Stone Veneer and More

Stone Veneer and More

Manufactured stone veneer, thin brick, and tile, are versatile and durable options for home and commercial construction, bringing both beauty and functionality to any space. At Valley Redwood, we provide a wide range of these products, ensuring that you can find the perfect materials to suit your design needs.

Manufactured Stone Veneer

Manufactured stone veneer is a cost-effective, lightweight alternative to natural stone, offering the same aesthetic appeal without the heavy installation process. These veneers are crafted to mimic the texture and look of real stone, providing a natural, rustic touch to any surface. They are commonly used for exterior facades, fireplaces, and accent walls, adding depth and character to both interior and exterior spaces.

Thin Brick

For those seeking the charm of brick without the weight or cost of traditional bricks, thin brick is an ideal choice. Thin brick is easy to install and can be used in both interior and exterior applications. It offers the timeless look of brickwork, adding a classic touch to walls, backsplashes, and facades. Valley Redwood’s thin brick products come in a variety of colors and textures, allowing you to customize your design to match your style preferences.

Floor Tiles

Tiles are a versatile design element that can be used for flooring in any outdoor space. If you’re looking for natural stone tile, Valley Redwood offers a wide selection of high-quality tiles that can enhance the aesthetic of your yard or garden. Tiles are not only beautiful but also practical, being durable and easy to maintain, making them perfect for high-traffic areas.

By offering a diverse range of high-quality products, Valley Redwood ensures that customers can achieve their desired design vision with ease and precision.

Exploring the Different Grades of Redwood Lumber

Exploring the Different Grades of Redwood Lumber

Redwood lumber, renowned for its beauty, durability, and resistance to decay, is a preferred choice for a variety of construction and design projects. Valley Redwood, a premier supplier in the Sacramento area, offers a range of redwood grades to meet the diverse needs of its customers. Understanding these grades can help you select the right type of lumber for your specific project, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity.

Heartwood vs. Sapwood

Redwood is classified into two main types based on the tree’s age and location of the wood. Heartwood is the older, denser wood found at the center of the tree, known for its deep, rich color and exceptional resistance to insects and decay. Sapwood, on the other hand, is the younger, outer layer of the tree and tends to be lighter in color and less resistant to decay.

Redwood Grades

  1. Clear All Heart
    • Characteristics: This is the highest grade of redwood, consisting entirely of heartwood. It is free from knots and other imperfections, offering a smooth, uniform appearance.
    • Uses: Ideal for premium projects where aesthetics are paramount, such as high-end decking, siding, and trim.
  2. Clear
    • Characteristics: Similar to Clear All Heart, but may include both heartwood and sapwood. It is also free of knots but may have minor blemishes.
    • Uses: Suitable for applications where appearance is important, such as exterior siding and interior paneling.
  3. Heart B
    • Characteristics: Contains only heartwood but allows for some knots and imperfections. This grade offers a balance between aesthetic appeal and cost.
    • Uses: Often used for outdoor structures like fences, decks, and garden furniture where durability is crucial, but some natural character is acceptable.
  4. B Grade
    • Characteristics: Includes both heartwood and sapwood with knots and other imperfections. It is more economical than higher grades but still maintains the natural beauty of redwood.
    • Uses: Commonly used for garden boxes, outdoor furniture, and general construction where a rustic look is desired.
  5. Construction Common
    • Characteristics: This grade includes a mix of heartwood and sapwood with larger knots and blemishes. It is the most economical grade.
    • Uses: Suitable for structural applications where appearance is less critical, such as framing and support structures.
  6. Deck Heart and Deck Common
    • Characteristics: These grades are specifically selected for decking. Deck Heart is all heartwood, while Deck Common includes both heartwood and sapwood with knots.
    • Uses: Designed for use in decking, providing a durable and attractive surface.

Choosing the Right Grade

Selecting the right grade of redwood lumber from Valley Redwood depends on your project’s requirements. For high-visibility projects, Clear All Heart or Clear grades are ideal. For structural or less visible applications, Construction Common offers a cost-effective solution. Understanding these grades ensures you get the best value and performance for your specific needs.

Valley Redwood’s knowledgeable staff can help guide you in choosing the right grade for your project, ensuring you achieve both beauty and durability. Whether you’re building a deck, fence, or interior feature, there’s a redwood grade perfect for your needs. Contact us to see which grades of redwood lumber we stock, or questions about fencing, or landscape materials you might have. We look forward to hearing from you.

Project Planning

Project Planning

Transform Your Backyard with Our Redwood Patio Design Assistance

Revamping your backyard with a stunning redwood patio not only enhances the visual appeal of your home but also extends your living space to the great outdoors. Our professional patio design services help homeowners like you turn these dreams into reality, ensuring every detail reflects your style and meets your needs.

Why Opt for a Redwood Patio?

Redwood is celebrated for its natural beauty and unmatched durability, making it an ideal choice for outdoor environments. This sought-after material resists decay, insects, and even weathering, maintaining its rich color and integrity over years. A redwood patio offers a luxurious look that can withstand the test of time, adding both charm and value to your property.

Tailored Design Assistance

We begin with a personal consultation to understand your vision and preferences. Our experts then craft a customized design that incorporates the unique characteristics of redwood, ensuring your patio is both functional and fashionable. From selecting the right shade of wood to planning the layout and features that enhance usability—like built-in seating or integrated planters—we handle every aspect meticulously.

Start Your Patio Project Today

Don’t wait to create the perfect outdoor retreat. Contact us today for a personalized consultation and start planning your dream redwood patio. Whether you’re entertaining guests or simply enjoying a quiet evening outdoors, a beautifully designed redwood patio is the perfect backdrop. Enhance your home’s exterior and enjoy the benefits of a sophisticated, durable outdoor space crafted just for you.

The Advantages of Redwood Over Composites

The Advantages of Redwood Over Composites

Redwood along with pertaining legendary looks for your construction project can make an impact ecologically contributing to a sustainable future. Local lumberyards have been increasingly cutting back on composite lumber. It is important to point out that composite is just a fancy word for plastic, which is incredibly bad for the environment. Besides often being a cheaper alternative initially, composites offer little upside as a building material, especially for the life of your project.

We have always advocated getting the word out about green building practices in the construction Industry. Long after you have tired of your composite deck, it won’t be recycled; rather it will be put in a landfill. Composite decking manufacturers have stopped using the term maintenance-free when describing their products because of many costly lawsuits.

Environmental Benefits of Redwood Decking

According to the California Redwood Association (CRA), redwood is grown and harvested in accordance with the highest environmental standards in the world, tapping the sun for energy and soaking in California’s famed North Coast fog. Roughly 90 percent of all product-producing redwood forests are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or Sustainable Forestry Initiative as sources of environmentally-sound building materials. In addition, redwood uses 97% less energy to produce than plastic.

But that’s not all—redwoods also excel at reducing carbon emissions. As they grow, the trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it in the wood and releasing oxygen into the air. When the trees are harvested, the carbon they had captured remains stored: an average redwood deck carries 500 pounds of carbon. Choosing redwood as a building material can reduce a homeowner’s carbon footprint. In addition, when lumber is milled into decking and other products, the bark, sawdust, and scraps are collected and used to produce biomass energy. In terms of sustainability, you can’t go wrong!

Redwood Deck Longevity

Premium woods like red cedar and redwood offer comparable levels of durability and longevity, lasting an average of 20 years. Both woods are naturally resistant to shrinking and warping, to boot. The primary difference between the two woods is color: redwoods range from light to dark red, while cedar hues run from light brown to salmon pink.

Redwood Deck Aesthetics

The main reason that builders and homeowners are returning to redwood, however, is aesthetics; redwood possesses a rich character and natural beauty that enhances the exterior of any home. It creates an aura of warmth and luxury, adding value while at the same time, providing an ecologically sound alternative for the environmentally conscious consumer.

Make sure you so research before deciding a building material for your project, you do will find that Valley Redwood lumber is the perfect choice in Sacramento.

References: buyredwood.com, bobvila.com

 

Valley Redwood

Quality Products and Services Since 1982

(916) 334-9500

 

Sealers and Stains for your Redwood

Sealers and Stains for your Redwood

Now that you have spent time, energy, and money on your new redwood deck, the next step to consider is maintenance.  Proper care and maintenance can extend the life of your deck and help keep its natural beauty. Several factors can contribute to the wood looking dull, grey, and weathered. Years of sun, rain, and extreme temperatures can make your deck look older than it is. Simple measures can alleviate the affects of these factors.

The first thing you should consider is a proper stain/sealer when the deck is new. This will give the deck the best start it can have and will make the maintenance in the future even easier. There are many sealer and stains available, so make sure you select one that is formulated for redwood. Many tints are available depending on personnel choice and the desired look. Because it is an open-celled structure and it contains little or no pitch or resins, redwood accepts and holds a variety of finishes from clear stain to solid color paints. To achieve a lasting redwood color, use a water-repellent, oil-based deck stain.

When it comes time to clean your deck, a few simple steps should be taken to assure long lasting beauty. Depending on how long it has been since your deck was cleaned, you may have to apply a cleaner, scrub with a stiff brush, and rinse with water, or you can lightly clean with a pressure washer. If you are pressure washing, be cautious and use a wide fan spray and not a concentrated jet spray as this can carve grooves in your deck. Consider lightly sanding the railings before sealing to keep a nice smooth surface your hands will thank you for.

After you have thoroughly cleaned your redwood, make sure it is dry. Sometimes it might take a few days to completely dry. Once dry, you are ready for sealer. Sealers can be applied with a brush, roller, or spray. You will have better coverage with a brush or roller as some of the spray will simply get lost in the air.

Before you start your cleaning and sealing process, give us a call and we can recommend which method will be the best for your deck and we will help you choose the right stain or sealer. Done right, you will only have to do this every 2 or 3 years. Valley Redwood is happy to help you keep all your redwood decks, gazebos, and furniture looking great for many years.