Advanced Specification Details of Redwood Lumber & Timbers
Forest stewardship to finished product
Sponsored by Humboldt Sawmill Company
There is no audio associated with this presentation.
This course offers detailed information about modern Redwood timberland management approaches that contribute to the species’ long-term sustainability as a building material. The course also provides insight into how third-party certification helps the Redwood industry communicate environmental stewardship.
The course details how wood is created through the process of photosynthesis and how carbon is sequestered long-term in wood products, drawing a connection between sustainably sourced Redwood lumber products and the ability to achieve carbon-neutral standards.
Lastly, the course defines Redwood grades and performance characteristics and describes how these properties achieve building code acceptance.
Photo courtesy of Kelly Edmondson
Redwood lumber and timbers are codified in the International Building Code (IBC) as decay and termite resistant. Furthermore, redwood may be used throughout California, including in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones, without restriction as per the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (CWUIC).
Humboldt Sawmill Company, LLC manufactures a full line of redwood and Douglas fir lumber products, including boards, decking, fencing, patterns and trim, and timbers. Logs are sourced from company-owned timberlands where harvest levels are consistently below the forests’ annual growth rate, and harvested trees are replanted. Logs are processed into lumber at the company’s sawmills in Ukiah and Scotia, California. All Humboldt Sawmill redwood and Douglas fir products are available certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council®️ (FSC®️ C013133). With unmatched beauty and durability, redwood has been the preferred natural wood species for many building applications, including paneling, siding, decking, entryways, and shade structures, to name a few. Best known for its deep red color, redwood heartwood resists warping and splitting and is naturally resistant to termites and decay. Redwood in exterior applications may last 25 to 35 years. Douglas fir timbers feature excellent span and structural design values for exposed beams, framing, headers, rafters, and timber frame construction. Douglas fir timbers may be used extensively in new construction and remodeling projects in a variety of applications. Humboldt Sawmill redwood and Douglas fir products are available through lumberyards, wholesalers, dealers, and distributors.
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in February 2026
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Describe the climate and history of the Redwood region, as well as how selective harvesting is used in the Redwood forests.
- Explain how certification to Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C013133) standards ensures that Redwood timberlands are well-managed.
- Interpret the results of an updated Redwood lumber Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study and associated Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
- Evaluate why Redwood is a “carbon smart” material as well as how it may contribute to biophilic design.
- Identify building code requirements for durable and safe materials and how Redwood meets these requirements.
- Explore case studies featuring extensive usage of Redwood.
