Knotty Alder grows, typically, along the Pacific Northwest in North America. In recent years Knotty Alder has surged in popularity in the building industry. Many consumers now have their furniture, kitchen cabinets, shutters, and mouldings (among other things) made with Knotty Alder.
Knotty Alder is primarily used in stained applications because of its nice grain structure and the rustic knots that accent the hardwood. It is due to this unique and beautiful grain structure as well as the availability and relative inexpensiveness (when compared to other hardwoods) of Knotty Alder that it has steadily grown to become the most popular hardwood used in stained applications.
Knotty Alder has a light brownish-red natural grain color that can vary from the very light to the medium side of the color scale. Stanfield Shutter recommends to either choose a stain color that is as dark or darker then the natural color of Knotty Alder. Because of this natural grain matching light colors is very difficult so if your décor requires a very light stain it might be best to use the lighter grained Basswood instead of Knotty Alder.
Because the natural grain structure of Knotty Alder is so nice and can vary from light to medium to dark most of our customers also choose to use a 4 ½” louver which allows them a wider blade which shows off more of the grain structure and characteristics of the wood then the smaller blades do. Knotty Alder is also more on the contemporary and rustic side of the decorating scale which lends itself more to the 4 ½” louver.
Knotty Alder is a great choice for shutters and with builders using Knotty Alder in a majority of the homes that are being it seems only natural to have the shutters built with the same material so that the look and feel of your home is maintained. No matter what the application, however, Knotty Alder is a fine choice.
