Alder has become one of our more popular species, but few know the characteristics and common pitfalls when working with this beautiful wood.
Alder is a fast growing broadleaf tree concentrated in the Pacific Northwest. Red Alder makes up about 3% of all North American hardwoods and since the 1980's has quickly gained commercial appeal. Generally, it takes 25 to 30 years to mature into saw timber quality. Most Alder saw timber is 10" to 12" in diameter with moderate to severe sweep or crook to the log. Because Alder does not grow very straight, most logs will be cut to 8' and 10' lengths.
As you can imagine, with smaller boards and more bends in the wood, yield from Alder tree is a concern as popularity increases.
When designing with Alder the most important characteristic to be aware of is the softness of the wood; it will mar and dent very easily.
It is extremely important to explain this characteristic to your customer as it could be a cause for unnecessary disappointment once the cabinets are installed.
We suggest ordering Vintage Touch or Antiquing with your Alder order, as the softness of the wood is conducive to distressing.
Rustic Alder (as shown on our front page ) is also a great option. You can achieve a warm and inviting rustic lodge look in your customer's home.
Alder has a uniform honey color in it's natural state; it accepts stain evenly and beautifully similar to cherry, but dosen't have the darkening characteristic as cherry does.
Our showroom has two beautiful displays in Rustic Alder. Come by the showroom or call for a free consultation.
303-688-8279
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