by Valley Redwood | Redwood
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
by Valley Redwood | Redwood, Redwood Stain
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.
by Valley Redwood | Redwood
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
by Valley Redwood | Redwood
When you have decided that it is time to rebuild your deck and have made the smart choice to use redwood, you have to decide to simply redo the existing design or change it up.
Recently a local client was in that exact position. Their deck was very old and rotting. It was at the same level as the house with and old fashioned louvered plastic roof and railings all around. Initially they were going to duplicate the style minus the plastic roof. Their contractor suggested re-thinking their plans and consider lowering the deck to the level of the back yard thus eliminating the need for railings and choosing to leave the space open without a roof. This plan would also expand the entire look of the back yard and make it seem much larger.
Lowering the deck required the ledger board be moved to the new level and steps from the house be built leading to the deck surface. Once they decided that was the right move for them, the project was on. The demo was completed and the materials list was completed. Pressure treated substructure and beautiful redwood decking was ordered. The client also opted for having hidden screws for the decking.
Once completed, the homeowners we so excited about their new deck and how much it opened up the entire backyard. They could now simply step off the deck to the yard and pathways from any point on the deck. They claimed “our backyard looks way bigger”.
Valley Redwood has the right materials, expertise, and design knowledge to assist you with your redwood deck project. Give us a call or stop by and let us partner with you from the design phase to completion. We look forward to helping you make the vision you have for your deck come to life.
by Valley Redwood | Redwood
Decks, stairs, fences, and railings are the common construction projects you might expect with redwood. We have some ideas that go beyond common into inspirational.
Since redwood offers natural resistance to insects and decay, building a pergola out of redwood offers a striking shade structure over your patio. Grow honeysuckle, grapes, wisteria, or fragrant jasmine to cover your redwood pergola. If you like Kiwi, plant one male and a couple female plants at the corners; the shade and fruit will be amazing.
Arbors and gazebos are a beautiful addition in redwood. Outdoor furniture, a suspended bench swing, a garden trellis, or a privacy screen.
Kids will enjoy their redwood swing set and play structure while you enjoy the natural beauty of redwood in your backyard.
A shaded hammock, planter boxes or flower boxes, benches, chairs and more. Redwood’s natural beauty enhances any landscape in any form
At Valley Redwood we specialize in redwood supplies and expertise. We are here to help you with all your landscaping projects.
Get inspired, then get some redwood…at Valley Redwood. Your Sacramento source for redwood and landscaping products. Contact us and get your project started.
“Happy Spring from everyone at Valley Redwood”
Valley Redwood
Quality Products and Services since 1982
by Valley Redwood | Redwood
Starting Friday, August 9th and going thru Saturday, August 17th, Valley Redwood is offering some great pricing on redwood fencing, decking and privacy lattice. Take advantage of this sale while supplies last. Stop by and see our new displays as well that could inspire your next project. We look forward to seeing you.
Special Pricing
