Alder

Botanical Name: Alnus

Alder is generally found in North America, mostly in the Pacific Northwest, typically between California and Alaska. Hardwood harvested in North America is referred to as domestic, which is less expensive than the imported exotic hardwoods.

There are many species of alder in the world and the most frequently used in woodworking today is the red alder.

Alder has a color ranging from white to a pale rose-brown. Alder trees mature between 25 and 40 years. Keep in mind that after about 70 years, the quality of the tree begins to decline.

History

Before their introduction to North America, a diversity of alder trees were located throughout the world in areas ranging from Europe and Siberia to Iran and North Africa.

Ancient myth tells of the black alder trees that hid a king in the forests of Scotland. The alder wood was used during the Bronze Age in order to create wooden strongholds in Scotland. Of course, alder wood was perfect for this.

Alder wood became very strong after exposure to water. Alder was used for locks and canal moorings throughout the Industrial Revolution. In interesting fact is that much of Venice is built atop piles made from the trunks of alder trees.

If was then recommended that alder logs should be stored in water if they cannot be processed quickly.

Nowadays, the preferred process is for the wood to either be air-dried or kiln dried.

Durability

Janka rating determines the durability of a hardwood floor.

A good flooring choice is in the middle zone from zero (this being the softest wood) and 4000 (the hardest). A rating of zero would be too soft, while a rating of 4000 would too hard.

The most frequent Janka rating used for red alder is 590. This is why alder hardwood floors are recommended for homes where a rugged floor is acceptable.

Workability

Alder is easily machined and turned and this wood can easily be nailed, screwed, or glued. This is why it is a great choice for a variety of hardwood flooring styles. Keep in mind that this wood can be finely sanded and finished to a smooth grain which allows the wood to accept paint and also to accept a variety of stains.

It can easily blend with mahogany, cherry, or walnut. Furthermore, alder is a less expensive option. In addition to there, there is very little degradation during the drying process, and dimensional stability remains constant after drying.

Alder is known for a medium density and is somewhat of a soft hardwood. It is lightweight and has a low stiffness and shock resistance.

Where to use

Thanks to the uniform color, texture and elasticity, alder is very popular in the furniture industry. Alder is an excellent choice for those looking for a beautiful hardwood floor, also because it is somewhat lightweight and has a moderate strength.

Alder is pefect for almost any location suitable for other hardwood floors, even for customers who wish for a rustic feel. However, high traffic areas (for example foyers and hallways) are not recommended for homes.

Locations frequently exposed to standing water (for example bathrooms, kitchens, or mudrooms) should be avoided.

The perfect areas for alder flooring are bedrooms, dens, and living rooms.

Care and Maintenance

It is important to take care of your. Of course, the key for a perfect hardwood is prevention. Pads should be placed under the legs of furniture and runners used in areas that will receive a lot of traffic. Animals nails need to be trimmed to prevent gouging of the floor, and shoes with heels need to be removed before walking on the hardwood floor.

Different finishes require different care techniques. Some cleaning guidelines remain constant for all types of hardwood floors: sweep the floor frequently and be sure to immediately clean any spills.

Environmental Issues

Alder is very valuable to the environment because it grows quickly even in locations harmed by natural disaster, burning, or mining.

In conclusion, alder is ideal as windbreaks near farms or as an introduction of biomass to devastated areas. Their leaves create rich compost, and the symbiotic relationship between alder and a nitrogen-fixing bacteria converts nitrogen from the atmosphere into nitrates for the soil. These nitrates are used by the alder and also enhance the fertility of the soil.

In addition to that, the alder catkins are an excellent source of pollen for bees, especially honeybees because it helps the bees recover from the winter.