Redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens)
Range
Redwood grows along or near the coast of California in a narrow, irregular strip not more than 35 miles wide and about 500 miles long, extending from 100 miles south of San Francisco to a little above the Oregon border. This massive tree does not grow naturally outside this area, which is characterized by frequent fogs and considerable soil moisture. Single acres of redwood have been found that contained over 1 million board-feet of limber.
Properties
Typical virgin-growth redwood is moderately light in weight, averaging 28 pounds a cubic foot: The wood is moderately hard, with a specific gravity of 0.38, moderately strong, and moderately stiff. Except for shock resistance, it has somewhat higher strength properties for its weight than would be expected.
Redwood is thought to owe its outstanding decay resistance to the reddish extractive in the tree, which colors the wood and accounts for its name. The wood has very small shrinkage, is comparatively easy to season, and holds its shape well after seasoning. Redwood has only intermediate nailwithdrawal resistance but takes and holds paint exceptionally well. Redwood, the cedars, and baldcypress make up the group of woods with the highest resistance to termites.
Uses
Probably from one-half to two-thirds of the redwood lumber produced is used in the form of planks, dimension, boards, joists, and posts. A large part of this material goes into framing for houses and industrial buildings, and into bridges, trestles, and other heavy construction. Much of the remaining lumber is remanufactured into house siding, sash, blinds, doors, general millwork, outdoor furniture, and tanks. Richly colored redwood paneling provides pleasing interior effects.
Description
Heartwood is usually a uniform deep reddish brown. The wood is without resin canals and has no distinctive odor, taste, or feel. Western redcedar may approach redwood in color, but the distinctive odor of western redcedar separates the two woods immediately.