Knotty Alder contains tight, sound knots throughout. A soft, relatively low-strength, straight-grained, even-textured wood. Alder is a relatively soft hardwood of medium density that has low bending strength, shock resistance, and stiffness.

Alder is a relatively soft hardwood of medium density that has low bending strength, shock resistance, and stiffness.

Hard Maple is one of the hardest domestic woods in the USA and sometimes referred to as Rock Maple. Because of its hardness, it is very durable, making it an excellent choice for a dining table.

For a combination of durability, aesthetic beauty, affordability and very high quality hardwood, buying a white oak table top or counter top is a great choice.