Part Three of Seven: Redwood for Picnic Tables, Other Outdoor furniture and Garden Products
Redwood is a naturally beautiful soft wood with a straight grain, and a deep Red Brown color. Although easy to dent, and having a high knot density, Redwood remains a highly cherished lumber. This may be due to its limited availability, its ease being worked with hand tools, its lack of reaction with iron fasteners, or its resistance to insects and deterioration.
Redwood has low shrinkage, and warping, and it is very easy to nail, but the nails, and screws pull out easily. It is considered a long lasting and durable wood that ages beautifully, but it does require care to work with as it splinters and bruises easily.
It is used for light construction, decks, and furniture (using nuts and bolts, not screws and nails). Most people find the Redwood aroma to be pleasant, however, as with Western Red Cedar, the aroma may cause respiratory problems in some people.
The Redwood tree’s official name is Sequoia or Sequoiadendron giganteum for the giant Redwood, and it is a sub species of the Cypress family. In fact the Giant Redwood is the world’s tallest tree with an average height of 50-85 meters tall with a 6-8 meter diameter. Record trees can be as tall as 94.8 meters and 17 meters in diameter and can be as much as 3,500 years old.
