Wood Species Guide
Redwood
Sequoia sempervirens
Also called: Coast Redwood, California Redwood, Vavona (burl), Sequoia
About the name “Redwood”
Sequoia can also mean giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron), a different tree from the Sierra Nevada.
What Redwood looks like
Heartwood ranges from light pinkish brown to a deep reddish brown. Sapwood is pale and creamy. Redwood burl is a popular figured form with swirling eyes.
Grain and texture
Usually straight grain with a texture that runs fine to coarse. Old-growth and reclaimed stock has tight rings; new second-growth wood has wider rings and is a bit softer.
Working Redwood: planing, cutting and gluing
Easy to cut and plane, but soft enough to crush and tear on end grain if tools are dull. It glues well. Like other soft woods it dents, and it can split when nailed near ends.
Finishing Redwood: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil and exterior finishes well. Its tannins can bleed through water-based finishes and react with iron, so use stainless hardware and seal before a light-colored topcoat. Burl slabs make striking river tables; seal coat the burl first because the open eyes trap air.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Heartwood is moderately to very durable against decay, with reclaimed old-growth on the high end. It is very stable and resists checking. For Florida lanais it performs well with a good finish, but sapwood should be kept out of exposed spots.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Most redwood today is sold as decking, fencing, reclaimed beams or burl slabs. The burls are where it shines for us: a clear or tinted epoxy pour over redwood burl is stunning. Like cedar, it is too soft for a dining surface that sees hard use unless it is protected by a thick epoxy or film coat. Ask us if you're hunting for a redwood burl; we can often find one.
Common uses for Redwood
Decking, siding, outdoor furniture, hot tubs, beams, burl veneers and slabs, and musical instrument tops.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of historic logging of old-growth forests. Look for reclaimed or responsibly managed second-growth sources.
Safety and toxicity
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
- Respiratory / asthma
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
Redwood dust can irritate skin and eyes, and some people develop an allergy or asthma from it. Heavy, long-term exposure to fine dust has been linked to a lung inflammation in mill workers, so keep the dust down.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + respirator when sanding or milling; gloves for sensitive skin
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Redwood is a reported sensitizer and its dust can irritate the eyes, skin and lungs. Use dust collection and a respirator.
Redwood in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Redwood listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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