If you ask owners of wooden swing sets what the best wood is, you'll get a variety of different answers. There are those who love their pine set, others who will tell you cedar is the best, and still others will say nothing beats a redwood swing set. The final decision is up to you, but there are several reasons that make redwood your best possible choice.

By knowing more about the qualities of redwood, you're better able to understand why it's such a popular choice for so many and what sets it apart as the best choice for a wooden swing set. You also need to be aware that there are differences in redwood quality and if you know what they are, you'll know if you're getting what you're paying for.

All redwood will have a color ranging from pink to deep red, and over time, regardless of the color it starts out with, will wind up turning gray. Like all woods, there are several grades of redwood and not all are best suited for a swing set. The best type to look for is a Con-Heart grade of redwood, which indicates construction worthiness and comes from the innermost part of the tree.

The natural resistance to rotting and insects only exists in the wood from the heart of the tree. The outermost wood requires staining every year, due to the lack of natural defenses against decay. Con-Heart wood needs no maintenance and if the company you're buying from tells you the swing set will need to be stained annually, you'll know it isn't the heart of the redwood.

Something to be aware of is the presence of any white wood in the swing set you're considering. This is sapwood and has no resistance at all to insects or decay. If you see sapwood, you're not getting Con-Heart wood, because heartwood doesn't have any sapwood. An advantage to wood from the heart of the tree is that its resistance goes throughout the wood so that exposed parts that have been sawed or nailed are just as safe from bugs and diseases.

All wood will swell or shrink in the presence or absence of moisture. Redwood is more stable than most other woods and while it will swell or shrink slightly, it's still able to maintain its shape better than other woods. You'll have much less cracking, splitting, and warping with a redwood swing set.

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.

If you're going to pay a premium price for a premium wood like redwood, be sure you're getting what you're paying for. Companies have been known to use a combination of woods like redwood and red cedar, or Chinese Fir and still advertise it as redwood. Do your homework and know what you're actually paying for. Ask questions and read the fine print before you sign anything.

For the ultimate benefits of redwood, find out if Con-Heart grade redwood was used for all pieces of the swing set. This way you're assured of getting all the natural protection redwood has to offer, not just in the beams and larger pieces, but throughout the entire swing set.

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Author: Alex Petigraw is an expert on Children's Play Equipment. See more of his articles on Swing SetsFree guide on choosing the right Swing Set