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.

To understand why redwood is overwhelmingly the most popular wood for swing sets, you need to know some of its qualities that make it perfect for building anything that will spend its life outdoors. This article will also point out the differences in various qualities of redwood swing sets, so you have peace of mind, knowing exactly 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.

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.

Be sure to take note that there's no white or light colored wood in your swing set. This wood is sapwood and doesn't have the natural resistance of redwood to decaying and bugs. This is not a problem if you're getting true Con-Heart grade, since it doesn't contain any sapwood. If you buy Con-Heart redwood, even the exposed areas of the wood caused by nails or sawing are protected by the natural oils and acids that repel bugs and decrease rotting.

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.

Some companies will use just enough redwood in the construction of their sets that they can legally call it 'redwood', when in fact it may be a mixture of redwood and red cedar, or even Chinese Fir. Read all the fine print and if in doubt, ask! If you're paying a higher price for redwood, you certainly want to be sure that's what you're getting.

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.

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