At Cascade, we manufacture Alder in 6 thicknesses, the standard 4/4 through 8/4. We also make 10/4 and 12/4, which are used in specialty doors, corbels, and other millwork items. We are committed to keeping all these thicknesses in stock, in the current production rotation, and available year-round with limited wait times.
The standard grades of Alder give buyers options from the upper grades all the way to frame grades. Counting the 7 standard grades across the main thicknesses (not counting the developing color sorts for lumber on grade but that contains sticker shadow or stain), plus the 10/4 and 12/4 grades, gives buyers 32 standard thickness/grade combinations to sell or use. Of special note to manufacturers is Alder is the only species that gives buyers two options in the #1 Com equivalent area, one that contains clear two face cuttings meeting or exceeding the 66-2/3% minimum requirement and a second, which makes the 66-2/3% requirement on one face while allowing a sound back.
We are unaware of any species sawn in North America, other than Alder, that a buyer can turn to for six different thicknesses and seven different grades. Combine this with over 70 million feet of production, and you can easily see why Alder is the foundation in the supply chain for many wood product manufacturers.
This week’s blog post is the first in a series to highlight Cascade’s “The Alder Advantage.” For 2025, we are focusing on helping all our customers and their customers understand the advantages of using Alder in cabinetry, mouldings, millwork, and furniture. Alongside highlighting “The Alder Advantage” is a handy new brochure on Alder that illustrates the wide range of colors it can make. The brochure should be completed with the color and Alder stain sample pieces in January, and we will highlight it here in the column when they are ready for distribution.
