Why Redwood Stands Out as the Best Choice in Swing Sets

by: AlexPetigraw
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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.

In order to fully understand the qualities that make redwood the best choice for your swing set, you need to know a little more about the wood itself. Not all redwood is the same and it's important you know exactly what kind you're paying for.

Although redwood is available in several different grades, a commonality between them is the pink/red color that ages to gray over time. A widely used grade of redwood is Con-Heart, which means it's a construction grade wood that comes from the heart of the redwood tree.

It's this redwood that is naturally resistant to insects and rotting. Wood taken from the outer part of the tree must be stained each year to prevent decay. Many companies offer redwood swing sets, but if it isn't taken from the heart of the tree, it will require some maintenance. You'll never have to do any staining or sanding on swing sets made from Con-Heart grade 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.

All wood will swell or shrink in the presence or absence of moisture. Redwood is more stable than most other woods and while it will swell or shrink slightly, it's still able to maintain its shape better than other woods. You'll have much less cracking, splitting, and warping with a redwood swing set.

Swing sets made with redwood are incredibly durable, in part due to their natural ability to ward off disease and decay. This means your redwood swing set will look better than one made with a different wood, even 20 years later.

If you're going to pay a premium price for a premium wood like redwood, be sure you're getting what you're paying for. Companies have been known to use a combination of woods like redwood and red cedar, or Chinese Fir and still advertise it as redwood. Do your homework and know what you're actually paying for. Ask questions and read the fine print before you sign anything.

For the ultimate benefits of redwood, find out if Con-Heart grade redwood was used for all pieces of the swing set. This way you're assured of getting all the natural protection redwood has to offer, not just in the beams and larger pieces, but throughout the entire swing set.

About the Author

About the author: Alex Petigraw is an expert on Children's Play Equipment. See more of his articles on Swing SetsFree guide on choosing the right Swing Set  

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