The changingredwood product line

Four New Redwood Grades

In response to changes in the resource and demands of the marketplace, the Arnerican Lumber Standaid Committee board of review recently approved the Redwood Inspection Service's applications to certify four new redwood grades.

Heart Clear. A high quality, well:rnanufactured grade with the same, general characteristics as intended for use where only one face and one edge are exposed. IJnless otherwise specified, characteristics that do not interfere with the intended use are permitted on the rever,se side and other edge. lleart Clear and Heart B wer€ created to make better use of a changing resource - to recover high quality hea*wood lumber that otherwise would have been put in with the sapwood grades of Clear and B-Grade.

Deck lleart and Deck

Common. These grades are similar to Construction Heart and Construction

Common in appearance. The primary difference is the inclusion of a 1 in 6 slope of grain requirement and knot measurement based upon equivalent displacement rather than average diameter. These two additional characteristics allow the calculation of structural values. Both special purpose grades are available grade marked with S-Grn or S-Dry and in 2x4 and2x6 sizes only.

I'TRADITIONAL redwood products

I. - Clear All Heart vertical grain siding,2x6 decking and lx8 fencingare prized for their natural built-in qualities of beauty, durability, insectand decay-resistance, and dimensional stability.

There are, however, a variety of attractive alternative choices that combine these characteristics with economy and convenience. Here's an update from the California Redwood Association and the Redwood Inspection Service on the redwood product line-up.

5/4-Inch Decking. Decking is now available in this thinner size with an eased-edge pattern. This gives doit-yourselfers and builders another economical and easy-to-handle choice.

The net size of redwood 5/4-inch decking is l-ll6"x6-112" with a3116inch eased edge. It is available in most popular grades, such as Construction Common. Construction Heart and B-Grade, and is typically air seasoned. For 5/4-inch decking, joists should be spaced no more than 16 inches on center.

Clear :grade., The ,difference is Heart Clear is entirely heartwood and free of sapwood streaks,

, fleart B. A quality grade similar to B-Grade, except that it is entirely heartwood,, Heart B is

Deck Heart and Deck Common were developed in response to repeated requests from contractors, designers and building officials for structural information on the common grades of redwood used for deck construction. In some extreme instances, building officials would not approve a deck designed with redwood due to a Iack of specific design values.

Finger-jointed and Glued Products. Finger-jointed and glued redwood lumber provides the performance and quality of architectural grade redwood at an economical price. It is ideal for fascia, soffits, siding, trim, and interior paneling and ceiling applications. The exterior products are intended for uses where they will be finished with a paint or solid-body stain system.

Glued products are available endglued, edge-glued and both end- and edge-glued. They are made from small pieces of kiln dried wood that are precision machined and joined with an exterior adhesive cured by high frequency electrical energy. It is an efficient technique that makes the most of the top quality wood in each log.

Glued lumber is exceptionally straight and because small pieces of joined lumber tend to be more stable than solid lumber, finger-jointed products stay flat with minimum crook or cup.

Nominal thicknesses from 3/4 inch to 2 inches and nominal widths from 2 to 12 inches are available. Single and double plowed fascia are available in nominal 314- and l-inch thicknesses. It can be ordered in specific lengths up to 24 feet, depending upon the manufacturer.

Glued redwood products are produced in Clear All Heart. Clear and B-Grades.

Pre-primed and Pre-stained Siding. Increasingly, redwood siding products can be ordered pre-primed and pre-stained from the manufacturer. A major advantage is that it saves time and money at the site and the builder is not at the mercv of the weather.

Story at a Glance

Attractive alternatives to traditional redwood products now offered ... reconfigured decking, glued products, Prefinished siding.

Prefinishing also results in better quality control because the products are finished front and back for more stable, durable products.

Other redwood product news includes the growing popularity of 2x4 decking over traditional 2x6s. Homeowners and designers admire the elegant look that this more slender product offers.

Designers and builders are also increasingly considering the options of using some of the less traditional and more economical siding products such as Clear and B-Grade and knottextured rustic sidings, especially when planning projects where the siding will be stained or Painted.

- For literature and more information about new redwood products, contact the Califurnia Redwood Association, 405 Enfrente Dr., Suite 200, Novato, Ca. 94949; (4/,5) 382-0662.