All About Redwood Decking
Redwood is an all natural material that is mainly recognized for its vibrant red color and wood grain that portrays its natural beauty. Redwood is a very easy wood to work with when it comes to nailing and drilling, so homeowners and contractors tend to choose redwood over other decking materials. It is among the few decking materials that are highly sought after because it is lightweight but still durable and strong. Redwood can withhold the high traffic that most decks see as well as the exposure to frigid temperatures in the winter and warm temperatures in the summer. It can also stand up to possible damage from rain, snow, wind, and hail.
A typical redwood deck can last up to 30 years with minimal repairs needed and little damage if well maintained. Redwood also has a lower shrinking and warping rate, which will keep your deck looking brand new for years with some slight maintenance and repairs here and there.
If you are a homeowner looking for a greener, more environmentally friendly material redwood is your decking choice. It stores more carbon than it emits which makes it safer for you and your family as well as the environment.
The Benefits of Redwood Decking
1
Vibrant Red Color
Redwood is mostly known for its name which was created as a result of its vibrant red color and detailed wood grain. Every board of redwood you see will have a hue of red scattered throughout, alongside a wood grain that is intricate and eye catching. You can find different shades of redwood that are lighter or darker if you have a preference. You can also stain the redwood to enhance the color even more.
2
Durability and Easy to Work With
Redwood is among the few building materials that are strong and durable, while also being lightweight and easy to work with. Redwood is a softer wood species that makes cutting, nailing, and drilling a breeze which is a huge benefit during installation. If you are seeking a decking material that is lighter in weight, easy to maneuver like cedar, and looks incredible with little improvements then redwood is your ideal decking material.
2
Durability and Easy to Work With
Redwood is among the few building materials that are strong and durable, while also being lightweight and easy to work with. Redwood is a softer wood species that makes cutting, nailing, and drilling a breeze which is a huge benefit during installation. If you are seeking a decking material that is lighter in weight, easy to maneuver like cedar, and looks incredible with little improvements then redwood is your ideal decking material.
3
Stain or No Stain
Because of redwood’s vibrant and unique coloring, you don’t need to stain the wood if you don’t want to. However, a transparent stain would add an extra layer of protection from exposure to damage. Of course, if you have the desired color you want, redwood takes stain very well and can be re-stained as many times as you want.
4
Affordable Pricing
Redwood is on the more affordable side of building materials and specifically decking materials. If you have a budget that you are sticking to, you can easily use redwood as your building material while staying within your budget. Talk to your decking specialist here at Rocky Mountain Forest Products and inform them of your budget and they will see what they can do.
4
Affordable Pricing
Redwood is on the more affordable side of building materials and specifically decking materials. If you have a budget that you are sticking to, you can easily use redwood as your building material while staying within your budget. Talk to your decking specialist here at Rocky Mountain Forest Products and inform them of your budget and they will see what they can do.
How Do I Know if
Redwood is Right for Me?
Whether you’re a contractor or a homeowner, knowing which type of material is best for your specific job can be tricky. There are certain questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down the different materials we offer. The first thing we recommend doing is taking note of all the attributes you are looking for in a deck and what are the most important items to you. You can share this information with one of our decking specialists and they can give you recommendations based on that. However, if you want to use redwood but aren’t sure if it will cover all your needs, keep reading…
Are you seeking a decking material that is easy to work with, is affordable and looks great with little work?
There are very few decking materials that are easy to work with, are affordable and look great without anything added like a stain, oil, or paint. Redwood, however, checks off all these boxes with ease. You can easily install redwood yourself with little help, it’s affordable while being durable and sustainable, and it looks great when left natural and doesn’t require stain.
Is Redwood Safe for My Family and the Environment?
Redwood is environmentally friendly and is sustainable because it emits less carbon than other materials. It is also rated as one of the most fire-resistant building materials for decks on the market, which can leave you feeling confident when you want to use a fire pit for s’mores during the summer months.
Is Redwood Decking Easy to Take Care of?
Redwood requires no maintenance or upkeep other than the regular inspections once or twice a year looking for any damages or imperfections that need to be fixed. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for how to care for your redwood.
Mold and Pest Resistant
Redwood is the perfect material for an outdoor space like a patio or deck, but it can also be taken indoors in your home or on the inside of a sunroom, for example.
Is Redwood Safe for My Family and the Environment?
Redwood is environmentally friendly and is sustainable because it emits less carbon than other materials. It is also rated as one of the most fire-resistant building materials for decks on the market, which can leave you feeling confident when you want to use a fire pit for s’mores during the summer months.
Is Redwood Decking Easy to Take Care of?
Redwood requires no maintenance or upkeep other than the regular inspections once or twice a year looking for any damages or imperfections that need to be fixed. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for how to care for your redwood.
Mold and Pest Resistant
Redwood is the perfect material for an outdoor space like a patio or deck, but it can also be taken indoors in your home or on the inside of a sunroom, for example.
Humboldt Redwood
Sustainable | Beautiful | All-Natural Material
All our redwood products that we carry are from Humboldt Redwood, which is a redwood manufacturer outside of Scotia, California. We chose to carry them as opposed to other companies because they are family and community based and work with several different non-profit agencies giving donations and funding certain programs and events. Community giving is very important to them and in turn, they only supply the best quality of products to their suppliers to sell to their community wherever they are located.
They are a very reliable manufacturer with a very strong goal of carrying “Sustainably harvested, naturally strong and naturally beautiful redwood” that is sourced with responsible forestry in mind.”
“Humboldt redwood is working to cultivate a legacy of environmentally responsible forestry. Their commitment is to the environment. Humboldt Redwood started back in July of 2008 and has since been offering unique options of dimensional lumber for timber framing, post, and beams, industrial, commercial, residential, and outdoor projects.”
“All Humboldt Redwood products are grown and harvested in a very responsible and ethical manner with a long term want for stability. All of our redwood logs are harvested at a level below annual growth with trees being replanted to act as a renewable resource.”
Reduce Carbon Dioxide
Greenhouse gases are often caught in the atmosphere and play a considerable role in global warming and climate change. Redwood forests that are managed well are effective at reducing the build-up of gases in the air. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and since redwood is a fast-growing species, it can cycle carbon monoxide very quickly.
Superior Fire Rating
All of Humboldt’s Redwood’s products are rated a class B for fire resistance. Other wood materials, including decking and siding are also fire-rated at a class B, which allows you to better protect your home against natural disasters like fires.
Redwood Decking VS Alternatives
Cedar, Reclaimed Wood,
Plastic, & Tropical Hardwoods
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Redwood Decking VS Cedar Decking
Cedar is a big competitor with redwood because they are extremely similar. Especially here at Rocky Mountain Forest Products, where cedar and redwood are our top sellers. The biggest difference between the two is their coloring. Redwood is reddish with a brown tint sometimes, while cedar is more of a yellowish blue color. Either one looks great and is easy to work with and install, but redwood benefits above cedar when it comes to the detail in wood grain and color.
Redwood Decking VS Composite (Trex) Decking
Plastic is a great option for someone looking to build a deck that can be installed and left alone for years without any attention. However, the process in which it takes to develop the plastic is very toxic to the environment and is made from nonrenewable resources. Of course, plastic also doesn’t look and feel like wood, which can be a huge turn off for some people. A lot of homeowners want the natural look and feel of the wood grain and the coloring of redwood. At the end of the day, the cost and the benefits of a redwood deck outweigh a plastic deck.
Redwood Decking VS Exotic Hardwoods (Ipe Decking)
Tropical Hardwoods like Tigerwood, Ipe, Garapa, and Mahogany have a variety of differences compared to redwood. Tropical hardwoods are much harder to work with and take care of, which is often a turn off for homeowners looking for an easy and long-lasting material to use for their deck.
Redwood Decking VS Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood compared to redwood is an equally popular product in the design industry. However, there are specific attributes to reclaimed wood that homeowners may find as a deal-breaker. For example, reclaimed wood can rarely be used outdoors unless it is manufactured to do so. Reclaimed wood is also much higher in cost when it comes to sourcing it, installing it and restoring it when the time comes. Reclaimed wood manufacturers have a reputation for selling new wood and stating its reclaimed, which can harm the environment in terms of deforestation. A lot of reclaimed wood is also not milled to prevent rot, decay, insects, and mold, all of which redwood is! All our redwood is resistant to mold and free of nails, screws, staples and other chemicals.
Redwood Deck
Building Tips 101
Redwood Deck Tip #1 – Get Inspiration
Before you buy materials or start building your deck, gain some inspiration. Use the internet as your friend to get pictures of decks that you like and that catch your eye. Once you have an idea of the way you want your deck to be designed, you can take the ideas and design your deck to look similar.
Redwood Deck Tip #4 – Shape and Size
Consider the shape and size of your deck and the design layout before you officially start building your deck. The shape and size of your design are important for the day to day uses of your deck and entertaining. You must consider if you want a pool, a hot tub, a kitchen, or a table to fit on your deck and fit in within the shape of it.
Redwood Deck Tip #2 – Design the Way You Live
The best way to design your deck is to design it to match the way you live. Design your deck with additions that help your day to day functions and entertaining.
Redwood Deck Tip #3 – Traffic
When you are designing your deck, it is important to consider the direction in which traffic flows. Make sure you are placing rails, landings, and stairs in the right position so that traffic can flow properly with no issues.
Redwood Deck Tip #5 – Plan for An Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor kitchens are the perfect addition to any outdoor space and are fantastic when entertaining and enjoying the outdoors during the summer months.
Redwood Deck Tip #6 – Match the Deck with Your Home
You want to match the deck with your house by morphing it with the same colors and similar materials as your home, so it looks like it was meant to be built-in. This is very important when it comes to reselling your home down the line.
Redwood Deck Tip #1 – Get Inspiration
Before you buy materials or start building your deck, gain some inspiration. Use the internet as your friend to get pictures of decks that you like and that catch your eye. Once you have an idea of the way you want your deck to be designed, you can take the ideas and design your deck to look similar.
Redwood Deck Tip #2 – Design the Way You Live
The best way to design your deck is to design it to match the way you live. Design your deck with additions that help your day to day functions and entertaining.
Redwood Deck Tip #3 – Traffic
When you are designing your deck, it is important to consider the direction in which traffic flows. Make sure you are placing rails, landings, and stairs in the right position so that traffic can flow properly with no issues.
Redwood Deck Tip #4 – Shape and Size
Consider the shape and size of your deck and the design layout before you officially start building your deck. The shape and size of your design are important for the day to day uses of your deck and entertaining. You must consider if you want a pool, a hot tub, a kitchen, or a table to fit on your deck and fit in within the shape of it.
Redwood Deck Tip #5 – Plan for An Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor kitchens are the perfect addition to any outdoor space and are fantastic when entertaining and enjoying the outdoors during the summer months.
Redwood Deck Tip #6 – Match the Deck with Your Home
You want to match the deck with your house by morphing it with the same colors and similar materials as your home, so it looks like it was meant to be built-in. This is very important when it comes to reselling your home down the line.
Redwood Deck Tip #7 – Don’t Forget the Overhead Cover
When you’re done with your deck, install an overhead cover or pergola to section off a portion of your deck from the sunlight. This will help shade your deck from the sun and prevent fading, but it will also give you a shady spot to relax and enjoy being outside without the sun directly on you. It also adds value to your deck and your home, which is ideal when you go to resell.
Redwood Deck Tip #7 – Don’t Forget the Overhead Cover
When you’re done with your deck, install an overhead cover or pergola to section off a portion of your deck from the sunlight. This will help shade your deck from the sun and prevent fading, but it will also give you a shady spot to relax and enjoy being outside without the sun directly on you. It also adds value to your deck and your home, which is ideal when you go to resell.
Contact Us Today!
If you’re interested in learning more about Redwood materials or if you have questions for our decking specialists, give us a call or come visit us today! We have a highly trained and educated team of specialists that can help guide you through the process of buying materials and building a deck. Feel free to take a stroll through our showroom, our show decks, and our yard to see the materials yourself to gain some inspiration. You can also read more about Humboldt Redwood and the work they do on their website, getredwood.com!
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