Alder is the “new discovery” in the door and cabinetry business. Almost a weed wood, it arrives at the manufacturing plants priced lower than most everything else.
With the rustic craze in play in many markets, knotty alder can command a premium price.
Is alder plywood available to you, and have you used it? How is it priced relative to oak, maple, and birch, all of which are the lower tier of hardwood plywood, in terms of price.
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Replies
Gene
I'm building two kitchen cabinet sets right now out of Alder. One in select or better and the other in knotty alder.
I think in the last 5 years I have worked on 10 large jobs that were alder, one the whole house had alder and paint grade cabinetry. We did some coffered ceilings with it as well.
Its the "hot" wood right now, or has been for a couple years.
When I was back in Iowa this summer I stopped in at a shop that I worked at and they said that they were having a tough time getting Alder.
Down here in the Austin TX area I know of a couple shops that cull out the knotty Alder when they get a load in, save it for that "knotty Alder" kitchen, and charge big money for it.
We did a real fancy kitchen for this big time TV chef out of premium alder, looked good but I wonder about the durability of the wood.
Because its so hot I'm going to build a set for my house out of the stuff, gonna go with the craze and hope to capitalize when selling!
Now I know you asked about plywood but you get all the other info for free.
We can get Alder ply here very easily, but it isn't cheep. I think its in the neighborhood of cherry and walnut ply. Not even close to Oak, maple or birch.
I'm putting in an order before weeks out for about 30 sheets of clear Alder ply, I'll let you know exactly what it sells for. I'm guessing over $100 for 3/4" sheet. I think the MDF alder is probably similar.
Doug
Up here in BC it's about the same price as all the other sheet goods. A little more expensive, but maybe $100, 200$ over a whole kitchen. It works pretty good; You don't have to watch it near as much as say, oak. If you are staining it, put a neutral coat on first. If you don't, Alder has a tendency to come out blotchy. The neutral stain evens it out.
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People are entitled to their own opinions; People are not entitled to their own truth.
Jacob
Bought a sheet of 3/4 inch A-B alder ply last month. $94 here on the Central Coast of California. Surprised me it was so steep, but I guess that's the price of being a little ahead of the curve.
Considered it on our last house, but cost exceeded maple and oak.
Maple is tough for dark stains, and requires more work by the painters....perhaps alder higher cost would be offset the stain problems.
Alder seems to be selling like hotcakes at the county fair in the Phoenix market. Four-Quarter "Premium" is reasonably priced -- it hovers about the $3/bf range but sheet goods are another story!
Three-Quarter-inch Alder ply goes for $95 a sheet -- that's higher than Cherry and Walnut -- and about double that of Red Oak.
I haven't used the ply (yet) but I've made several cabinet tops and cabinet trim with the solids. I enjoy working Alder; it machines beautifully and finishes up like a dream. (Gel stains are great to use on it.)
-- Steve
Enjoy life & do well by it;