Alder

Characteristics

Alder is relatively soft with moderately fine, uniform grain and colors ranging from light tan to reddish brown. Alder is similar to Cherry but much softer which is useful when producing distressed and antiqued finishes. Alder gets lighter with age and with exposure to sunlight.

Availability

Alder is a reasonably common wood because it is readily available and can cost less than Cherry.

Style

A popular choice for traditional and transitional styles it is a go-to for that worn/distressed farmhouse look. Knotty Alder is used to achieve a rustic look and often combined with a distressed or worn finish.

Finishes

Alder is easy to distress and its fine grain looks beautiful when stained, glazed or painted.