When discussing wooden swing sets, it seems everyone has their favorite. For a variety of different reasons, some people prefer pine, others opt for cedar and then there are the redwood lovers. Whatever you ultimately choose, you should know why redwood swing sets are the best choice you can make.
By knowing more about the qualities of redwood, you’re better able to understand why it’s such a popular choice for so many and what sets it apart as the best choice for a wooden swing set. You also need to be aware that there are differences in redwood quality and if you know what they are, you’ll know if you’re getting what you’re paying for.
Redwood has a unique pinkish-red color which turns to gray as it ages. There are several grades of redwood, but one of the most commonly used grades for outdoor construction is called Con-Heart. The ‘con’ stands for construction grade and the ‘heart’ refers to the fact that it comes from the inner part of the tree, or the heart of the tree.
The natural resistance to rotting and insects only exists in the wood from the heart of the tree. The outermost wood requires staining every year, due to the lack of natural defenses against decay. Con-Heart wood needs no maintenance and if the company you’re buying from tells you the swing set will need to be stained annually, you’ll know it isn’t the heart of the redwood.
Something to be aware of is the presence of any white wood in the swing set you’re considering. This is sapwood and has no resistance at all to insects or decay. If you see sapwood, you’re not getting Con-Heart wood, because heartwood doesn’t have any sapwood. An advantage to wood from the heart of the tree is that its resistance goes throughout the wood so that exposed parts that have been sawed or nailed are just as safe from bugs and diseases.
Redwood is also naturally stable and while all woods swell and shrink to some point depending on moisture in the environment, redwood does it less than the others. This means redwood stays flatter and retains its shape much better, with a lower risk of warping, splitting, or cracking.
When you’re investing in a wooden swing set, durability is an important consideration. Because of its ability to fend off decay and bugs, a redwood swing set will still be in great shape and will look better than one built with a different wood, even 20 years down the road.
When shopping for a redwood swing set, be sure to ask enough questions or read enough fine print to know that if you’re paying for redwood, you’re getting 100% redwood. Many companies use a mixture of woods, including redwood, but still refer to their product as ‘redwood construction’. Look and listen for words that indicate other woods have also been used, including Chinese fir and Red Cedar.
Before you finalize a purchase, especially if your swing set is made from Con-Heart wood, find out if Con-Heart was used for the entire set or just for the larger pieces. In order to enjoy the most benefits from heartwood’s natural protective ability, the whole set should be constructed with it, not just the beams and bigger pieces.
