Knotty Alder Cabinet Doors
Knotty alder cabinet doors have become increasingly popular. Unfortunately, along with this popularity is the increase in prices of knotty alder. They have become more popular especially in the Southwest.
Here’s a little background on alder. It was once regarded as just a weed tree. But now, it has become a primary choice for building cabinets, especially in the kitchen.
It has two types; clear, the one with straight grain, and knotty, the one with knotholes and pin knots. Knotty is preferred by many because of its natural design. It has shades of light brown, red, yellow and peach.
And because alder has neutral tones, it can be easily matched with any of your existing colors of furniture. It also fits easy with kitchen designs whether the kitchen has granite or stones.
Another great thing with alder is that doesn’t change in color even after a long time. It also gives a touch of originality. Every wood has its own design of grain. Your knotty alder cabinet doors would then look custom made because it literally is one of a kind; no other wood has the same grain formation.
It may seem more expensive than others, but because there is sufficient supply, it is still actually less expensive. The striking natural design of knotty alder can be enhanced by adding stains or finishing touches.
With shellac finish, it would give the grain a touch of gold appearance. With amber-tone finish, it would appear red. If you like antique furniture, you could use brown glazing.
Alder is a fitting wood for cabinets because it has a high resistance to moist in the atmosphere. It is also resistant to swelling. But even though it resistant to moisture, it is not resistant to decay.
You still need to keep it dry. It is also preferred by cabinet makers because it has a soft construction making it easier to work on. But this is also its disadvantage, the softness. It can be deformed easily.
This makes this kind of wood not appropriate for bigger furniture like base cabinets or any furniture that is often kicked or bumped. However, the kind of finish that you would use might be adequate to manage the dents.
Even though it has disadvantages, it’s still a primary option for making cabinets because of its flexibility. Knotty alder cabinet doors are still the number one trend.
