Why We Love Alder
At NWH, our affinity for alder is more than just a preference—it’s a reflection of our dedication to delivering products of unmatched quality, supporting sustainable practices, and driving economic growth. Alder’s unique blend of aesthetic appeal, versatility, and environmental friendliness, coupled with its economic advantages, make it the cornerstone of our product lineup.
Alder’s Simply Beautiful
Alder delivers an elegant visual appeal for cabinetry, furniture, doors and architectural millwork.
- Offers a warm, natural and rustic appearance
- Features a fine, straight grain pattern with a uniform texture
- Shows consistent color with subtle color variations
- Capable of taking on the look of more expensive woods when stained without falling submissive to other hardwoods
- Ideal for creating a cozy and inviting atmospheres
Unique Properties and Workability
Alder’s exceptional workability sets it apart.
- Machines smoothly for precise processing.
- Provides superior fastening capabilities
- Easy to sand and stain
Versatility Across the Board
The adaptability of alder extends well beyond its physical attributes.
- Available in grades suitable for both centerpiece designs and budget-friendly pieces
- Meets the needs of high-end furniture manufacturers and value-conscious builders
- Allows for a wide array of aesthetic options and design flexibility
- Able to be stained from light to dark, covering all shades in between
Commitment to Sustainability
In an age where environmental impact is a growing concern, alder stands out for its sustainability.
- Crucial for ecosystem recovery
- Grows quickly in disturbed soils
- Enhances soil fertility for future plant growth compatible with the growth of softwood species
Economic Benefits and Regional Support
Alder has yielded significant economic benefits for the entire
Pacific Northwest region.
- Created a market for previously undervalued wood, boosting the local economy
- Utilizes locally abundant resources, reducing transportation costs
- Supports local communities and has a positive ripple effect on regional development and prosperity
Alder and a Greener Tomorrow
In the heart of the lush Pacific Northwest, the alder tree stands as a testament to nature’s ingenuity and our commitment to sustainable living. This remarkable hardwood, with its life cycle of around 60 years, thrives in the water-rich lowlands, painting a vivid picture of resilience and renewal.
Alder distinguishes itself among hardwoods with its natural regeneration, reducing the need for replanting. This self-renewing ability echoes nature’s resilience and its cycles of renewal. Combined with mindful harvesting, alder is not just a resource but a testament to sustainable practices, ensuring a steady balance between utilization and the natural world’s regenerative potential.
The NWH Alder Seedling Project
Our Alder Seedling Program stands at the forefront of our commitment to ecological balance. Tackling the decline in Alder populations and promoting species diversity, we have taken significant steps to nurture and proliferate these important hardwoods. We are thrilled to share an inspiring milestone in NWH’s journey in environmental stewardship: the successful distribution of 35,000 Alder seedlings in the Pacific Northwest.
About Alder
Alder is a choice that resonates with the growing pulse of consumer consciousness, a movement towards products that reflect not just taste, but principles. It doesn’t just beautify spaces; it bridges the gap between aesthetic appeal and environmental responsibility, making it the perfect choice for those who design not just with their eyes, but with their hearts.
Alder Grades
NWH proprietary alder grades are more precise than standard NHLA grading rules. This offers better cutting yields and ultimately delivering higher value.
Alder Grades Sorted to Width
If Alder wasn’t special enough, now it’s also Sorted to Width (STW). Our Alder STW delivers our 4/4 Premium and Superior Alder in specific width ranges, boosting your yield and maximizing your inventory investment. Enjoy lumber that fits your exact needs, reduces waste, and ensures consistent sizes. Make every piece count.
Superior
4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4
Our most flexible grade with the highest yield. Combines “Select & Better” and FAS boards with backs that are Cabinet grade or better. Ideal for uses requiring long, wide clear-face cuttings or multiple rips and chops.
Applications
- Cabinets
- Entry Doors
- Casegoods
- Millwork
- Mouldings
- Furniture
Cabinet
4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4
Graded from the worst face, this product is at the high end of mid-grade lumber. Each board yields clear two-face cuttings of 24” and longer. This grade was designed to yield well for kitchen cabinet door manufacturers.
Applications
- Cabinets
- Drawer Fronts
- Furniture
- Doors
CAB
4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4
Alder CAB grade lumber is a combination grade of (Blended) Cabinet and Custom Shop. Minimum yield is 66-2/3% clear face cutting with reverse face sound back cuttings, as described in the Sound Cutting Rule.
Applications
- Casegoods
- Drawer Slides
- Cabinets
Premium
4/4, 5/4
Rustic appearance and structural grade with scattered sound and unsound defects. Each board yields full-width cuttings with 1-2 cuttings per board. 5/4 exhibits larger defects but maintains structural integrity due to added thickness. Reverse face Standard Frame or better.
Applications
- Rustic Cabinets
- Rustic Millwork
- Casegoods
- Upholstery Rails
- Frame Components
Standard Frame
4/4, 5/4
A sound structural grade designed for rustic applications, the upholstered and knock-down frame manufacturer. This grade will yield an assortment of long rails and shorter parts for both chair and sofa frames.
Applications
- Rustic Cabinets
- Furniture Frames
- Fingerjoint Blocks
- Doors
Alder Resources
Discover all you need to know about Alder with the resources below.
Click to learn about Alder’s versatility and beauty or download a brochure. For in-depth product details and technical specifications, download the tech sheet. To quickly compare grades, please use our Alder Grades at a Glance.
Alder Brochure
This brochure explains how NWH creates value for our partners by providing industry leading quality, service, and product innovation. Our products are the end result of our efforts – each representing who and what we are as a company. It’s our job to make yours easier.
Download this brochure to experience the sophistication and adaptability of Alder – a species that is as appealing as it is functional.
Alder Technical Bulletin
The Alder Technical Bulletin provides in-depth product details including applications its typically used for, the grades NWH offers, technical data and how it compares to other hardwood species.
Alder Grades at a Glance
NWH proprietary Alder grades are more precise than standard NHLA grading rules. This offers customers better yielding lumber for their cuttings needs, delivering the highest value.
This brochure provides a detailed explanation of NWH Alder grades, with comparison to NHLA standard grading rules to allow a quick grade comparison.
NWH Alder Grades Sorted to Width
NWH is pleased to announce our new Alder Sorted to Width (STW), a move aimed at helping enhance yield and maximize your inventory investment.
Maximize the Value of Every Piece
By sorting our Alder Premium and Superior into precise width ranges, we streamline your production and inventory management, ensuring you receive lumber that meets your exact specs with minimal waste. This new approach maximizes material use, guarantees precise and predictable dimensions, and makes manufacturing a little bit easier.
Discover Alder: A Modern and Versatile Alternative to Cherry
Cherry has long been admired for its fine grain and rich red tones, but its popularity has waned as red hues have fallen out of favor in modern design trends. Alder offers a contemporary solution, delivering similar grain patterns with a more versatile, on-trend color palette. Whether for cabinetry, furniture, or millwork, Alder provides the perfect balance of beauty, workability, and value.
This resource gives an overview of Alder and Poplar, price trends, comparison data and similarities between the species.
Discover Alder: A Strategic Alternative to Poplar
As the industry faces price volatility with Poplar, Alder offers a reliable option, sharing similar desirable qualities for quality and workability. With its comparable characteristics, Alder is a smart choice for maintaining production standards and efficiency.
This resource gives an overview of Alder and Poplar, price trends, comparison data and similarities between the species.
Discover Alder: A Strategic Alternative to Rubberwood
As manufacturers seek sustainable and cost-effective hardwoods, Alder emerges as a beneficial alternative to Rubberwood. Both are popular for their workability and aesthetic qualities, but Alder offers distinct advantages that can enhance manufacturing processes and product outcomes. Here’s why Alder is increasingly favored over Rubberwood in various applications.
This resource gives an overview of Alder and Rubberwood, comparison data and similarities between the species.
Discover Alder: An Economical and Reliable Stand-In For Soft Maple
In a market where Soft Maple’s cost and availability can be erratic, Alder stands out as a dependable, economically sound alternative. It mirrors the workability and aesthetic qualities of Soft Maple, making it an ideal choice for manufacturers concerned with material expense, supply and grade consistency. Whether for cabinetry, furniture, or millwork, Alder ensures an effortless transition across a wide range of applications.
This resource gives an overview of Alder and Soft Maple, comparison data and similarities between the species.
Discover Alder: Choosing Alder Over European Beech a Superior Alternative for Manufacturers
As the leading supplier of hardwoods globally, NWH understands the critical factors that manufacturers consider when selecting the right species for their products. If you’re looking for a species that offers strength, fine grain and aesthetic appeal, consider Alder over European Beech.
This resource gives an overview of Alder and European Beech, comparison data and similarities between the species.
Hardwoods and Our Rural Communities
The hardwood forest products industry plays several roles in small-town America, providing good paying jobs, nurturing healthy communities and preserving cultural traditions.
Read More
The Universal Beauty of Hardwoods
Wood is the only material that is at once warm and welcoming, timeless and modern, trendy and classic. It's also nature's perfect building material.
Read More
Hardwood Forests Protect a Healthy Planet
We often celebrate hardwoods for their beauty and resilience, but their contribution is far more impactful. Learn how hardwoods are essential to our planet’s health.
Read More
Indoors or Out, Wood Equals Well-Being
Nature has a secret to share in the power of hardwoods in our daily lives. Dive into the connection between the hardwoods and our overall well-being.
Read More
Are We Running Out of Trees?
Absolutely not. This video gives a brief history of U.S. Forest Resource Management and how we have vastly improved forestry practices over the past 100 years.
Read More
Hardwoods – The Future of Sustainable Construction
In this white paper, we explore why wood, as a building and construction material, is the best choice to reduce global greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change.
Read More
Hardwood Healthy
A growing library of research points to the multiple health benefits of using wood for structural and decorative elements of interior design.
Read More
Discover the Benefits of Hardwoods, Join Our Mailing List for Updates and Insights!
Sign up now to get insights and updates on hardwoods and NWH, delivered straight to your inbox.
Econ
4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4
4/4 and 5/4 are appropriate for shorter frame components, core stock and fingerjoint blocks. Thick stock is perfect for short turnings and sound frame parts.
Applications
- Short Turnings
- Sound Frame Parts
- Casegoods
- Face Frames
Superior 1 Face
4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4
Superior 1 Face is produced for one-face applications with front face combining “Select & Better” and FAS boards, with reverse face being medium to high end Premium or better.
Applications
- Table Tops
- Entry Doors
- Casegoods
- Millwork
- Furniture
- Windows
Custom Shop
4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4
Graded from the best face, this mid-grade product yields 24” and longer clear one-face cuttings with sound and better backs. Developed for rip-first applications.
Applications
- Cabinets
- Drawer Fronts
- Furniture
- Doors
