Redwood GREEN
Print state
GREEN = green / unseasoned
As-sawn wet stock for cost-driven rough framing or tanks; strength and stiffness are markedly lower and shrinkage/checking must be allowed for.
Values for the GREEN condition
Other Redwood tempers and conditions
Redwood is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Redwood.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GREENThis page Green / unseasoned | As-sawn wet stock for cost-driven rough framing or tanks; strength and stiffness are markedly lower and shrinkage/checking must be allowed for. | — | 55 | — | — | 0.18 W/m·K |
Young (second) growth, kiln-dried to ~12% MC | Today's commercial supply: lighter, wider-ringed, less extractive — fine for decking and fencing but noticeably weaker and less durable. | — | 58 | — | — | 0.1 W/m·K |
OG-KDDefault Old-growth heartwood, kiln-dried to ~12% MC | Dense, extractive-rich heartwood (Clear All Heart / Heart B): pick for maximum durability and strength in exposed exterior work. | — | 70 | 1 | — | 0.11 W/m·K |
What is Redwood GREEN?
Redwood GREEN is Redwood in the GREEN condition — as-sawn wet stock for cost-driven rough framing or tanks; strength and stiffness are markedly lower and shrinkage/checking must be allowed for. Redwood GREEN has a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi), stronger than 64% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 8.1 GPa (1.17 Msi). Redwood GREEN has a density of 0.72 g/cm³ (0.026 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of natural material grades. OG-KD is the default condition FabDigit quotes; GREEN is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 0.18 W/m·K (0.104 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of natural material grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 65/100, better than 77% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 0.4 MPa·√m (0.364 ksi·√in), worse than 86% of natural material grades
- Limited service temperature — 70°C (158 °F), worse than 80% of natural material grades
Redwood GREEN properties
Typical room-temperature values for Redwood GREEN; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Redwood reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Redwood GREEN has a density of 0.72 g/cm³ (0.026 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of natural material grades.
Mechanical9
Redwood GREEN has a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi), stronger than 64% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 8.1 GPa (1.17 Msi).
Thermal5
Redwood GREEN is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 0.18 W/m·K (0.104 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 3.5 µm/m·K (1.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Redwood GREEN has an electrical resistivity of 1,000 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 77% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Redwood GREEN takes about 9 MJ of energy and emits 0.45 kg of CO₂ — less than 65% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 8%.
Manufacturability2
Redwood GREEN's machinability is very good (75/100, worse than 60% of natural material grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Redwood GREEN
Is Redwood easy to machine?
Cuts, planes and routs very easily with low power and tool wear, but soft earlywood tears — use sharp, high-rake carbide and light finishing cuts.
Can Redwood be welded?
Not weldable; joined mechanically or with PVA/polyurethane/epoxy adhesives — extractives can slightly retard cure, so wipe fresh surfaces with acetone before gluing.
Can Redwood be formed, bent or molded?
Not steam-bendable to any useful radius; shape by sawing, moulding or laminating thin resawn strips.
What surface finishes work on Redwood?
Sands well and accepts oil, semi-transparent stain and water-repellent finishes; water-soluble extractives bleed through latex paint, so seal with a stain-blocking primer and use only stainless or hot-dip galvanized fasteners to avoid black tannin stains.
Redwood chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| cellulosestructural microfibrils | 42 – 48 | 45 |
| hemicellulose | 18 – 25 | 22 |
| ligninguaiacyl-type softwood lignin | 27 – 34 | 30 |
| extractives (polyphenols/tannins)heartwood only; source of natural decay resistance | 2 – 15 | 6 |
| ash | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
Redwood GREEN — frequently asked
What is Redwood GREEN used for?
Redwood GREEN is typically used for decking, outdoor furniture, siding, fencing and hot tub staves. In short: naturally decay-resistant softwood; very low shrinkage outdoors; bleeds tannin through paint.
What is the tensile strength of Redwood GREEN?
Redwood GREEN has a typical tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 64% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Redwood GREEN easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (75/100, worse than 60% of natural material grades). Cuts, planes and routs very easily with low power and tool wear, but soft earlywood tears — use sharp, high-rake carbide and light finishing cuts.
Can Redwood GREEN be welded?
Not weldable; joined mechanically or with PVA/polyurethane/epoxy adhesives — extractives can slightly retard cure, so wipe fresh surfaces with acetone before gluing.
What surface finishes work on Redwood GREEN?
Sands well and accepts oil, semi-transparent stain and water-repellent finishes; water-soluble extractives bleed through latex paint, so seal with a stain-blocking primer and use only stainless or hot-dip galvanized fasteners to avoid black tannin stains.
Can Redwood GREEN be formed, bent or molded?
Not steam-bendable to any useful radius; shape by sawing, moulding or laminating thin resawn strips.
What is the maximum service temperature of Redwood GREEN?
Redwood GREEN is rated for continuous use to about 70°C (158 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material, FPL-GTR-282 — USDA Forest Products Laboratory (2021)
- ASTM D143 — Standard Test Methods for Small Clear Specimens of Timber — ASTM (2022)
- ASTM D2555 — Establishing Clear Wood Strength Values — ASTM (2017)
- EN 13556 — Round and sawn timber: nomenclature of timbers (code SESE) — CEN (2003)
- Redwood Lumber Grades & Specification Guide — California Redwood Association / Redwood Inspection Service (2019)
- CES EduPack / Granta natural materials records — softwood — Ansys Granta (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.