Redwood
Sequoia sempervirens
Hardness
Very soft, dents easily; great for carving, poor for floors.
Overview
Lightweight, stable, and famously rot-resistant, with a rich red color, the classic premium decking and outdoor wood. Soft and easy to work, but splinters and dents.
Commonly built
- Decking
- Outdoor furniture
- Siding
- Planters
Appearance
Warm reddish-brown heartwood, straight-grained and even; old-growth is deeper in color and tighter-grained than fast-grown new stock.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Soft, light, and very easy to work. Excellent decay resistance and dimensional stability make it ideal outdoors. Splinters easily and dents under impact. The tannins can stain in contact with ferrous metals, use stainless or coated fasteners.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn redwood panel moves roughly 0.23 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Redwood move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Redwood?
Redwood has a Janka hardness of 420 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Redwood suitable for outdoor use?
Redwood stands up reasonably well outdoors, especially with a protective finish and regular maintenance.
How easy is Redwood to work with?
Redwood has Excellent workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Redwood move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn redwood panel moves roughly 0.23 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
For outdoor use, an exterior penetrating oil or semi-transparent stain with UV protection preserves color; unfinished it silvers. Takes exterior stains well. Interior pieces take a light clear finish. Acidic, so use non-corroding fasteners.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used redwood, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.