Sheds -- Redwood or pressure-treated. Which is best?

Valerie2023

I'm looking to buy a large wooden garden shed. Most manufacturers seem to offer pressure-treated wood which I was going to go for, but then I came across a manufacturer that says on their website that they don't believe that pressure treated timber is better than untreated timber for sheds and no longer use pressure treated wood.

 This is because the pressure treatment process involves saturating the timber with chemicals which then takes many months to dry out. (As the timber dries out, it can result in shrinking, warping and cracking  which leads to movement after construction.)

They don't dip treat the wood either, but use redwood pine ( loglap 20mm ) and spray the shed with  a coat of high quaility wood preservative which will last for 12-18 months before further treatment is needed.

They say that Redwood contains naturally occurring chemicals that offer rot, weather and insect resistance, structural integrity and is resistant to shrinking and warping.

 

Has anyone here had a redwood shed? (One that hasn't been pressure treated)

 I'd love to know if they last a good bit longer than pressure treated whitewood.

 This manufacturer is long established and has lots of good reviews, but the reviews seem to be from people who have just had their sheds fitted.

Mr.Generous

I have a redwood shed, been up now for about 15 years and still in excellent condition. I opted for it because the cedar timber used is rot inhibiting wood, and it lasts. The reason red cedar timbercare is (was) a popular colour is that traditionally the best fences, gates and sheds were made from redwoods, and the timbercare treatments tried to mimic that for other softwoods.

The only bits on my shed that need attention are the roof and the floor by the way, I wish I'd used better materials on both.

greyteam1959

There will probably be a huge difference in cost between the two timbers. 

Murmansk

I don't know about Redwood but if that's the same as Western Red Cedar I have seen a couple of sheds made from it that seem to have lasted very well but I suspect it's a lot more expensive - though probably worth it in the long run as it needs no treatment. 

Valerie2023

Mr.Generous said:

I have a redwood shed, been up now for about 15 years and still in excellent condition. I opted for it because the cedar timber used is rot inhibiting wood, and it lasts. The reason red cedar timbercare is (was) a popular colour is that traditionally the best fences, gates and sheds were made from redwoods, and the timbercare treatments tried to mimic that for other softwoods.

The only bits on my shed that need attention are the roof and the floor by the way, I wish I'd used better materials on both.

Thank you. That's very helpful  This manufacturer uses redwood pine. I wonder if that is different from cedar? What sort of roof would you have gone for?

Valerie2023

greyteam1959 said:

There will probably be a huge difference in cost between the two timbers. 

Yes, I did think of that. But if redwood is much better then I could maybe  go for a smaller shed.

Murmansk said:

I don't know about Redwood but if that's the same as Western Red Cedar I have seen a couple of sheds made from it that seem to have lasted very well but I suspect it's a lot more expensive - though probably worth it in the long run as it needs no treatment. 

Thank you. The manufacturer says it's redwood pine and will need treatment (additional wood preservative after 18 months) If cedar needs no treatment it sounds better than redwood pine?