Understanding Redwood Fencing Grades
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Originally written by Ivan Gomez of Fine Line Fence, Inc.
Redwood is known for being one of the best natural wood fencing materials available. However, since redwood comes in varying grades of quality, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting when you hire a fence builder.
When it comes to garden applications like decks and fences, redwood grades run from Construction Heart at the high end to Merchantable Common on the low end. Grades with the “heart” designation consist wholly of heartwood from the center of the tree, whereas “common” grades are an amalgam of heartwood and sapwood (exterior wood). In general, the higher the grade, the fewer/smaller knots the wood contains and the more consistent its color.
Beyond the garden grades of redwood, there are architectural grades such as Heart B and Clear All Heart, which offer superior beauty and stability. However, because of their high cost, these grades are typically used for smaller applications like paneling, trim and cabinetry.
Due to the complex variety of redwood grades, you should plan to discuss this with your fencing contractor and make sure the proposal specifies the products to be used. In addition to grade, ask about fence board thickness, which is another critical aspect of fence quality.
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