Good woods photo by manfred koh time inc.
Finishing alder doors.
The wood you see beneath a clear finish determines whether your door s look will be rustic or refined.
If you have a favorite finish es for cherry the same finish es will likely look great on alder.
Doors made with stable woods are less affected by humidity so they re better at holding up to the elements.
With its subtle grain soft cherry like hue and decorative knots knotty alder is a preferred choice for exterior doors.
It can be stained to resemble most popular wood finishes but it is a notoriously difficult wood to stain as it often results in uneven coloring without proper preparation.
The best way to finish a knotty alder exterior door to preserve color.
Pre finishing saves time and money.
At the link below i described the steps i used to finish a tv armoire that had alder doors poplar trim and birch ply panels.