HydroShield Flooring Review – Is It Worth Buying?

Hydroshield Laminate Flooring is a water-resistant type of laminate flooring sold exclusively at Floor & Decor online and in-store nationwide. The brand’s flooring has an appearance and feels similar to hardwood flooring. It’s known for its water-resistant abilities, appealing designs, and affordable pricing. In this article, we reviewed HydroShield Laminate in detail based on Looks, Durability, Pricing, Warranty, and HydroShield Reviews. 

Keep on reading to learn everything you need to know about the brand, including the pros and cons and our overall rating. Furthermore, see how Hydroshield laminate compares to other laminate brands such as Dream Home, Quick-Step, Mohawk, or Shaw on pricing and thickness.

Disclaimer: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you click at no extra cost to you. All recommendations and opinions remain our own.

Flooring Range

The Hydroshield laminate flooring range offers a lengthy selection of hardwood-look flooring. It consists of over 25 light and dark finishes in total, including hand-scraped, high gloss, smooth, wide-plank, and textured styles.

When it comes to structuring, the Hydroshield planks are made by combining four layers; the protective wear layer, the hardwood design layer, the wood-based core, and the back stability layer. There are three thickness options for HydroShield laminate; 8, 10, and 12 mm.

Hydroshield laminate is AC4 rated, meaning it’s suitable for moderate commercial and high residential use. The brand backs this with a 10-year commercial and lifetime residential warranty. Furthermore, Hydroshield laminate is GreenGuard Gold Certified which means that it has low chemical emissions.

Key Features:

• Available in 27 Stunning Finishes
• 4-Layer Structure
• 24-hour Water Resistance
• Good Thickness
• Suitable for Commercial Use
• Affordable Price Tag
• GreenGuard Gold Certified

Specifications:

• Flooring Name: HydroShield Laminate
• Thickness: 8 – 12mm
• AC Rating: AC4
• Warranty: Lifetime Residential / 10 Yr Commercial
• Commercial or Residential Use: Both
• Installation Type: Floating
• Underlayment Required: Yes
• Material: Laminate
• Brand: Hydroshield

Pricing

As of writing this review, Hydroshield laminate flooring is priced between $1.59 and $2.49 per square foot. That makes it one of the most affordable laminate options on the market. It’s pretty much the same price as Home Decorators and Lifeproof laminate; the only cheaper brand is Trafficmaster laminate.

There doesn’t seem to be any direct impact of the thickness of the planks on the price, as even the 12mm Hydroshield lines can be purchased for as little as $1.89 per square foot. 

Durability

When examining the durability of a laminate floor, we mainly look at four key factors; the AC rating, overall thickness, water resistance, and warranty length.

We consider an AC4 rating and 12 mm overall thickness a must if you want a long-lasting floor. Hydroshield laminate certainly meets those requirements. Furthermore, the dense wood-based core helps with stability.

Water resistance with Hydroshield flooring is decent, with a 24-hour water-resistant protection period. However, the brand’s laminate is not fully waterproof.

The manufacturer’s warranty is crucial to choosing a good laminate floor. It’s a good indicator of how much trust a brand has in its laminate. 

As nearly all flooring brands offer a limited lifetime residential warranty, it’s better to use the commercial warranty. Hydroshield laminate comes with a generous 10-year commercial warranty, one of the longest on the market.

HydroShield Laminate Reviews

We did an extensive search on the web for Hydroshield flooring reviews and discovered that there is hardly anything to be found, apart from a few comments on a Houzz discussion thread. 

Unfortunately, Floor & decor doesn’t have product reviews on their website. Because of the lack of information, we had to give the brand a lower overall score for online reviews.

Installation

Installation is relatively easy with Hydroshield. Like most Laminate floors, Hydroshield can be installed using the Floating method, the most common and most straightforward. It includes using an angle-tap locking mechanism to lock the planks together with no need for glue or nails.

Hydroshield can be installed over most structurally solid and level sub-floors that are free from moisture. This includes Wood, Concrete, and Tile. Hydroshield Laminate requires underlayment to be laid before installation. The underlayment should be at least 3mm thick. 

When installing Hydroshield Laminate, you should leave at least a 1/4 inch gap to allow for expansion over time. This gap can be covered with Finish Trim. Floor&Decor states that Hydroshield Laminate requires at least 48 hours of acclimation.

Need an Installation Quote?

Lots of our readers often complain that they can’t find flooring installers in their area. We suggest you try our free estimation tool to get at least three free quotes from qualified & approved installers in your area within 24 hours.

The tool is powered by Networx, who have been helping people find qualified flooring installers for over 20 years.

Maintenance

Care and maintenance are critical for a long-lasting laminate floor. Below are some tips and instructions to keep your floors looking fresh for longer.

Keep Your Floors Clean

Vacuuming and mopping your floor regularly is vital to its lifespan. Dust and dirt act as abrasive and cause scratches on the wear layer. Hence why it’s crucial to always vacuum your floor before mopping. Unfortunately, some vacuums will damage your floor, so it’s essential to only use a vacuum suitable for hard surface floors.

As for mopping, it’s important not to over-saturate your floor. For best results, we recommend using a spray mop that dispenses a fine mist of water mixed with a cleaning solution on your floor with the touch of a button. This also avoids spillages caused by having to use a water bucket. Furthermore, it would be best if you used a PH-neutral solution. Household dish soap is fine as long as you don’t use too much soap. For best results, we recommend using Bona Hard-Surface Floor Cleaner.

Furthermore, it’s important to avoid all-purpose or multi-purpose cleaners as it’s often not PH-neutral. Contrary to the fact that some brands allow it, we recommend not using a steam mop. Although they are easy to use, they will cause your floor to become dull faster due to the heat. Speaking of heat, avoid exposing your floor to direct sunlight at peak hours; use blinds or curtains if necessary.

Protect Your Floor

There are several ways to protect your floor from damage. Below are some of the best and most common protection methods to adopt.

• Attach large-diameter felt pads to furniture legs. This allows heavy furniture to glide smoothly on your floor without causing scuffs and scratches.
• Avoid wearing shoes as they can bring in dirt and damage your floor. It’s best to wear socks.
• Place rugs in high-traffic areas such as the living area.
• Be wary of office chair casters; they can destroy your floor. Either replace them with floor-friendly blade casters or place down a protective chair mat.
• Maintain a room temperature between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This prevents moisture problems.
• Place down walk-off doormats at house entrances to avoid bringing in dirt from outdoors which can scratch your floor.
• If you have a dog, nail trimming will prevent them from scratching the floor. Plus, most dogs like their nails to be trimmed now and then.

Pros & Cons

As with all flooring brands, Hydroshield laminate has advantages and disadvantages; let’s start with the pros.

Hydroshield Laminate Pros:

• Appealing Styles – Hydroshield shines with style, offering over twenty-five unique hardwood-look designs.
• Good Thickness – The overall thickness of Hydroshield laminate is up to 12mm, which is considered very thick for laminate flooring.
• Rated AC4 – Hydroshield Laminate is rated AC4 meaning its suitable for heavy residential and moderate commercial use.
• Very Affordable – Priced as low as $1.59 per square foot, Hydroshield is one of the best value options on the market.
• Water-Resistant – HydroShield Laminate is highly water-resistant; it can withstand 30 hours of contact with water.
• Long Warranty – The brand offers a lifetime residential warranty and a generous 10-year commercial warranty.

Hydroshield Laminate Cons:

• Lack of Reviews – The only major downside of the brand is the lack of hydroshield flooring reviews.

Our Verdict

Style – 8 out of 10 points

Hydroshield has many trendy laminate styles; however, it isn’t the largest of laminate ranges, with around 25 products to choose from.

Durability – 8.5 out of 10 points

With 12mm thick options, an AC4 rating, and 24 hours water resistance, Hydroshield is on par with most laminate brands in terms of durability. However, it’s not as durable or water-resistant as brands like AquaGuard.

Affordability – 9.5 out of 10 points

Starting at $1.59 per square foot, Hydroshield is one of the cheapest laminate brands on the market. Trafficmaster is the only brand that can beat it on price.

Online Reviews – 6.5 out of 10 points

There are hardly any Hydroshield laminate reviews on the internet. Therefore, we had to score the brand low on online reviews.

Overall Score – 8 out of 10 points 

In conclusion, Hydroshield laminate scored an overall 8 out of 10 points in our review. The brand is a solid choice in terms of thickness, style, and AC rating at a very affordable price. It’s one of the best value laminate flooring solutions on the market. The only major downside of the brand is the lack of online reviews.

What do you think of HydroShield Laminate flooring? Have you had any experiences with the brand? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.

Good Alternatives to Hydroshield Laminate

Pergo Laminate – Pergo is a sizeable US-based brand known for inventing laminate flooring back in the seventies. In other words, they are the pioneers of laminate. The brand’s laminate has a reputation for being high-quality and long-lasting. Some of their lines are fully waterproof, stainproof, and scratchproof. Pergo Outlast and Pergo TimberCraft are Pergos most sought-after products. These two are 12mm thick and have a respectable AC4 rating. If you want a long-lasting laminate floor, Pergo is undoubtedly worth bearing in mind.

Mohawk RevWood Laminate – Mohawk is probably the most well-known flooring brand in the US; the company has been around for over a hundred years, since 1920, to be exact. Mohawk offers a wide range of stylish laminate products in their Mohawk RevWood collections. RevWood planks are built for the ultimate scratch resistance. Most lines are completely waterproof, are rated AC4, and are 12mm thick. Simply speaking, RevWood has the performance of vinyl plank flooring. Most flooring experts, including us, consider it the most durable laminate product on the market. Additionally, RevWood is relatively affordable, with prices starting at $3.69 per square foot.

FAQs

Does Hydroshield Laminate Require Acclimation?

Floor & Decor states that HydroShield laminate flooring needs a 48-hour acclimation period in the same room prior to installation.

How much does HydroShield Laminate Cost?

Hydroshield laminate flooring is priced between $1.59 and $2.49 per square foot. That makes it one of the cheapest laminate options on the market. It’s priced similarly to Home Decorators and Lifeproof laminate.

Is Hydroshield Laminate Waterproof?

Hydroshield laminate is not fully waterproof; however, it is water-resistant. According to Floor & Decor, Hydroshield laminate can withstand up to 24 hours of contact with water.

Does Hydroshield Laminate need Underlayment?

Like most Laminate brands, Hydroshield does require a moisture-proof underlayment for proper installation. We recommend an underlayment at least 3mm thick.

Is Hydroshield Laminate Good?

Apart from the appealing looks, Hydroshield laminate has decent thickness specifications and a respectable AC rating. It’s definitely a good choice for laminate flooring, great value.