Bruce Hydropel Flooring – In Brief
Bruce Hydropel Flooring is an AHF Products brand specializing in waterproof hardwood surfacing with extensive warranties. Bruce Hydropel flooring costs vary depending on retailer, though you can expect to pay between $4 and $8 per square foot. You can buy Hydropel flooring in colors and styles such as hickory, distressed wood, and white oak.
With over 100 years of history, Bruce may be one of the oldest consecutive flooring companies in the world.
What is most impressive, though, is what they offer. You won’t find carpet, laminate or vinyl here. Bruce only sells hardwood.
What Does Bruce Hydropel Offer?
Bruce hasn’t changed a lot in their 100+ years, but if it isn’t broken, why fix it? Hydropel is a new addition to the family and it has a lot to offer.
- Waterproofing on 6 sides. Hydropel offers 6 “dimensions” of waterproofing that protect the top, sides, bottom and even the core from water damage.
- Large selection of colors. With various stains and shades your natural wood can be ordered to match your décor.
- Incredible 50-year warranty. With one of the longest, most extensive warranties in the business, your investment is protected.
- DIY install capable. With Bruce’s interlocking system you don’t need nails or adhesives to install the flooring.
- Various styles and wood types. With Hydropel, you aren’t limited to a single style, you can choose your wood, tone, and even finish.
Who is Bruce?
Bruce is one of the dozen brands under the AHF Products family. Dealing only in engineered and solid hardwood floors, Bruce is one of the major leaders in sustainability and wood sourcing. All of the wood used in Bruce products come from the Appalachian Mountains where Bruce is headquartered.
With over 100 years of history, devotion and flooring experience, Bruce knows a thing or two about your flooring needs. While they may not be the most popular option, nor do they offer the largest overall selections, they have their place.
Whether you are looking for a flooring that is US sourced and produced or just want something that will stand the test of time, Bruce has an answer for your needs.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Hardwood for Your Home
Project Area Size
The size of the space you wish to add flooring to is quite important. Not only will it tell you how much product you need to buy, but it will also be a deciding factor for other major decisions.
Installers, for example, need to know how many square feet to charge for, tool and equipment rental by the hour can save money, but only if you know how many hours it will take. Everything comes down, eventually, to the size, in square feet, of the space.
Type of Hardwood
Bruce offers two types of wood in their Hydropel line, Hickory and Oak. These engineered planks are redesigned from the ground up giving you amazing grain detail, excellent protection and unique styles, colors and finishes.
While other brands go out of their way to offer dozens (or more) wood types, Bruce keeps your choices simple so you can make a decision quickly and enjoy the entire process.
Colors and Styles
With five different colors, the stains and finishes range from light to dark, including natural tones and dyed coloring. Whatever your décor calls for, you can find it in the Hydropel line.
With light and dark browns to compliment any home, you can also go with grays and dark hickory for a more subtle calming atmosphere. White oak also offers a few different tones from a ghostly white to an earthy reddish brown. You can transform the entire look of your home with a simple flooring install, and Bruce has the colors to make it happen.
Accessories
When installing hardwood planks you also need to think about the accessories that may be needed, trim molding and thresholds, for example, may need to be updated as well. Transition molding is needed when the hardwood ends and meets another flooring type, such as carpet.
And, you can’t forget about the baseboards or stair options either. For a full match you need to be prepared to account for each section of the floor and surrounding space as a whole, which needs to be budgeted for correctly.
Underlayment and Padding
Depending on your subfloor type and condition you will need an underlayment or more. For example, concrete flooring will generally require a moisture barrier. This protects humidity and moisture from soaking through the bottom and damaging your flooring.
Underlayments will add support, noise dampening and cushion underfoot. Rubber and cork are the most popular options and work well with moisture barriers. Plywood and PVC are other options as well, both of which are readily available and easy to install along with the flooring.
Installation Method
Installing Hydropel engineered hardwood is a simple process, thanks to the Bruce interlocking design. This means that anyone with the time and desire can install the flooring themselves. There are obvious benefits to a DIY install of Bruce flooring, mainly in the money saved.
With professional installation it will cost a lot more (more information below), but does have a host of benefits. Included in that list is a speedy install, professional finish, labor warranties and of course, no work or time needed on your part.
Price and Warranty
Finally, the price and warranty will be a major factor in your final decision. The overall cost includes the flooring, accessories, underlayments and installation costs (if any). Depending on the floor size, this cost can easily grow into the thousands of dollars.
The Bruce warranty protects the flooring itself, but your installer/labor warranty will protect the work and time that goes into getting repairs or replacement claims completed.
The Bruce Hydropel Flooring Line
Wood Types
Hydropel is available in both Oak and Hickory which have excellent grain patterns and deep lines that look great in any setting. It is important to note that all Bruce Hydropel is engineered hardwood and not solid hardwood.
This is done because otherwise it would be near impossible to offer full waterproofing to a solid hardwood board. However, with a new proprietary wood core, the Bruce Hydropel line is waterproofed on all 6 sides and is hardwood throughout.
Most brands use a pressed or plywood core with a layer of hardwood on top. However, Bruce uses solid hardwood chips to create their core giving it a solid hardwood top, hardwood core and a hardwood base.
Waterproofing Hardwood?
This hardwood core allows the brand to add waterproofing protection to the top and bottom layers, as many brands do. This results in a plank that is water resistant and can handle a damp mop or occasional spill.
The downside, though, is that the pressed fiberboard core can still absorb moisture and cause damage or warping over time. With Hydropel, though, the solid hardwood chip core can also be waterproofed, giving you all-around waterproofing.
The core and top and bottom layers can withstand moisture, humidity, wet mopping, leaks and spills with standing water for up to 36 hours.
Color and Style Options
When it comes to the Oak and Hickory the natural colors shine through. Each has their own tones and highlights that Bruce plays on perfectly. You can get 5 color options from white to dark gray.
The color options tend to fall in the brown and red-brown range with a warmth and comfort that comes from the woods. With natural tones, light gray, dark gray, browns and white tones, you can find the color that matches your décor.
Price and Warranty
Bruce is also quite affordable as far as hardwood options go. With industry averages ranging between $6 and $15 per square foot, Bruce can be purchased for $4 and $8 per square foot. This is due to the fact that all boards are the same width (5-inches) but offer various lengths so you can create more intricate designs and patterns.
The warranty, though, is a huge draw. Because it is labeled as waterproof there are a bit of client side aspects that you need to adhere to. This includes minimizing water contact, preventing prolonged water pooling and maintaining a regular cleaning regimen.
What People are Saying
Overall, the reactions online for Bruce Hydropel are mixed. In most cases they are quite good. Because Bruce is available online, in flooring stores and in home improvement shops like Home Depot and Lowe’s, it is readily available.
The lower price allows more leeway when it comes to purchase options that give most online reviewers reason to love their new flooring. Most ratings give them high marks for durability, ease of install and the warranty coverage.
On the down side, you will find installers giving negative marks for the planks being a bit fragile during the install. When going fast or using a hammer without a knocking block, the interlocking tabs can crack or even break.
Finding the right installer with knowledge and experience as well as the patience to install correctly, most of the negative aspects can be avoided.
At a Glance
There are two wood types to choose from. Let’s see how they compare to one another.
| Wood Type | Colors | Look | Warranty | Cost |
| Hickory | 7 | Distressed, Traditional, Hand Scraped | 50 years | $4 – $7 per sq. ft. |
| Oak | 4 | Distressed, Traditional, Hand Scraped | 50 years | $5 – $8 per sq. ft. |
Bruce Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Waterproof hardwood | Not the highest quality on the market |
| Solid hardwood core | Smaller selection than other brands |
| Readily available online or through local retailers | |
| Great color and tone ranges | |
| Affordable pricing |
Bruce Hydropel Vs. Other Hardwood Brands
Bruce Vs. Somerset
Somerset flooring offers a unique perspective on the engineered hardwood flooring. Like Bruce, they stick mainly to Oak and Hickory. However, they also offer a small selection of Birch and Maple options.
Bruce has a 5-inch wide board in varying lengths (up to 48-inches), though Somerset has two widths to choose from. The biggest difference, though, of course is the waterproofing.
Somerset hardwood is not waterproof, isn’t marketed as such and cannot withstand a lot of water. Bruce, on the other hand, is unique in that they have a full waterproof line that is not only protected from standing water but all-around water damage.
The Bruce 50-year warranty is also very nice, but Somerset offers a lifetime warranty. The main difference is that, of course, water damage is a big part of both warranties, for different reasons.
Bruce Vs. Lumber Liquidators
Lumber Liquidators is a brand that offers country-wide storefronts to sell, resale and cosign brands from all over, including their own.
The Lumber Liquidators brand of engineered hardwoods are not waterproof and only a few are water resistant. However, they are highly affordable. Partly because of the level of quality but also because Lumber Liquidators caters to the budget-friendly flooring niche.
Where Bruce quality is shown in the core, using all hardwood chips, Lumber Liquidators uses a pressed MDF core. While it is sturdy and cheap, it doesn’t deal with any type of moisture well at all.
On the other side of that coin, Bruce becomes the rare more expensive brand. The higher quality, longer warranty coverage and waterproof design make Bruce a much better option, if you can afford it.
Care and Maintenance of Bruce Hydropel Flooring
Cleaning hardwood flooring usually comes with a lot of disclaimers such as no wet mopping, keep out of water-prone areas and always install above grade.
However, Hydropel has a little different care instructions. You can install the flooring in any room, at any grade and even use a wet mop to clean.
What you cannot do, though, is use a steam mop as the heat and moisture combined is not good for any wood surface, even the waterproof ones.
Each box of flooring will come with a complete cleaning and maintenance guide that you should follow. This will help protect your warranty and keep your floors looking great at all times. Bruce also offers a wide range of floor cleaning products specifically designed for their hardwood flooring selections. While you aren’t required to use them, it is worth browsing the options.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section we will cover the most commonly asked questions about Bruce, Hydropel and engineered hardwood as a whole. As always, if you have further questions please use the comment section below.
Q. Is Bruce a good flooring brand?
- Bruce is a brand that has history and longevity behind them. They are considered a mid-range brand but newer innovations, such as the Hydropel waterproof hardwood helps keep the company at the front of the flooring industry.
Being available in so many stores with plenty of options make Bruce a good flooring brand with solutions for many homeowners nationwide.
Q. How do I contact Bruce?
- Bruce customer service (from AHF Products) is unique in that they do not force you to talk to an automated system. When you call 1-866-243-2726, you will get a human to help you with any issues or questions you may have. Just make sure you call during posted business hours.
Q. Is waterproof hardwood actually possible?
- Waterproofing hardwood is possible by eliminating the MDF or compressed fiberboard cores that most engineered hardwood comes with. However, this doesn’t mean you can be careless or negate maintenance. You still need to try and prevent water pooling, standing or leaking areas and clean up wet messes as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Bruce Hydropel engineered hardwood flooring is a solid option for many homes. If you have a large area, want to install hardwood in more unconventional areas or have floors that are prone to wet messes, it is ideal.
With a 50-year warranty and low maintenance, Bruce hardwood has what you need. While they may not be the most innovative brand or offer the largest selection, their lower prices and low gloss boards will offer a match to almost every décor.
