Species Guide

Knotty Alder

Countertops, tabletops & shelving — cut to your size

Warm, medium-brown tones with hints of rustic amber and natural knot variation.

590Janka hardness (lbf)7knotty alder productsprice, 1 to 5100%solid wood
Solid knotty alder hardwood surface, milled in New York
Origin
Pacific Northwest
Color
Warm medium brown with rustic knots
Grain
Soft, even, knots left in
Best for
Cabins, farmhouse kitchens, lived-in commercial spaces
Hardness
590 lbf Janka
Price band
$$
Outdoors
Interior use
Finish
Food-safe zero-VOC hardwax oil
Where It Belongs

Knotty alder is the rustic pick — warm medium brown with real knots left in. It suits cabins, farmhouse kitchens, and commercial spaces chasing a lived-in feel. At 590 Janka it is our softest species: it dents, and that is part of the look. Choose it for character, not for a cutting surface.

Natural vs. Stain

Natural shows the knots in full contrast; a medium stain blends them into a more uniform antique tone. Either way the texture is the point.

See every stain on real wood ›

Built in Knotty Alder

Every knotty alder piece we build

Countertops

Kitchens, islands, bars, and vanities — milled to your template, sink and stove cutouts included.

Tabletops

Dining, desk, and conference tops for your own base — sized to the quarter inch.

Round Tabletops

True-circle tops cut on the CNC, from bistro to full dining rounds.

Shelfs

Floating shelves on the concealed 300 lb Hovr bracket, straight or live edge.

Want to feel it first? Order a knotty alder sample › or compare all fifteen woods in the species guide ›

In the Room

Knotty Alder, styled

Knotty Alder in the rooms it’s made for — every card links to that exact build.

Knotty Alder countertop — a mountain-cabin kitchen, island with matching shelves
Knotty Alder Countertop
Face Grain · a mountain-cabin kitchen, island with matching shelves
Knotty Alder countertop in use
Knotty Alder Countertop
In use
Knotty Alder countertop in use
Knotty Alder Countertop
In use
Knotty Alder tabletop in use
Knotty Alder Tabletop
In use
Knotty Alder tabletop in use
Knotty Alder Tabletop
In use
Knotty Alder countertop in use
Knotty Alder Countertop
In use
Knotty Alder countertop in use
Knotty Alder Countertop
In use
Knotty Alder tabletop in use
Knotty Alder Tabletop
In use
Knotty Alder tabletop in use
Knotty Alder Tabletop
In use
Questions

Knotty Alder FAQ

How hard is knotty alder?
Knotty Alder measures 590 lbf on the Janka hardness scale — softer than the oaks, which suits furniture and shelving better than knife-adjacent counter work.
Is your knotty alder solid wood or veneer?
Solid, always. Every knotty alder piece is milled from full-thickness hardwood boards in our New York shop — no veneer, no plywood core, no composites — which is why it can be sanded and refinished for decades.
Can I get knotty alder in a custom size?
Yes — length, width, and thickness to the quarter inch, priced instantly in the Builder. Current lead time is 4-6 weeks, and every piece ships crated, nationwide.
How do I care for a knotty alder surface?
Every piece ships finished in food-safe, zero-VOC hardwax oil: wipe with a damp cloth day to day, and re-oil high-use surfaces about once a year. Scratches sand out and re-oil invisibly — the advantage of solid wood.
Do you take on custom or one-off projects?
Yes. Beyond the online builder, we take on custom sizes, oversized pieces, matched commercial runs, and bespoke solid-hardwood millwork. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll quote it by hand, usually within one business day. Start a custom project ›
Milled to Order in New York

Knotty Alder, cut to your project.

Open the Builder in Knotty Alder

Current lead time 4-6 weeks · ships crated, nationwide