My best friend and I were discussing the other day whether Alder was hardwood or not. I told him it was hardwood, but he seemed incredulous of me. Thus, I insisted I was hundred percent sure. Of course, Alder is somewhat unique, for it has the distinct characteristic of being a soft to medium range hardwood. But it is indeed a hardwood.
Alder is one of the softest of the different hardwoods and features a medium density. As such, some would mistake it for being a softwood. Yet, if you compare it to pine and poplar, it would probably be a bit harder than these two wood types. For this reason, experts would say that Alder is semi-hardwood or one of the softest hardwoods in the world.
What is Alder Wood?
You will often see Alder used in making decorative products and kitchen cabinets. As a wood, it came from the Alder tree, a Birch Family member. Alder is a fast-growing tree with around 35 species. It is unique because its lovely red undertone intensifies as the wood ages.
Moreover, it is characterized by smooth grain, making it very pliant. For this reason, many woodworkers prefer this wood when making furniture.
Alder is comparable to Cherry wood, but it is more economical and more sustainable. Alder is almost white after being cut, but it immediately changes color after exposure to air, turning to a reddish or yellow tinge.
What is the Grade of Alder Wood?
Different wood types have varying characteristics. They also have varying strengths and weaknesses as natural materials for construction. Thus, sawn wood is graded into categories to guide users on the value and potential usage of each sawn lumber.
Alder, among hardwood species, gets the highest lumber grade. It has a remarkable 83% clear face. It is also lightweight and comes with a nice grain. Despite being lightweight, however, Alder wood is known for its strength. Besides, it provides a glossy and smooth surface for interior decorations and furniture.
The hardwood grading system, of course, is not an easy-to-understand grading system. It is a bit complex and necessitates a thorough study.
How Would You Rate the Hardness of Alder Wood?
Among the hardwood family, the Alder wood is the softest. It rates just above poplar and pine, and its bending strength is 9,800 psi. Thus, it is pliable but still quite soft. For this reason, Alder wood is perfect for bedding, cabinetry, and decorative furniture inside your house. Moreover, it will seldom dent or crack and can adjust to dry and wet climates.
Alder, of course, has a poor hardness rating compared to other hardwoods. In fact, other softwoods, like Douglas Fir and Cedar, rate higher than Alder regarding hardness values. Yet, being a soft hardwood makes Alder ideal for small woodworking projects and applications.
Since Alder is a medium-density hardwood, it is more robust than many softwoods. Nevertheless, it ranks less regarding its tensile or bending quality. Alder has a compressive strength of 5,820 psi, with a bending strength of 9,800 psi.
These ratings show that Alder has a medium bending and compressive strength, making it unsuitable for heavy construction projects. It is better reserved for small projects and applications that would not require massive strength against loads.
Characteristics of Alder Wood
As a hardwood, Alder wood is medium brown to light color with closed grain. Likewise, you’ll notice its diffused porous structure with whitish or brownish lines delineating its growth rings. Besides, its tiny pores are nicely and evenly distributed in the same sizes.
You will notice its broad rays, about one inch long. Its vessels came in small to medium sizes characterized by narrow rays. These rays get closely spaced, though you will find their aggregate rays widely spaced.
Alder wood also has straight grains characterized by delicate and uniform texture, contributing to its unique appearance. Moreover, it exhibits good resistance to decay than most softwoods.
Despite being categorized as hardwood, Alder wood allows for easy workability even if you’re a beginner in woodworking. Moreover, it curves with ease than other hardwoods, which makes it excellent for use in some musical instruments.
Alder wood features moderate weight and hardness, making it a versatile wood to work with. To sum it up, below are the succinct characteristics of Alder wood that endear it to woodworkers:
- hardwood with high workability
- doesn’t elicit chemical odor.
- characterized by medium density
- soft compared to other hardwood
- provides an aesthetically good look.
Would Alder Wood Cost Much?
Several years ago, Alder was usually called poor man’s cherry. It got this name because it has somewhat the same properties as cherry wood, but it is incredibly inexpensive. However, Alder wood’s price has dramatically increased, though it is still relatively inexpensive compared to other elegant hardwoods.
In the price range of hardwood, Alder wood gets ranked in the middle range price of hardwood. Thus, Alder is still an excellent option if you are desirous of quality hardwood without spending more.
Is Alder Wood Excellent for Furniture?
Alder wood is a popular wood for making furniture. Besides, it is in high demand among furniture manufacturers. It is also often compared to other popular woods like maple, cherry, oak, and pine. Despite so many proofs about its sturdiness and versatility, many still ask whether alder wood is excellent for furniture.
Alder can keep glue and nails satisfactorily. Additionally, it doesn’t allow moisture to pass through the paint and settle inside. It also resists shrinkage and is known for its durability. Thus, it is a perfect choice for outdoor furniture.
Is Alder Good for Hardwood Flooring?
You can machine and turn Alder wood with ease. You can also nail or screw it well. Besides, it is easy to glue, making it a perfect choice for hardwood floors. You can also sand it fine and render it a smooth finish. This characteristic allows the wood to receive paint with ease and accept various stain types.
After staining it, it blends and complements well other wood like walnut, cherry, and mahogany. Since it is a less expensive option, you can save by using alder wood without worrying whether it will not fit into your home’s interior design.
When you dry Alder, it exhibits less degradation, and it has sterling dimensional stability after drying. Alder wood, as mentioned above, is soft hardwood. It is also not heavy, with high resistance to dents and chipping. Besides, it shows low stiffness.
Of course, exposing Alder to standing water isn’t good, like when you use it as flooring in bathrooms or kitchens. But it is perfect for flooring in bedrooms, living rooms, and dens. With enough care, Alder can maintain its pristine beauty over time.
Always remember that it is best to maintain the Alder flooring regularly than make a significant repair. You should also prevent your pets from damaging your floor. You can trim their nails to prevent them from gouging the floor. Besides, you should remove your heels when walking on Alder flooring.
Another thing to consider is the finish you would like the Alder floor to have. The finish you would have will likely demand varying care and specialized maintenance techniques. You need to clean spills quickly, so they don’t leave blotches on your Alder floor. Besides, it will be best if you sweep the floor often.
Conclusion
After exploring the qualities of Alder as hardwood, you are not better positioned to understand the pros and cons of using Alder wood for your projects. Alder belongs to the softest woods among the hardwoods. It is relatively soft and pliable, making it perfect for cabinetry, decorative furniture, and bedding.
But like any other wood, you need to take care of it and provide it with regular maintenance, primarily if you use it for your flooring. You can follow the abovementioned simple tips for maintaining Adler wood and expect your Adler wood to last for several years.