Have to decide between alder wood or maple wood cabinets? The second shot was Thanksgiving a few years ago. :-), Alder may be semi-soft, but we LOVE it! Also available in rustic hickory. Each species of wood can be cut various ways in the mill to give it a unique look. One friend told me that was not enough (she has never built a house or owned one so) and my sister who is a insurance adjuster said it is a good price if we stick with something like Oak or Hickory. Because of its hardness Maple does not accept stain very well, however there are techniques available to darken Maple. Lighter stains make this natural variation the most evident, while darker stains tend to mute it. Custom building a new home. To some previous consumers, hickorys long-term benefits do not compensate for the high purchase costs. Generally considered a softer wood it is still durable enough to be used for cabinetry. Silver appliances and a neutral backsplash tie this look together. This mellowing effect is enhanced by exposure to bright light and, depending on the amount of exposure, will tend to darken several shades over time. Budget is an issue, not a huge issue but then again, I have never built a house before so it could be a huge issue! The natural variation in grain suits my style well, though if you go with a fairly dark stain, it evens out to a large degree. Hickory cabinets are not so rare that they are hard to find, and you have the option of staining them in a variety of colors, from light to dark and the colors in between, or choosing wood with fewer grains. To make things a bit easier, here are some brief wood-species descriptions and what they say about you and your choice in cabinets. I think so far I am leaning towards the Alder. Wow!! Here's some pics of some mostly but not completely finished areas. The humidity outside this morning is 84%!! Hickorys appearance is one of its major selling points-most people prefer it over others due to its light reflection capabilities. I thought ever decision was going to be so easy because I "knew what I wanted". These prices were not for knotty alder but the regular alder. These characteristics are expected and preferred as they occur naturally in the material. Because it is a soft wood, it does not have a high hardness rating on the Janka hardness scale. The exterior of the Dura Supreme Meridian door style has Pearl paint, while the interior has Hickory Morel on the kitchen island and built-ins. Characterized by its wide open grain patterns and extreme durability, Oak is known for its coarse texture. Rustic Knotty Alder Wood Cabinets for Kitchen | KraftMaid While hickory may be the more expensive option, it is also the more durable option. Well see you soon! With color that ranges from light tan to reddish brown, Clear Alder is similar in appearance to Cherry but much softer which is useful when producing distressed and antiqued finishes. While wood veneers will likely be a part of the inner alder cabinets, the solid wood's natural character makes it gorgeous and striking for cabinet doors. Softwood comes from needle-bearing evergreen trees such as pine, spruce and cedar. Other wood species cannot match alders structural integrity hence the need to reinforce them with the east coast wood to prevent warping and twisting. Cherry is beautiful rich looking wood. Cons: Cherry wood is expensive. Maple is a great choice for a light, airy kitchen or a dramatic kitchen with darker finishes. Other naturally occurring characteristics include small, light tan or dark mineral streaks. Knotty and Nice Part 2: Explore the Options with Hickory & Rustic Knotty alder is not an expensive wood, but it is not the cheapest either. If you are operating on a tight budget then hickory will prove daunting. What it says about you Cherry is considered one of the more elegant wood species because of its rich color but also because it is generally one of the most expensive. When it comes to deciding between knotty alder or hickory for your home renovations, the first thing you need to consider is cost. Typically used in axe, hammer and other tool handles because of its strength, but all the striations and. You can see a little of the blotchiness in lindybarts photo, where it adds a slightly rustic feel and gives that beautiful hand-rubbed look. Maple was a little only slightly lower than that. What it says about you You appreciate the natural beauty of wood and the dramatic look of extreme contrast between light and dark colors. Also, maple is a difficult wood to stain. Things to know about alder wood and rustic alder wood: Oak wood has long been known as a strong, durable material for building and furniture. Because Cherry wood is harder than alder, it is more expensive to purchase, costing $3.95 per board foot for a 44 thickness of superior wood. Alder might not be usable in heavy construction sites but in interior design settings, this wood does wonders. For those who haven't gone through it yet, don't assess anything until after they take all the paper off and you can see it in better lighting. Keep in mind that each wood species colors and grain patterns are affected by the environment in which theyre grown. I've seen 18" cabinet doors change width 1/4" from season to season! Hickory Hickory is another hardwood that homeowners choose when designing and installing custom cabinets. What Kind of Countertop Looks Good With Knotty Pine Cabinets? I think we would be going with either a natural look or a very light stain since the floors and counter tops will be darker. With so many different wood grains available for you to pick from, its no wonder youre having a hard time choosing. Good to see that. Walnut is the richest and arguably the most beautiful wood that we have the opportunity to use, and it usually requires no stain, only a natural finish. And it stains well in standard finish colors. With a sharp knife and some skills, youll carve out some impressive moldings out of alder wood. Along with hickory's beauty comes a hefty price tag that may be outside many homeowner's budgets if they want to outfit kitchens with hickory cabinets. PureStyle laminate cabinets use continuous component wrap technology to combine exceptional durability with a beautiful paint-style look. I guess our goal is to try to keep the look of the house very natural and simple, if that makes sense?!? A great value for anyone who wants a high-quality look without paying the higher price of other fine hardwoods. Consider upping the contrast in your kitchen space by choosing hickory with a lighter finish and pairing it with a kitchen island painted a darker color. What it says about you Youre drawn to the smooth and uniform appearance that Maple Cabinetry has to offer. The availability of cheaper options pushes buyers even further away from the hickory shelf. Alder may contain small pin knots. Birch is mostly a light-colored wood, and varies from cream to light yellow. Hickory (pecan) is nice too - what we have for our engineered hardwood flooring. What storage options are available to make my life easier? Like all other superb products in every market, hickory wood has its fair share of disadvantages. Distinguished Kitchens & Baths: Pros and Cons of Hickory Wood Cabinets, How to grow your own herb garden in any indoor or outdoor space. It matches birch plywood to such a degree as to be unnoticeable as a different species. This type of wood is also the lightest and most dense. Schrock offers several different types of wood materials so that you can have options to achieve the perfect wooden cabinets for your kitchen. Maple is a timeless wood that will always be in style, and is the lightest colored wood that is available to us. Guide to Kitchen Cabinet Wood Types The benefits of hickory wood fall in two major classifications; aesthetics and durability. Maple Vs Oak Cherry And Birch Cabinets. Hickory is a dense hardwood that has a rustic appearance due to its density. If you're looking to incorporate a natural feel into your home, then hickory cabinets may be the way to go. Neither. Alder matches the grain and color of birch plywood and is less expensive. What Wood Species Should I Choose for my Cabinets? I really like the way hickory has different shades and colors. Although hickory is a best wood for kitchen cabinets because of its toughness, you dont have to relegate it to just the kitchen. However, if you are working with a limited budget, knotty alder may be the more affordable option. I was thinking of going to Lowes today to see if they have alder cabinets just to get an idea. I can't wait to show DH. Hickory is one of our strongest, hardest and heaviest woods with random natural streaks that add unique accents to your cabinetry. Alder ranks second to Oak as the most commonly used wood. Each wood species brings with it, distinct characteristics and properties that if well utilized will result in magnificent creations. While hickory has beautiful grain and patterns in the wood, after a while, you may feel as if the cabinets are too busy and overwhelm the space in which they were installed. With careful artisanship to match grain patterns horizontally, hickory cabinets make a bold choice for a contemporary kitchen. Priced on the higher end of the cabinetry spectrum, this cost only goes up if you have the cabinets custom crafted. From the American West comes the soft, light wood of the alder tree with its natural quirks-open and closed knots, burls, worm holes, mineral streaks and small cracks that lend to a kitchen. You cannot clean hickory wood cabinets with harsh chemicals, as you risk permanently damaging the wood. Evoking an outdoorsy feel is what rustic cabinets are all about. Could this be a regional phenomenon? In addition, grain texture and mineral composition in individual pieces of wood may also range from even and consistent to varied and dramatic. Alder Cabinets - Choosing a Wood - MasterBrand With a sleek and modern look, textured melamine is easily cleaned, durable and decoratively pleasing, coming in a wide range of colors and wood grain patterns, giving you many options for any project. . But with the right kind of stain and sealant, hickory can last for years when installed in bathrooms, laundry rooms or even bedrooms. It's Chestnut but tweaked onsight until we got something we liked. The natural blemishes do not affect the product durability. How Much Does a Remodel Cost, and How Long Does It Take? As you settle for hickory wood because of its aesthetic appeal, keep in mind the fact that scuff marks tend to shine in light shade wood. This innovative cabinet material features: PureStyle brings all the benefits of a durable, hard-working material while effectively emulating the beauty of a true 5-piece painted cabinet door. Knotty Walnut is a more affordable option to clear walnut, and is a wood we commonly use, as it has some amazing characteristics. Actually I never used Alder cabinets because it seems me too costly. You welcome every knot and pinhole with open arms because they imperfectly match the distressed metal and stone accents you may also have. Alder and Hickory are two of the many wood species that have set themselves apart with their exceptional workability and durability features. Pine wood has numerous advantages when it comes to kitchen cabinets, one of which is its low cost. It is being used to lower the cost, as you have seen. Countertops 2016 Floral Ave He said he could not tell by looking at just a door. Flatten the putty by sanding the surface with a rough grit and remove any dust by wiping the surface. That is the main reason I have such a huge bias against maple because I have seen so few examples of it stained (other than natural) where it was pre-treated properly to elinimate the blotchiness. Pine is a popular choice because it is extremely durable and reasonably priced. If your project specifications require a really hard wood then other harder options like cherry would serve the purpose better. Rustic Alder likely includes some combination of rustic characteristics such as open and closed knots, burls, worm holes, mineral streaks and sound cracks reflecting the inherent beauty of the wood. Beech is a very dense hard wood that has some grain characteristics that look like Alder. It is a very hard wood with tight grain which makes it a great wood for floors and cabinetry. It is a middle of the road wood in terms of price. No two cabinets are alike. Thank you so much for posting your pictures! I really like all the different variations in the wood. View Entra Series Guide to PureStyle Digital Brochure. Before you begin the process of selecting the right wood for your project, you should be aware of a few things. A rich and multi-colored hardwood, distinguished by its flowing grain pattern. This will be more noticeable with natural or light stain finishes. Its not only very inexpensive, but its also very functional. So yeah, c'mon over. Color varies from light with pinkish-brown hues and occasional shades of white, green, or gray, to deep reddish brown. It is versatile and can achieve any look, from a more casual space to a refined setting. :-). Whether you are designing a new kitchen, bathroom, or other cabinetry project, we utilize a number of different types of woods to suit your needs. Hickorys installation process is painstaking and if not well done can result in lifelong deformations like warping. In a previous house I had cabinets made from clear red alder, a local hardwood. The trunk, branches, limbs and stumps are all used to create building materials used in homes, furniture, and, of course, cabinets. Does anyone have/had Alder cabinets? Hickory?! - Houzz PureStyle laminate cabinets use continuous component wrap technology to combine exceptional durability with a beautiful paint-style look. Use a mild dishwashing detergent diluted in warm water. By a show of hands, how many of you know exactly which species of wood youd like for your new cabinets? 03 of 05 Maple It has over 40,000 names organized alder vs hickory cabinets different categories, including Unisex, Boys' Names, and Girls' Names. Style of home will be traditional, "light Tuscan" feel. AS24940 Hetzner Online GmbH Network Details - IPQualityScore Its dark color brings a warm elegance to any room. The stains are all fade-resistant, and range from light, natural shades to vibrant, deep hues. You must consider each types advantages and disadvantages in order to find the right one for you. In most cases, unfinished wood products cost more than finished wood products. The finishing process enhances and protects the woods natural beauty, highlight the inherent qualities of genuine wood to create an appealing and functional product. Pros and Cons of Hickory Kitchen Cabinets - SFGATE Undoubtedly, naming can be a tricky business. Advice? They charged $600 and something just for the freight. The use of maple wood in addition to hardwood is another popular choice due to its strength and beauty. What Wood Grain Says About Your Cabinets - MBS Interiors You can see that the type and method of finish makes a big difference in the overall look. It is a pale-colored wood with fine tight grain and it stains well. Starting at $6,762.76$3,381.38 for a basic 10x10 kitchen. Tougher and stronger than maple or oak, hickory adds flavor to your decor and home just as it does to a barbecued meal -- only it presents a visual treat instead of for the palate. The cost of different board sizes will be more than that of the same board size regardless of the width or length of the boards. The cost for alder doors, whether for cabinets or . Sometimes the color darkens with age (which can be a pro for some people). Alder Vs Hickory - Stories of a House The fact that they are so simple to find also makes them the best wood to choose from. I would also echo the comment that it's a light wood. Am looking forward to that cold drink on the beach!!!!Sandy. All woods can be classified as hard or soft. I would be soooo happy if my cabs turned out 1/2 as nice as yours! It is undoubtedly one of the hardest wood species in the US. When I was first pricing cabinets, I found across several different cabinet lines that there was a 15-25% savings when using alder instead of cherry and approximately a 10% savings over maple. About Alder Wood Cabinets | Hunker Learn more. Try a lighter finish. If your project specifications require a really hard, Cherry and Alder share several characteristics which make them ideal for cabinet, color absorption properties make it ideal for office and kitchen cabinets, wood then other harder options like cherry. Funny thing is, charliedawg, DH and I don't drink! Rustic Alder Cabinets. The alder looks good, and actually doesn't cost any less, but I am worried about durability and dings. Looks like you're my kind of party girl/guy. Your searches are rightit is a very soft wood. From the light touches of maple to the darker hues of cherry, all woods have natural color variations even within the same tree. Types of Wood - American Hardwood Information Center With a compressive strength of 9,210 psi, hickory is arguably the strongest wood species in the world. I got so excited looking at the pictures! It is on the medium scale of hardness, and for that reason it stains to many different colors. I love log homes.I have printed out a few pictures of hickory cabinets and alder cabinets. As one of the softest hardwoods, alder can be easily dented or scratched. Beautiful wood variations of this clear hickory kitchen can be seen on the door in a light Butternut stain, which is identical to the door in the photograph. Rustic alder kitchen cabinets have a more dramatic grain and may contain a variety of pin holes, open and closed knots of various sizes and colors, small cracks, worm holes, worm tracks, bird pecks, mineral streaks and grain variations. A little more rustic? If you are looking for a wood that will last longer and stand up to wear and tear, hickory is the better choice. Amp up the effect by opting for one of our rustic species - Rustic Alder, Rustic Hickory or Rustic Maple - that features open knots and contrasting mineral streaks. So, I just can say that I prefer the simple ones much better. The amount of wood grain showing - or telegraphing - varies by wood type and finish, and can range from subtle to distinct. You value strength and durability especially in the products that you choose for your home. Whatever you do- be sure it's a smooth finish. LOL! The extreme hardness of hickory makes for a long wearing cab. Let our mini guide help you choose the right style Full Story Photo by psnoonan on Shutterstock Hickory Cabinets Inspiration. I have a friend that raves about his birch cabinets, but I think they are down right ugly because of the blotchy finish.