Alder Flooring? I need your help!

12 years ago

I am thinking of putting alder wide plank hardwood flooring on the main floor. I have a rustic hickory one which I really like and we were going to put in. I gave up on the alder because the hickory is harder and wouldn't dent as easily. Today I dropped of the samples back at the store and saw the alder again. I love it! I know it will dent but how bad would it be I wonder. Anyone have any experiences with knotty alder flooring?

I love the Antequera because it blends with island and work great with having to different countertops and cabinets. It also works great with our tile. I can really picture it in our space. If I go hickory I will go with only one countertop because there would be too many colours. If we didn't have kids I would go with Alder in a second. I just love the alder but I know that I wouldn't have to worry about the hickory. The hickory contrasts with my cupboards and the alder blends with island and contrasts with main cabinets.

I would love your opinions. The sales guy said he put in family homes before but I don't listen them unless they are open about the real pros/cons. This is our forever home. Help please.

I attached a link to the alder floor. On the same website there is hickory floor Castillo (only show in the project gallery)

Here is a link that might be useful: Alder Flooring

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Comments (5)

User
12 years ago
Cherry is harder than alder. I have been in a wonderful log home that used cherry floors. The large windows well illuminated the hundreds of small dents in the floor. The home was in that awkward phase between baby and child and the dents had not yet blended together to form "patina". You could see what it could become in the traffic patterns where the dents and wear was more numerous. The darker color of the cherry only emphasised the areas of wear and tear with the less worn areas like under the piano.

I personally could NEVER in a million years live with a floor like that. Alder is even softer and I won't even do cabinetry in it without a customer signing a waiver of understanding.

It's up to you, but I think you sound more like a hickory or pecan flooring person than an alder. Maybe just tweak the stain a bit to be more of a color that you like. Don't match anything though! Matching wood floors and wood cabinets isn't a good look at all. They blend in together and you lose the specialness of both.
eandhl
12 years ago
We have pine planks. I want them to develop more patina and look old! We used Lank Ark oil so if I get a really big scratch I can touch up the scratch. The dents don't bother me a all.
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Liz
Original Author
12 years ago
Live wire oak thanks so much for your reply. It really helped a lot. Hickory it is. I just saw the alder today thinking again it is so beautiful. I can live with some dents but not a lot.
alisonjd1962
9 years ago
Liz, I know this an old post but I was just wondering how your floors are holding up and if you still like the hickory? I am in the exact same dilemma as you were going between the Castillo Plank Alder and the hickory. In the end I have chosen the alder. I wanted more of a rustic look as it is going in our cabin which will be our retirement home. Also, the sound and comfort on a softer floor. I have had hardwood floors (maple and oak) before and decided if I'm going to get dings and scratches I would rather have it blend in with the rustic look of the floor. I hated the look of all the scratches on our previous floors that were smooth. Our floors are being installed in a month.
beth09
9 years ago
I can understand wanting the Alder, it's just absolutely beautiful, and apparently takes stains very well. I have seen drop dead cabs in it. But I wouldn't consider it for my future cabinets, much less a floor. It's such a shame, because it's gorgeous.

Glad you decided against it, I think you would have regretted that choice.

Alder Flooring? I need your help!

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