Direct answer: Yes — redwood is an excellent outdoor furniture wood. Its natural tannins resist rot and insects without chemical treatment, it's lightweight and easy to work with, and it ages beautifully from rich reddish-brown to silver-grey. Main limitation: availability and cost outside the western US.
Redwood for Outdoor Furniture — The Quick Assessment
| Property | Redwood Performance |
|---|---|
| Natural rot resistance | Excellent — natural tannins require no chemical treatment |
| Insect resistance | Good — tannins repel termites and common wood-borers |
| Dimensional stability | Excellent — resists warping, twisting, and shrinking |
| Weight | Light relative to strength — easy to move and rearrange |
| Workability | Excellent — cuts and joins cleanly with standard tools |
| Appearance | Striking deep red that ages to sophisticated silver-grey |
| Outdoor lifespan | 20-30 years with occasional maintenance |
| Availability | Best in western US; more limited and expensive elsewhere |
| Cost | $$-$$$ — more expensive than cedar in most markets |
Why Redwood Works Outdoors
Redwood's durability comes from its natural chemistry, not its physical hardness. The heartwood contains tannins — organic compounds that actively resist moisture, fungal decay, and insect damage without any surface treatment. These tannins are embedded deep within the wood fibers, so the protection doesn't wear off like a surface coating.
The wood is also remarkably dimensionally stable — it absorbs and releases moisture slowly and evenly, meaning it warps and shrinks less than most species when exposed to seasonal humidity changes. This is why redwood furniture maintains its shape and tight joints over many years of outdoor use.
Unlike teak, which is heavy and dense, redwood is lightweight for its strength — making it easy to rearrange on a deck, move for seasonal storage, and work with using standard household tools.
Heartwood vs Sapwood — A Critical Distinction
When buying redwood for outdoor furniture, the distinction between heartwood and sapwood determines whether you get decades of service or rapid decay:
- Heartwood (deep red to reddish-brown) — the dense inner core where tannins and protective oils are concentrated. This is what makes redwood rot-resistant. Always prioritize this for outdoor applications.
- Sapwood (pale cream to white) — the outer living layer. It lacks the protective compounds and decays at a similar rate to untreated pine when exposed to moisture.
When shopping: Ask for "all-heart" or "Construction Heart" grade lumber. Avoid boards with large pale sections, especially for components that will face direct weather or ground contact.
| Grade | Tannin Content | Durability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear All Heart | Highest | Highest | Furniture, siding, trim |
| Construction Heart | High | High | Structural framing, decking |
| Sapwood grades | Low | Lower | Interior use only |
Redwood vs Teak, Cedar, and Treated Pine
| Wood | Weight | Rot Resistance | Treatment Needed | Cost | Outdoor Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood | Light | Excellent | None needed | $$-$$$ | 20-30 yrs |
| Teak | Heavy | Best in class | None needed | $$$$ | 25-50 yrs |
| Western Red Cedar | Light | Excellent | None needed | $$ | 20-30 yrs |
| Pressure-Treated Pine | Medium | Good | Chemicals | $ | 15-25 yrs |
Redwood vs Cedar: Both perform similarly outdoors. Redwood generally offers slightly better dimensional stability and a more striking colour. Cedar is more widely available nationwide and often less expensive. If both are available at comparable prices, the choice is largely aesthetic.
Redwood vs Teak: Teak outlasts redwood and requires essentially zero maintenance. Redwood costs significantly less and is much easier to work with for DIY builds. For budget-conscious projects, redwood is the better choice; for set-and-forget longevity, teak wins.
Redwood Maintenance Guide
Option 1 — Let It Weather (Low Maintenance)
Leave redwood completely untreated and it will weather from its initial deep red to a sophisticated silver-grey patina over 1-2 seasons. This grey colour is purely cosmetic — the wood remains structurally sound and rot-resistant throughout this transition. Many designers prefer this weathered look for its rustic elegance.
Option 2 — Maintain the Red Colour (Moderate Maintenance)
Apply a UV-inhibiting penetrating stain or exterior oil before the first outdoor season, then reapply every 2-3 years. Use the simple water bead test: if water soaks in rather than beading on the surface, it's time to reapply. Clean the surface first with mild soap and a soft brush before any recoating.
Winter Storage
Redwood can stay outside year-round, but if you're in a region with heavy snow or ice, moving furniture to a shed or garage extends its life. If storing outdoors, use breathable covers — not plastic tarps, which trap moisture and cause mildew.
Browse Exterior Oils for Redwood on Amazon →What to Look For When Buying Redwood
- Colour: Deep, consistent red hue — avoid boards with large white or cream sections (sapwood)
- Grade: "All-Heart" or "Construction Heart" for outdoor furniture
- Certification: Look for FSC label — ensures the wood is sustainably harvested from managed forests
- Feel: Should feel slightly heavier than pine of the same dimensions; smooth, consistent grain
- Source: Most US redwood comes from Northern California; locally sourced western US wood is typically the highest quality