Alder is one of the cheaper and softer materials used for exterior doors today and tends to finish very well with the use of stains and other treatments. Similar in hardness to woods like pine, alder typically ranges in color from pale pinkish-brown to darker shades of reddish-brown.
The best all-around wood choice for exterior doors is mahogany, a durable, attractive hardwood with a ribbon-like grain.
If you've got a western-style, rustic or Mediterranean style home, then a knotty alder door can greatly compliment your home décor. One of the many benefits of this type of wooden door for your home is that its construction is solid and sturdy as opposed to standard hollow doors. Another benefit is its beauty.
A steel door is your best bet if security and durability are top priorities. Steel units are stronger than wood or fiberglass doors, and they won't crack or warp.
Knotty Alder presents a more rustic look. When stained, alder blends well with walnut, mahogany and cherry. Available for: windows, exterior doors, interior doors, patio doors.
As a hardwood, knotty Alder makes for tremendous exterior doors, which is why it is among the top three wood choices at ETO Doors. We use it to make double and French doors for exteriors — many of these oversized and double doors are fan favorites — they offer the rustic look that is so popular today.
Exterior doors usually consist of wood or woodgrain cores surrounded by layers of steel or metal for maximum temperature control and security. Interior doors are designed to be lighter and thinner than exterior doors and often feature a hollow core.
Knotty Wood Doors. If you have ever wondered what gives knotty wood types their name, it's the large, swirling knots within the grain of the wood that are generally darker than the rest of the wood within the same tree, slab, door, and furniture.
Mahogany is more durable, stronger, and more stable than its oak counterparts. It's the best selling wood door material. Its straight grains are colored various shades of beautiful red. Its hardness makes it great for nearly any use as well as its ability to stain and take paint well.
Among the many types of wood, the following can be used for doors and windows: Hard woods such as oak, ash, poplar or walnut which are darker and have a grainier finish. Soft woods such as pine, fir or cypress, more economical with a less veined finish .
Solid wood doors can be used for both interior and exterior doors. When used for exteriors, the wood must be finished or painted. Solid wood doors are a good choice where historical authenticity is desired.
Fiberglass. Fiberglass exterior doors are among the strongest on the market. They're also some of the most energy-efficient. Fiberglass is a poor conductor of heat, making it energy-efficient on its own, but when insulation is added, it's hard to beat.
The traditional panel door will always be in style and is the most popular door in construction. It is also known as a Stile and Rail or a Frame and Panel door. A panel door gives the vibe of strong and sturdy, while looking beautiful and timeless.
Durability Evaluations
Although wooden doors are durable, they're susceptible to damage from prolonged exposure to sun, rain, snow, humidity, and other elements. Fiberglass resists the effects of harsh weather and lasts longer, without the rotting, splitting, peeling, or delaminating that occurs in wood.
Front doors made of fiberglass offer high performance with low maintenance. The Pella fiberglass material is dent-resistant and won't rust or corrode. You can choose from a Mahogany-grain, Oak-grain, Fir-grain or smooth fiberglass panel.
Alder is a wood that doesn't accept stains very well, resulting in blotchy color. Even though we're going for a rustic or distressed appearance, a blotchy stain can still look downright ugly.
What is a good stain for Alder? Dark walnut tone Water-base dyes are the best for alder wood. They add dark rich lustrous colors easily without leaving any blotch marks.
Be ready to stain within two hours of applying conditioner.
The conditioner will get the wood ready for stain, but it will start to evaporate out if you wait too long. Conditioner should be applied, dried, and wipe clear within two hours of staining.
Rot Resistance: Red Alder is rated non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, and freshly cut logs should be quickly converted into lumber and dried to prevent staining or decay in the wood. Workability: Red Alder is very easy to work with both hand and machine tools; it sands especially easy.
Even though it is considered a hard wood it is one of the softest of all the hardwoods and is sometimes called a semi-hardwood. Regardless, alder is still considered to be very durable and therefore is a good choice for cabinet doors.