Versatile Alder Alder can be used in almost any application and for both structural and decorative tasks Alder is used in almost all forms of furniture and cabinet construction. It is used in exposed solid parts, turnings, frames, veneers, laminations, glued panels and finger jointed shapes. The excellent finishing acceptance of the wood makes it one of the most versatile woods available. Here is a wood that can express almost any style, from the clean contemporary designs of today to complex and classic antique designs of the past. Alder is becoming an increasingly popular wood expressed in the strong, rugged, distressed styles of the Spanish and American Southwestern styles. Alder is a strong, stable and durable hardwood that is well suited to products expected to last for generations.