Coast Redwood or Giant Sequoia

This wood comes from the two great California redwoods: coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), the tallest tree on Earth, growing in the coastal fog belt from central California into extreme southern Oregon; and giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), the most massive tree by volume, native to scattered groves on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Both are softwoods (conifers), and their timber is broadly similar enough that it is often sold and identified simply as 'redwood.'

At a glance the wood is light in weight, soft, and straight-grained, with a warm color running from pale reddish-brown to a deep rust or reddish-orange in the heartwood. It is best known for two things: the extraordinary decay resistance of old-growth heartwood, and its dimensional stability. On this sample the prominent annual rings form a clear radial pattern and the color reads reddish-orange to rust — classic redwood traits.

Coast redwood is by far the more important lumber tree of the two; giant sequoia wood is more brittle and was historically found to be of limited commercial value, so most 'redwood' lumber in the trade is coast redwood.

Heartwood ranges from light pinkish-brown through cherry-red to a deep reddish-brown or rust, and the narrow sapwood is pale, almost white to pale yellow, giving clear contrast. The grain is usually straight, and the growth rings are distinct — earlywood soft and lighter, latewood a darker, harder line — producing the prominent radial ring pattern seen on this sample. Texture is medium to coarse and even, with a low, matte luster. Figured stock does occur: curly redwood, and the highly prized burl called 'vavona' or 'redwood lace burl,' with dense clusters of tiny eyes.

This is a low-density wood. Janka hardness is roughly 420-480 lbf — soft, in the same range as many pines and lighter than most temperate hardwoods. It is not a structural strength champion, but it is light, stable, and holds its shape well with very low shrinkage.

Decay resistance is the wood's signature quality. Old-growth heartwood is rated durable to very durable, resisting rot and insects thanks to natural tannins and extractives — the reason it was historically favored for siding, decking, and water tanks. However, second-growth and young-tree lumber, along with any sapwood, is far less durable and should not be assumed to have the legendary resistance of old-growth stock.

Redwood's traditional home is outdoor and moisture-exposed work: exterior siding, fascia, decking, fencing, posts, pergolas, garden structures, greenhouse framing, shingles and shakes, and water tanks, hot tubs, and cooling-tower stock. Its stability and rot resistance made it a standard for anything meant to weather.

Indoors it is used for paneling, trim, and interior joinery, where its color and stability are assets. The figured grades — curly redwood and vavona burl — are sought after for veneer, fine furniture accents, boxes, turned bowls, pens, and lutherie (redwood is occasionally used as a tonewood for guitar soundboards, valued for a warm, responsive tone). Its light weight and workability also suit it to pattern-making and lightweight construction.

Redwood works easily with both hand and machine tools and is kind to cutting edges. Because it is soft and the earlywood is much softer than the latewood bands, sharp tools and care are needed to avoid crushing or fuzzing the soft rings; it can dent and scratch readily. Burl and figured stock is more temperamental and prone to tearout, benefiting from sharp tooling and light cuts. It nails, screws, and glues well, though its softness means fasteners can pull out under load, and the acidic extractives can corrode ordinary steel fasteners and cause black staining in damp conditions — stainless or hot-dipped galvanized hardware is preferred outdoors.

It dries readily with low shrinkage and good dimensional stability, and it takes stains and finishes well, though the open, uneven grain may benefit from a sealer. Splinters can be a nuisance because of the brittle, splintery nature of the earlywood.

On safety, redwood dust is a recognized respiratory irritant and sensitizer: it has been associated with occupational asthma, and there are historical reports linking redwood-dust exposure to sinus and other effects. Use effective dust extraction and a respirator when sanding or machining. Neither species is CITES-listed.

Coast redwood remains commercially available, primarily as second-growth lumber from managed California forests, in construction, siding, and decking grades; clear vertical-grain and figured (curly, burl/vavona) material commands a considerable premium and is comparatively scarce. Old-growth redwood is essentially no longer harvested, so true old-growth boards now come mainly from reclaimed sources — salvaged tanks, timbers, and buildings — and are prized and expensive. Giant sequoia is not a significant commercial timber; most groves are protected, and its wood rarely reaches the market.

Neither species is listed on CITES. Coast redwood is assessed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and giant sequoia as Endangered as well, reflecting the loss of old-growth forest and limited natural range. Nearly all remaining old-growth is now protected in parks and reserves, so responsible buyers rely on second-growth or reclaimed redwood and should look for FSC-certified stock where available.