Alder
Regular Grade Alder is valued for its warm, consistent appearance, fine texture, and smooth grain. Naturally softer and more uniform than many hardwood species, Alder is a popular choice for both stained and glazed cabinetry because of its ability to accept finishes beautifully while maintaining a warm, inviting character.
Meridian Products carefully grades every Alder component to preserve the natural beauty of the species while maintaining the quality and craftsmanship expected from our products.
Color Characteristics
Regular Grade Alder is selected to provide a balanced and natural appearance.
Customers should expect:
- Warm, natural color variation throughout the project
- Smooth transitions between lighter and darker shades
- Components selected to create a gradual color blend rather than abrupt changes
- Slight color variation within frame components
A gradual light-to-dark transition is preferred over highly contrasting light-dark-light (“zebra”) patterns.
Natural Grain Characteristics
Alder is known for its fine texture and subtle grain pattern.
Acceptable grain characteristics include:
- Straight grain
- Rift grain
- Burl or curly figure
- Flecking
Natural figure should enhance the appearance of the component without becoming the dominant visual feature.
Natural Wood Features
Natural mineral streaks may be present in limited amounts and should complement the overall appearance of the component. The acceptability of mineral streaks is based on their size, location, and overall visual impact. Slightly more prominent mineral streaking may occur on machined edges.
Small pin knots and knot clusters are acceptable provided they blend naturally with the surrounding wood and do not dominate the appearance of the finished component.
Small worm tracks may occur in limited amounts on panel faces and frame components. These characteristics should blend naturally with the surrounding grain and remain a subtle part of the finished appearance.
Natural burl and curly grain are acceptable but should remain proportionate to the overall size of the component. Burl figure should not exceed approximately one-quarter of the visible door surface and should never dominate the overall appearance.
Panel Construction
Solid wood panels are manufactured to maximize strength, stability, and a natural appearance.
Customers should expect:
- Carefully blended grain transitions across panel joints
- Grain patterns that complement the overall appearance of the door
- Natural variation in stave widths
- Well-constructed solid wood panels
The majority of each panel joint is selected to provide a natural, blended grain transition while preserving the authentic appearance of solid hardwood.
Sapwood
Small amounts of sapwood are acceptable on visible panel and frame surfaces when they blend naturally with the overall color of the door. Sapwood may be more visible in machined areas where appearance requirements are less restrictive.
Stain Characteristics
Naturally occurring wood stains are acceptable when they blend harmoniously with the surrounding wood and do not become visually distracting.
Surface Quality
All visible surfaces are manufactured to provide a smooth finished appearance. While natural burl and grain variation are expected, finished components should remain smooth to the touch and suitable for premium finishing applications.
Reverse Side
The reverse side of Alder components is considered non-show material.
Customers should expect greater natural variation in:
- Color
- Grain pattern
- Mineral streaks
- Burl and figure
- Other natural wood characteristics
These variations are acceptable and do not affect the structural integrity or performance of the finished product.
What Makes Regular Grade Alder Unique
Alder has long been prized for its warm, inviting appearance and exceptional finishing characteristics. Its fine, even texture and subtle grain make it an excellent choice for stained, glazed, and distressed finishes, while its gentle color transitions create cabinetry with a soft, natural elegance.
Regular Grade Alder embraces these characteristics while allowing the natural beauty of the species to remain the focal point of every project.
Quality Standards
To ensure every component meets Meridian Products’ quality standards, the following conditions are not permitted:
- Rot
- Structural cracks
- Open worm holes
- Checking
- Pick-out
- Tear-out
- Manufacturing defects that affect appearance or performance
Every Alder component is carefully inspected to ensure it meets Meridian Products’ quality standards. We combine material grading with expert craftsmanship to highlight the natural beauty of Alder while providing the consistency expected from the selected grade.
Natural Wood Disclaimer
Wood is a product of nature. Variations in color, grain pattern, mineral streaks, knots, sapwood, heartwood, and other naturally occurring characteristics are inherent to solid hardwood and are not considered manufacturing defects. No two pieces will be exactly alike, making every project uniquely beautiful.
While Meridian Products carefully grades and inspects every component to meet the standards of the selected material grade, natural variation should be expected and appreciated as part of the character and beauty of genuine wood.