumbers are old growth redwoods, known as such due to their extreme age. In some cases, the old growth can be hundreds of years old and is cut down in areas where logging has not previously occurred. The wood tends to be very strong and dense due to the age of the tree and also, as the trees are extremely large, very large timber cuts can be made. Old growth is commonly used for beams, where chunky hardwood pieces are desirable, and it can also be used to make large redwood paneling.
When selecting redwood lumber, people should look for straight boards with no signs of warping or twisting. If they are buying green lumber, it needs to be cured before use and may need to be weighted to prevent warping. The lumber should have a uniform grain and, depending on the quality purchased, people should look for defects. This lumber product is often sold untreated due to its natural resistance to pests. For people intending to varnish or stain, it is advisable to use a test patch before covering the lumber, to confirm that the treatment is working as desired.
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