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 productsfrom $25entry price100%solid wood
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.
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 ›
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 10–12 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 AlderCurrent lead time 10–12 weeks · ships crated, nationwide