Dark Walnut Stain On Alder? Quick Answer

Wood & Surfaces

A popular choice for cabinetry, alder is a medium-hard wood with a uniform light brown color. Alder has an even, subtle grain. Due to the nature of its grain and its ability to accept stains easily, alder can mimic cherry, mahogany and even walnut with the right finishing.

Knotty Alder is a medium hard blade with an even light brown colour. Asterle has an even, subtle grain. The knots in Knotty Alder help to minimize the visual perception of wear and tear associated with normal use of the cabinet.

Hickory is a dense, multicolored wood with both open and closed grains. It often contains random stripes, spots, and nubs. Hickory’s dramatic variations in color and grain make it a favorite for those looking for a bold statement in wood.

Rustic hickory is a dense, multicolored wood with both open and closed grains. It often contains random stripes, spots, and nubs. The dramatic variations in Rustic Hickory make it a favorite for those looking for a distinct wood.

Maple is a hard, light-colored wood that ranges in hue from off-white to pastel pink, yellow, brown, and gray. While maple grain is usually straight, it can also be wavy. Over time, maple cabinets deepen in tone.

Oak is a robust wood with a distinctive open and closed grain pattern, ranging in color from light yellow to reddish brown. It may contain green, yellow, and black stripes. Appreciated by the early English settlers in America, oak is a popular choice for entry-level cabinets of all types. Oak’s tone deepens over time.

Cherry is a rich, multicolored hardwood that has long been a favorite for fine furniture. Natural cherry is pinkish-brown in color with occasional shades of white, green, or gray. The deep red hue of traditional cherry furniture comes from the coloring. Cherry deepens in tone over time.

Rustic Cherry is a rich, multicolored hardwood that has long been a favorite for fine furniture. Rustic Cherry is pinkish-brown in color with occasional shades of white, green, or gray. The deep red hue of traditional cherry furniture comes from the coloring. Rustic Cherry deepens in tone over time.

Rustic ash resembles oak in grain and hardness. It is multicolored with brown and yellow tints. The rustic variety indicates that it will show some distinctive markings and knots with some mineral steaks.

Beech has a hardness similar to oak. It is a closed grain wood resembling alder in appearance with a light brown raw color.

Rustic beech is similar in hardness to oak. It is a closed grain wood resembling alder in appearance with a light brown raw color. The rustic variety indicates that it will show some distinctive markings and knots with some mineral steaks.

Clear Alder is a knotless, lightweight hardwood with a grain similar to cherry. It is characterized by light brown and reddish undertones. It has a straight and evenly textured wood grain with indistinct boundaries between heartwood and sapwood. Clear alder takes on stains evenly, which often makes it visually indistinguishable from cherry.

Knotty Alder (also known as Rustic Alder) has a more dramatic grain and often contains a variety of pinholes, open and closed knots of various sizes and colors, small cracks, wormholes, worm tracks, bird pecks, mineral streaks, and grain variations. Some knots can have holes up to ¾ inch in diameter. The holes created by open branches can go all the way through the cabinet door. The larger holes are unfilled, adding to the rustic look.

We’ve featured a few examples of Knotty Alder in the slideshow above.

Clear alder and knotty alder woods are relatively soft and light. Alder is easily dented or damaged and is less resistant to impact damage than cherry, for example. Aside from cost considerations and the desirability of a rustic look, this is the main factor in choosing cherry over alder for your decor. So the main difference is practical and relates to the relative toughness of these two types and their resistance to accidental damage.

The hardness of wood is rated on the so-called Janka scale and is based on the Janka hardness test. This test measures the relative hardness of various woods based on the force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball in wood to half the diameter of the ball.

Both alder and cherry are considered hard woods. However, while Alder is rated at 590 on the Janka scale, Cherry is rated significantly higher at 950.

Cherry is not impervious to dents and dents, but is much more resilient than alder.

As an aside, on the spectrum of woods found in furniture, poplar is the softest, with a Janka rating of 540. The hardest is hickory, with a rating of 1820.

Would you like to know what other fine hardwoods you can choose from? Read more about natural woods.

Credit: solarisimages/iStock/GettyImages See more photos

If you’re looking for new cabinets, chances are you’ve heard of alder wood. This hardwood member of the birch family is lighter than some of its wooden counterparts and has been used to craft beautiful renditions of everything from guitars to dining tables. It can also be a great option for cabinets, but there are several factors to consider before choosing alder wood.

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Costs

One of the biggest advantages of alder wood is the cost. It’s not quite as cheap as it used to be when it was called “poor man’s cherry,” but there’s still a significant price difference compared to more expensive hardwoods like mahogany. Alder is roughly in the middle of hardwood prices.

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Knotty or not knotty

If you are looking for cabinet doors that have a knotty quality, alder is a good choice. Some varieties of this wood look very knotty, but are still smooth. Because of this natural knotiness, you are less likely to find melamine veneers as part of your alder cabinets. While wood veneers will likely be a part of alder interior cabinetry, the natural character of solid wood makes it beautiful and eye-catching for cabinet doors. If you want a particularly gnarled look, you will of course also find an alder melamine veneer that suits your taste.

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If you like the color and price of alder but don’t want the knots, don’t worry. Solid alder is also available in smoother and more polished finishes.

colour

The color of the cupboard is a matter of personal taste. If you prefer deep, rich tones with wooden cabinets, alder may not be the right material for you.

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Depending on the type of alder and stain, it can range from light honey gold to young cherry red. However, unlike cherry, alder does not darken over time. In fact, it might lighten up a bit with enough sun exposure. Alder is also cheaper than cherry. So if you want the reddish look of cherries but don’t want to worry about it darkening with age, alder could be a good choice at a great price.

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DIY option

If you’re ambitious enough to install your own cabinets, alder wood is a great option. It’s a favorite among woodworkers for people who want a rustic, knotty look without all the labor and expense that other restored hardwoods require. That’s also one of the reasons it’s a popular material for making guitars or wooden toys that look great with all the character of knots.

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It also makes it a great wood for DIYers as it is soft enough to be easily cut, glued and manipulated. The even finish also makes it easy to apply a variety of stains, so you can play around with coloring until you get the exact shade you want.

durability

One of the biggest disadvantages of alder is its durability. It’s on the softer end of the hardwood spectrum. This means that alder cabinets are likely to get a lot more dings and dents than, say, maple or oak cabinets.

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If you are careful with your cabinets or put them in a place where they don’t get much use, this might not be a problem for you. But if you’re putting alder cabinets in a high-traffic area or an area that’s frequently bumped into by children or pets, remember that you may need to replace them much sooner than cabinets made from more durable wood.

There is no one right choice for cabinets as every home and individual’s personal preferences vary drastically. Take some time to weigh the pros and cons of your options, choose the one that works best for you, and then set yourself up happily with a brand new cabinet set.

Color/Appearance: European Alder tends to be light brown to reddish brown; The color darkens and reddens with age. There is no visible difference between heartwood and sapwood.

What does alder wood look like?

Alder is white when freshly cut, but quickly changes to light brown with a yellow or reddish tint when exposed to air. It is a fairly straight grained wood with an even texture and has the visual appeal of cherry, maple or birch.

Is alder wood red?

Alder’s wood, which is almost 100 percent sapwood, is cream colored when first cut, but changes color when exposed to air. Depending on the temperature used in drying, the final color can range from a honey brown to a darker reddish brown. In fact, the key to color uniformity is drying.

What color is an alder?

What color is alder wood? The unique reddish color of many alder species is unique in and of itself.

What color is natural alder wood?

Alder is a moderately light and slightly soft hardwood with a smooth surface and very little grain. Alder may show needle knots, downy fibers and mineral streaks. Colors can vary from almost white to light tan and pale rose-brown, the differences being accentuated when clear, light stain colors are used.

Does alder turn yellow?

Alder naturally turns yellow/orange over time. There’s not much that stains can do to keep these undertones from shifting when exposed to air. If you want lightweight cabinets with the wood grain still visible, perhaps consider a tinted white wash instead of a stain.

Is alder a hard or soft wood?

Alder is a relatively soft, medium-density hardwood that has low flexural strength, impact resistance, and stiffness. Available in the dimensions stick and sawn timber. Furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, shutters, moldings, sheet material, shavings, carvings and kitchen utensils.

What color is red alder wood?

Color/Appearance: Red alder tends to be light brown to reddish brown; The color darkens and reddens with age. There is no visible difference between heartwood and sapwood.

What is harder alder or oak?

Oak can withstand daily wear and is a harder wood than alder. Both are beautiful woods, but if you have an active family then oak is the best wood.

Does alder turn red?

The heartwood and sapwood are both a rich reddish brown with a straight, dense grain. When the red alder is cut in autumn, the wood color is often golden yellow. Freshly cut wood may show stains if not processed within a few weeks of harvest.

How do I recognize a white alder?

The easiest way to recognize an alder is by its distinctive small fruiting body, which is called a strobile. They appear in autumn and look like 2.5 cm long cones. Strobiles stay on the tree until next spring, and the small, nut-like seeds they contain provide winter food for birds and small mammals.

What is the difference between alder and birch?

Alder has yellow-green, club-shaped leaves with indented tips and finely serrated edges. They are arranged alternately on the branches. Birch has oval or elliptical leaves with pointed tips and serrated edges. They are greenish yellow on top and light green on the bottom.

What does clear alder look like?

Clear Alder is a knotless, lightweight hardwood with a grain similar to cherry. It is characterized by light brown and reddish undertones. It has a straight and evenly textured wood grain with indistinct boundaries between heartwood and sapwood.

Which wood stain looks like alder?

Re: Similar wood to alder for practice/trial stain poplar is probably closer to alder overall in grain and character and is readily available at hardware stores. In addition, it is relatively cheap.

Is alder an expensive wood?

Differences. Alder is a soft wood with a simple, straight grain. The cost of alder doors, whether for cabinets or doors, is about halfway between cheap pine and expensive hardwoods. The disadvantage of alder is that it’s much easier to dent and scratch than hardwoods like maple.

Color/Appearance: European Alder tends to be light brown to reddish brown; The color darkens and reddens with age. There is no visible difference between heartwood and sapwood. Large aggregate rays appear as occasional small streaks on the surface grain that can be mistaken for imperfections in the wood.

Grain/Texture: The grain is usually straight but can be wild or irregular depending on the habit of each individual tree. With a fine, even texture

Rot resistance: European alder is classified as nonperishable to perishable in terms of rot resistance. Freshly cut logs should be converted to lumber quickly and dried to avoid staining or rotting in the wood.

Machinability: European alder is very easy to work with both hand and machine tools; it grinds particularly easily. However, the wood is quite soft and care must be taken not to dent it in some uses. European alder has excellent bonding, coloring and finishing properties; it also spins well and behaves similarly to Black Cherry.

Odour: No characteristic odour.

Allergy/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are fairly uncommon, alders of the genus Alnus have been reported to cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation. See the Wood Allergy and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety articles for more information.

Pricing/Availability: European alder is not commonly available as lumber. Due to the small diameter of the tree itself, board widths are likely to be narrow. If available, the price should most likely be moderate.

Sustainability: This species of wood is not listed in the CITES Appendices and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Common Uses: Veneer, plywood, charcoal for gunpowder, clogs, stakes/supports, and turned items.

stain color in the interior

Dark Walnut is an interior wood stain color in our Brown & Tan wood stain color family. Great when used to stain kitchen cabinets, wood floors or wood paneling, it’s sure to look beautiful on your next wood staining project.

Alder is a soft wood with a simple, straight grain. It can be stained to simulate many other types of wood or varnished with a smooth finish. The cost of alder doors, whether for cabinets or doors, is about halfway between cheap pine and expensive hardwoods. The disadvantage of alder is that it’s much easier to dent and scratch than hardwoods like maple. As a hardwood, maple is durable and can withstand years of heavy use. It has a dense grain and is usually stained rather than painted. It is more difficult to work with than alder, and the parts take longer to manufacture, making maple doors both more expensive and valuable.

As kitchen trends continue to offer us some of the best products and finishes we’ve seen in decades, let’s talk about the move away from traditional oak and maple cabinets to woods that are more natural and brown. Reclaimed wood and the farmhouse trend are still going strong in design, and one wood species that fits well with these trends is knotty alder.

Knotty Alder is one of the rustic styles we offer at Dura Supreme Cabinetry. Knotty Alder is a smooth hardwood with a straight grain and cherry tree-like coloring ranging from a light honey color to a reddish-brown hue. Due to the widespread use of knots, it is valued for its rustic, informal look. The knots vary in size and distribution and include firm, sound knots as well as rustic, open, and split knots. Some knots may have open cracks that allow light to show through.

Alder may show some areas of nubs that appear darker when stained. Over time and with exposure to sunlight, alder will actually get a shade lighter (softer) as the wood ages. One thing to note; It is the softest of all hardwoods, so you should consider the use it will receive over time.

coloring alder

Alder is an underrated wood that takes stain and paint well. Here finishers discuss how to get the best results with it. October 26, 2005

question

I have a new table to stain and was told it was alder. I have never worked with alder. Does it take stains well? Is there anything to consider? I’m going to spray a water-based stain.

Forum Answers

(finishing forum)

From contributor D:

Alder tends to stain. If you want a clean, even stain job, you must first apply a washcoat to the wood, followed by a light sanding, then you can stain it. If you’re looking for the rustic look, just go ahead and color it. In the picture below you can see an alder door I made for someone I didn’t use a washcoat on. You can see all the darker areas where the stain was absorbed much more than other areas.

Some people (including finishers) think that the natural markings in some woods are actually blotchy. They look similar, but the patterning is a natural coloring in the forest, and washcloths won’t hide it. Looks like it will be stained similar to maple (excellent picture – just what I needed!). A beautiful door too. Thanks. From my point of view, alder is a greatly underestimated wood, which is entirely due to the poor processing technique. It has fantastic three dimensional and translucent qualities as well as tremendous grain.

It looks more like pine than maple, though, and that gray gives it that cheap rustic look while ruining the grain. Also, no two boards will color identically, so too many colors will cheapen the look.

A proper finish requires a well sanded surface, at least to 220, and a heavy washcoat prior to staining.

I’ve found that alder looks better with lighter spots. The brown tones only add to the rustic effect. I’ve had success tinting first with aniline dye in a light yellow/light brown shade to even out the boards and show the grain, and then tinting with reddish brown. But the colors are not as important as removing the stains. As you can see, I’m a huge alder fan – when done right, it has great depth.

Nice looking door. What do you know? A wooden door that actually looks like wood. I will never understand why most finishers try to take the wood out of the wood. If you want an even grain, use evenly grained wood. As a first woodworker (necessarily finisher) I always try to guide my clients towards a more natural look.

Alder is probably the most common wood used for cabinetry here in SoCal. I see more alder in my shop than in any other. It’s been like this for years. I believe what contributor M said about figure and spots applies to alder.

If it is an aniline it will bring out every grain/figure of your table. If that’s what you’re looking for, great – if not, you can glaze/tone it to balance it out.

This was actually the first door I built in our shop when we decided to make our own doors. The door knocker was later added by the customer and she decided to move it for fear of splitting the hinge down the middle. Now I make sure the center of the doors has a full plank for exactly this reason (experience by trial and error). beautiful door

Two points to add to all of the above well-informed posts. Grain and shape are two different things. Most alders sold are not from large trees, so you get a lot of cane that is cut close to branches, so the growth rings are rarely straight grained. If you apply a stain to a grain that isn’t parallel to the face of the board and is almost end grain, the stain will absorb much faster and darker areas will show, like the door in the photo (which is a great looking door). me). Some clients want the formica look so some jobs require 100% same color for a project hence washcoats.

You don’t always get a color with washcoats alone. That depends on the wood. It is the translucent tint toner that gives a consistent color on different color charts. In some cases, a stain, colored glaze, or shading stain may be required to complete a finish”. However, your explanation falls short. Perhaps you or someone else can better explain why “calculating the grain” makes no sense to you More force.

When I wash and dye, I specifically avoid that “near end grain” you’re referring to, which is at the root of some of the graying and staining effect that’s so prevalent in alder. I hope most finishers are aware of what “determine the grain” means, and that means emphasizing the unique growth patterns and minimizing the effects of poor milling or mistakes that occur in fast-growing species.

Alder is known as the poor man’s cherry. It takes on almost exactly the same finishes as cherry and the same color palette works well on it. It also looks great with “mahogany” and “walnut” colors (which I don’t think look right on cherry) and takes color just as well as poplar, if not better!

The door above is a good example of how the wood will end up if you don’t take steps to keep the staining even. And that’s the rustic look that was requested, so it works well. Beautiful door!

I think contributor C made a good point about the difference between grain and figure, and using a washcoat to even out the coloring. Of course, resin stains, toners, glazes and shading stains can also be used if required to achieve uniform coloring with different effects. Can’t say I’ve heard of “grain” but in my area we probably have another name for it…something like “finishing”.

In this flamed maple pattern, the curly figure runs horizontally and the grain of the wood runs vertically.

When contributor C says “grit and shape are two different things” it makes sense to me and I usually explain it the same way. If you have a favorite cherry finish(es), those same finishes will likely look great on alder. At the link below I have detailed the steps I used to finish a TV cabinet using alder doors, poplar paneling and birch plywood panels.

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Staining_and_Blending_Difficult_Woods.html

Usually, “grain” refers to open- or closed-grain woods, while “figuration” is a character mark, which is a natural shaded color that grows in the wood. My reference to “figure and spots” was that figure is an accepted trait. In most cases, staining can be prevented by sanding, washcoats, glue, a drying oil or gel stains. I agree – the door looks good with a rustic look due to the natural markings in the wood. Call me a refiner who probably inhaled too much sawdust. I’ve always understood figure in relation to grain. For example, if the grain in soft maple is curled, it is said to be figured. In fact, when you buy figured maple (or pretty much any exotic wood), it’s being judged on its figure. The more figure, the more money. With something like Douglas fir with a vertical grain, the grain would have no figure. As a result, when I’m finishing some nice wood species, I want to emphasize the figure and not glaze/tint it.

I would say rustic is more of a design element than the uneven color scheme of the door. The hardware lends itself more to the rustic and no doubt to the overall design of the home. Otherwise I better tell my wife that the entertainment center I built and finished for our modern home with some wild figured maple (very uneven color scheme) is really “rustic” 🙂

To me, these woods are patterned. In some cases the grain of the wood runs with the drawing; not with others. The door looks form fitting to me. (There’s nothing wrong with figuring – it’s not staining, it’s a property of the wood.)

For alder, dyes are the way to go. Here in Phoenix, alder is perhaps the most popular wood of all, and as such I have devised methods of staining it that eliminate the stains that are its main problem (behaves exactly like cherry in this regard). Light goes through with dye to get the right color. Seal, and then glaze and topcoat, is the most popular finish we’ve come up with. This method, done correctly, is absolutely spotless.

A washcoat (about 3% solids) works well if you insist on using a wipe stain. The washcoat should be thin enough to penetrate deep into the alder, which is a very soft wood. Also, the best wipe stains we’ve found for use with alder are those from General Finishes (Prelude). Alder is the only wood we can get here in Phoenix that is of a very high quality as all the cherries that are currently being shipped sucks. Well stained, the stuff is really nice and comparatively cheap. Highly recommended.

Here we share our guide to alder kitchen cabinets, including their cost, what floor color goes with these cabinets, and tips for cleaning, updating, and painting knotty alder cabinets.

What are alder wood cabinets?

Although alder wood is considered a hardwood in the birch family, it is one of the softest of all hardwoods. Sometimes referred to as semi-hardwood, alder wood is durable, has a straight, closed-grain, and smooth texture that is non-porous, making it a good choice for cabinet doors.

Alder wood ranges in shades of reddish brown to pale yellow and some of the most popular alders are those with natural knots that add a rustic beauty to cabinet doors.

Because alder wood is softer than some other hardwood species, it can be more prone to scratching or denting. It became popular as an alternative to cherry wood and has an abundant supply of alder wood, making it more affordable and sustainable than some other hardwoods. It has an attractive look and a variety of finish options and styles from rustic to contemporary.

The alder is a nitrogen-fixing tree that has the unique ability to fix nitrogen from the surrounding atmosphere. The alder is able to inject this nutrient in the form of nodules at its roots that meet its own nutrient needs and is also incorporated into the soil, improving soil fertility.

Alder wood is also a very sustainable tree species as it can send out new shoots from its stumps, roots or trunks when felled.

Rustic alder cabinets

Rustic Alder has beautiful natural knots and wood grain variations, making it the perfect material for a country style kitchen. It is best suited for distressed furniture designs and takes well to a wire brush effect or distressed effects.

When creating a rustic aesthetic, alder wood planks with knots are a carpenter’s favorite. Rustic alder cabinets are not only sturdy and affordable, but they also add character to a farmhouse or ranch interior design style. A knotty alder is great for achieving a rustic alder cabinet.

Knotty Alder kitchen cabinets

Known as Rustic Alder, knotty alder contains a mixture of pinholes, open and closed knots, small cracks, wormholes and worm tracks, bird pecks, mineral streaks, and variations in its grain pattern from time to time.

Alder is a good choice if you like rustic kitchen cabinet doors that have a smooth and naturally knotty quality. The natural character of Asterle solid wood makes it beautiful and eye-catching for cabinet doors. It is a durable hardwood that comes in a variety of colors and is similar to knotty pine in that its knots are prominent.

However, the knots in alder are often larger and darker than in pine. The knots in alder vary in shape and size, causing them to absorb stains differently than the rest of the wood. Some alders are light brown in hue, similar to white oak, other knotty alder variations are darker, reddish in color like cherry.

Knotty Alder has numerous visible knots, with some knots so large and deep that they penetrate the entire plank of wood. The knotty alder kitchen cabinets are ideal for rustic, no-frills design motifs.

The only weak point of a knotty alder is that the knots sometimes cause certain problems when cutting due to sudden cracks, or there may be deviations in direction when cutting, since the knots are more difficult to cut than the surrounding board surface.

Stained knotty alder cabinets

Alder wood is a good candidate for staining, but can have a tendency to stain unevenly and show light and dark areas if not properly prepared. Depending on the finishing technique, alder wood shows two natural primary colors, e.g. B. if water white lacquer and light shellac are used then the alder will take on a light gold color which is normally used to give a rustic appearance.

While using an amber finish creates a reddish color that mimics the look of cherry wood, an alder painted red does not darken with age the way cherry wood does.

A stained Asterle cabinet is a great option to add a dynamic design element and complements the natural qualities of the wood well. Staining knotty alder cabinets helps balance the tone of the wood but highlights the knots and knots of the rustic wood.

On the other hand, if you want to use alder wood for a modern kitchen concept and want a uniform appearance, staining may not be the best option.

Whitewash Knotty Alder cabinets

Whitewashed knotty alder cabinets brighten slightly and add a rustic and cozy appeal to your kitchen cabinets while allowing the natural grain to show through.

The beauty of the whitewashed knotty alder cabinets is accentuated by the imperfection it presents. The term “whitewash” used to refer to methods of staining wood with a semi-transparent stain to give wood surfaces a more rustic, interesting texture and natural feel.

To create a country flair for your kitchen design, a knotty alder whitewash cabinet is the best choice as whitewash stains are extremely versatile. Shabby chic style is also often associated with whitewash, as well as with a variety of decorating styles.

Whitewashed knotty alder cabinets can also brighten up dark materials in your kitchen and unify the space. It’s a great way to introduce the warmth of wood that looks great for a modern home. You can find more types of kitchen cabinet materials here.

Is alder a good wood for kitchen cabinets?

Alder’s rich supply makes it more affordable and sustainable than some other hardwoods and has an attractive appeal that can be used in a variety of cabinet door styles, from traditional, transitional and rustic to contemporary.

Alder’s soft, simple, and even grain can be stained to simulate many other wood species, or varnished for a smooth finish. Visit our kitchen cabinet styles guide for more ideas.

Alder wood kitchen cabinets offer a distinctive and unique character due to their natural knots and moderately fine, even grain. It looks beautiful stained, glazed or painted. It is rated 590 on the Janka Hardness Scale, an industry scale used to indicate the relative hardness of common wood species.

Although alder wood is lighter and softer than some of its wood peers, alder wood is still a beautiful hardwood and is still considered durable. It is a favorite among woodworkers due to its smooth and even texture. Alder wood is so versatile that it can be a great option for cabinetry.

Are Knotty Alder Cabinets Expensive?

Our research shows that alder wood costs about 10 percent less than many hardwoods. Knotted alder is inexpensive, easy to process, environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Alder lumber prices per plank foot as of April 30, 2022 show that a knotty alder with a rustic appearance that is kiln dried costs s2s and a length of 7 to 10 feet as follows:

• 4×4 Knotty Alder with 100 to 249 board feet is $6.00, 250 to 499 board feet is $3.50, 500 to 999 board feet is $2.75, and 1000+ board feet is $2.40

• 5×4 Knotted Alder with 100 to 249 board feet is $6.00, 250 to 499 board feet is $3.50, 500 to 999 board feet is $2.75, and 1000+ board feet are $2.40

• 6×4 Knotty Alder with 100 to 249 board feet is $6.10, 250 to 499 board feet is $3.55, 500 to 999 board feet is $2.75, and 1000+ board feet is $2.45

• 8×4 Knotted Alder with 100 to 249 board feet is $6.15, 250 to 499 board feet is $3.50, 500 to 999 board feet is $2.70, and 1000+ board feet are $2.40

Are Knotty Alder Cabinets Obsolete?

Materials like wood veneer and lacquered MDF are more common in cabinet door construction today, however knotty alder cabinets are a favorite of designers and cabinet makers trying to create a rustic aesthetic.

The warm tones and unique look of knotty alder cabinets bring that warm, comfortable, and welcoming feel of the old days to kitchens that homeowners with sleeker, modern kitchen cabinets may find harder to find.

The large open knots of these cabinets reflect the unique character and beauty of nature. Knotted alder does not darken when exposed to light or heat like other types of wood.

In color it can vary from a light golden honey color to the color of a young cherry. Knotty alder cabinets add a luxurious look and feel to their style and texture.

Knotted alder cabinets are still going strong in a farmhouse design trend due to the prevalence of knotty alder, which is much appreciated for the rustic, informal appearance it offers. View our gallery of farmhouse kitchen cabinets here.

How do you clean alder wood cabinets?

Kitchen cabinets in general can last a long time if properly cleaned and cared for. Alder closet cleaning is no different than wood closet cleaning in this regard. You can use commercial cleaners like Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean your alder cabinets.

However, you can also make your own natural cleaning supplies like vinegar, which works best for greasy cabinets. Ingredients found in your kitchen are best suited for cleaning your alder wood cabinets, not only because they are eco-friendly and effective, but these natural cleaning supplies are also affordable.

You can try mixing a 50/50 percent solution of vinegar and warm water and spraying it on the cabinets, letting it sit for a minute or two, then wiping clean with a soft cloth. To remove heavy grease and dirt deposits, you can add a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the vinegar and water solution.

Always use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe the cleaner on the cabinet doors and drawers. You can also wipe the cleaner on drawer handles and doorknobs.

Scrub the hardware and the wood around the hardware with a toothbrush dipped in the cleaner. To remove the cleaner from all surfaces, use a second cloth or sponge dipped in clean water. Make sure you dry all surfaces thoroughly with a clean towel.

To remove stains on your alder wood cabinets, you can mix vinegar and salt and make it into a paste. Gently scrub the stained area with a soft toothbrush dipped in the paste. Then rinse the paste off with clear water and rub dry with a clean towel. Baking soda on a wet sponge also works well for removing stains.

After you’ve cleaned your alder cabinets, you can give them extra stain protection by mixing equal parts vegetable oil and vinegar and applying it lightly to the cabinet surfaces. Wipe the mixture with a clean, soft cloth and buff to add shine to your closet doors.

How do I update Knotty Alder closets?

Updating your knotty alder cabinets is a job that takes a little research, motivation, and attention to detail. Knotty Alder cabinets take stains and other finishes well, allowing homeowners to easily mix and match painted Knotty Alder and stained kitchen cabinets, creating a casual, woody feel. These cabinets will enhance the look and feel of your kitchen.

If you have a transitional kitchen design concept, a knotty alder cabinet can accentuate the wood variations without overdoing it with its rustic appeal. The warm stain of the Asterle cabinets with a gray undertone fits perfectly with today’s color palette trend.

You can also try combining a two tone stain that will add character to the overall rustic look of your kitchen design. Incorporating a mix of old and new styles and using knotty alder cabinets in a rich dark stain with a gorgeous stainless steel hood allows the room’s rustic and modern feel to blend seamlessly. The addition of brass hardware brings both design styles together beautifully.

How to paint knotty alder cabinets

Alder wood has no heartwood or sapwood differentiation and due to its closed grain has a low surface barrier, making it one of the easiest woods to paint. However, the dark knots in the light wood can pose a challenge when painting as the knots absorb the paint faster than the surrounding wood.

Painting over the knots of an alder tree requires thorough preparation and a special finish for a smooth, even finish that doesn’t let the knots show through.

To achieve a perfectly painted finish, you will need to sand the entire door with a 180-220 grit abrasive to smooth out the grain as well as the rough areas around the knots, including any sharp edges or corners. Be sure to remove the sanding dust from the door using a vacuum cleaner with a brush head or a vacuum cleaner cloth.

Sealing the knots is important because if not properly sealed, the alder wood knots can cause warping or even pop out of the wood over time. Using a small bristle brush or foam brush, brush the shellac sealer over each knot, making sure to coat evenly. You will find that the knots absorb the sealant completely at first, let the first layer dry in a well-ventilated place.

The first coat of shellac-based primer must be completely dry before the treated areas are lightly sanded using even pressure to smooth the first coat of sealer with fine 240-280 grit sandpaper. Vacuum the sanding dust again or wipe the areas and clean the wood thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner cloth.

Since the knotty alder wood can really absorb the seal, several coats of paint are required. You can apply as many coats as needed to seal and cover the knots, making sure to sand between each coat.

When you finish sanding the entire door with a fine grit sandpaper, work on using long, even strokes to effectively smooth the entire surface and level out any high spots left over from sealing the knots. Vacuum or wipe the entire surface with a clean rag to remove any remaining dust particles.

Now that the knots are fully and properly sealed, you can begin painting the door. Two coats of paint are usually essential, and you may need to re-sand the first coat of paint to remove any bumps or irregularities before applying the next coat. For a high-quality look, simply apply the Finish Topcoat and let it dry.

What color bottom goes with Alder cabinets?

The idea when choosing a flooring that best suits alder cabinets is to mix complementary materials, not match them. Light stained alder cabinets pair well with dark hardwood floors and vice versa.

Alder cabinets work beautifully with a floor color that is a tone or two darker than the cabinets. The dark floor complements the dark knots in the cabinet and contrasts with the lighter tone of the wood.

If you want more texture on the cabinets and on the floors without looking too busy, make sure the wood colors and grains are complementary and choose natural red, walnut, hickory, or white oak for the colors.

A combination of light, neutral and cool colors paired with a muted warmth of the alder wood cabinets creates an open, light and cheerful atmosphere.

Visit our gallery of kitchen colors with brown cabinets for more related content.

As kitchen trends continue to offer us some of the best products and finishes we’ve seen in decades, let’s talk about the move away from traditional oak and maple cabinets to woods that are more natural and brown. Reclaimed wood and the farmhouse trend are still going strong in design, and one wood species that fits well with these trends is knotty alder.

Knotty Alder is one of the rustic styles we offer at Dura Supreme Cabinetry. Knotty Alder is a smooth hardwood with a straight grain and cherry tree-like coloring ranging from a light honey color to a reddish-brown hue. Due to the widespread use of knots, it is valued for its rustic, informal look. The knots vary in size and distribution and include firm, sound knots as well as rustic, open, and split knots. Some knots may have open cracks that allow light to show through.

Alder may show some areas of nubs that appear darker when stained. Over time and with exposure to sunlight, alder will actually get a shade lighter (softer) as the wood ages. One thing to note; It is the softest of all hardwoods, so you should consider the use it will receive over time.