The hardwood flooring market is crowded enough that mid-tier brands have to earn shelf space the hard way: by delivering specs that name brands undercut on price. Reward flooring reviews generally land in the “solid value” category, with engineered hardwood, SPC vinyl plank, and bamboo lines that compete on wear-veneer thickness and pricing more than on national brand recognition. Knowing how the collections differ, where the warranty actually applies, and which SKUs match your install conditions is the difference between a happy 20-year floor and a refund fight.
What Reward Flooring Sells
The brand spans three core categories: engineered hardwood in oak, hickory, maple, and acacia species; SPC luxury vinyl plank with rigid stone-polymer cores; and strand-woven bamboo for budget-conscious eco-friendly installs. Engineered planks typically run 5 to 7 inches wide with 9/16-inch thickness and 2mm to 4mm wear veneers. SPC products use 4mm to 6mm cores with 12 mil to 20 mil wear layers and attached IXPE underlayment. Bamboo planks measure 3.75 to 5.5 inches wide with 9/16-inch thickness and Janka hardness ratings around 3,000 for strand-woven products.
What Customer Reviews Say
Positive feedback patterns include color consistency within a single purchase order, plank-to-plank dimensional accuracy (no width or thickness variance during install), and customer service response within 2 to 4 business days on warranty questions. Negative patterns cluster around three areas: limited distribution outside major metros makes sample shopping difficult, replacement plank availability after 18 months can be spotty as collections retire, and finish sheen variance across the engineered hardwood line means some SKUs come matte while the marketing photos show satin.
The bamboo lines get the most consistent positive reviews, particularly for hardness underfoot and resistance to dog claws. The engineered hardwood draws mixed reviews depending on whether buyers chose a 2mm or 4mm wear veneer; the 4mm options hold up significantly better.
Pricing Across the Lineup
Engineered hardwood retails at $4.50 to $7.99 per sq ft material-only, with installed pricing landing at $8 to $13 per sq ft for floating or glue-down. SPC vinyl plank sits at $2.79 to $4.49 per sq ft retail, with installed pricing at $5.50 to $8 per sq ft. Strand-woven bamboo ranges from $3.49 to $5.49 per sq ft, with installation usually matching engineered hardwood at $8 to $12 per sq ft installed.
The brand sells through regional dealers, independent flooring retailers, and a handful of online resellers. Direct-to-consumer pricing isn’t typically available, which means dealer markup affects your final cost. Expect dealer spreads of 15% to 25% on the same SKU between competing stores.
Pros of Reward Flooring
- 4mm wear veneer on premium engineered hardwood allows multiple sand-and-refinish cycles
- Strand-woven bamboo Janka hardness around 3,000 outperforms most domestic hardwoods
- FloorScore certification on SPC products supports indoor air quality requirements
- Lifetime residential warranty on upper-tier SPC and 25-year residential on engineered hardwood
- Pricing typically undercuts comparable Mohawk, Shaw, and Bruce SKUs by 10% to 20%
Cons and Watch Items
Distribution gaps are the biggest practical issue. If you live outside a major metro, sourcing samples requires shipping fees and waiting 5 to 7 business days. Warranty claims funnel through the dealer rather than direct manufacturer support, which slows resolution. The 2mm wear veneer on the entry-tier engineered hardwood limits refinishing to a single light buff-and-coat rather than a full sand-and-refinish. Replacement planks for repairs get harder to source after 18 to 24 months as collections retire.
The matte versus satin finish variance on engineered hardwood is the most cited complaint. Always confirm finish sheen on the actual SKU spec sheet, not on the showroom display which may use a different lighting environment.
Installation Methods and Subfloor Spec
Engineered hardwood from Reward installs as floating click-lock over approved underlayment, glue-down with urethane adhesive over slabs, or nail-down with 18-gauge cleat nails over plywood. The 9/16-inch thickness works on all three methods. SPC planks install as floating click-lock only with attached IXPE underlayment. Bamboo installs by glue-down or nail-down; floating is not recommended for strand-woven products over 4 inches wide.
Concrete slabs require ASTM F2170 moisture testing under 80% RH before glue-down or any installation. Plywood subfloors should be flat within 3/16 inch over 10 feet. Acclimate the cartons in the install room for 5 to 7 days for hardwood and 48 hours for SPC at 65°F to 85°F.
Brand Spotlight: Reward Strand-Woven Bamboo
The bamboo line is the standout SKU family. Strand-woven construction crushes raw bamboo fibers under heat and pressure with a binding resin, producing a Janka hardness rating around 3,000 to 3,800 (compared to 1,290 for red oak and 1,820 for hickory). The result is a floor that resists dog claws and chair-leg dents better than most domestic hardwood. Pricing at $3.49 to $5.49 per sq ft puts it well below comparable hickory or maple. Install with glue-down over a properly moisture-tested slab and you get a 25-year residential floor at a hardwood-comparable look-and-feel for less money.
How It Compares to Shaw, Mohawk, and Bruce
Shaw Reflections engineered hardwood sits at $5 to $9 per sq ft with similar wear veneers and Shaw’s deeper distribution network. Mohawk Restoration runs $4.50 to $7.50 per sq ft with broader color options. Bruce Hydropel and AmericanCraft span $4.99 to $8.99 per sq ft with Bruce’s century-old brand reputation. Reward undercuts each by 10% to 20% on comparable specs, trading thinner brand distribution and slightly slower warranty support for the savings. For homeowners willing to do the research, the value is real.
Should You Choose Reward?
Reward flooring works well for primary residences on a budget, pet households interested in the bamboo line, and remodels where the homeowner is comfortable shopping spec sheets rather than chasing brand names. Skip it for short-hold rental properties where the warranty network doesn’t have time to matter, and for ultra-premium homes where Mohawk, Shaw, or Bruce’s brand recognition affects resale value. Pull the SKU spec sheet, verify wear veneer thickness on hardwood or mil thickness on vinyl, and over-order 10% for waste and future repair stock.
Prefer to explore on your own?
See how new flooring looks in your actual room in seconds — free, no signup.
Try the free Floor Studio →
