RevWood: What It Is and Why It’s Amazing

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Updated November 17, 2020

RevWood flooring. You’ve seen it all over the internet, but you still don’t know exactly what it is. Is it laminate? Is it engineered wood? Is it faux wood? And most importantly, is it right for you?

We hear you. Even if you’ve done enough research on different types of flooring to finish a PhD, you still might not know exactly what this niche product is. Well, friend, look no further—this guide is the beacon of light and knowledge that you’ve been looking for.

Below, we’ll answer all of your RevWood questions (and more). We’ll explain exactly what RevWood is, who makes it, the benefits of choosing it, its revolutionary waterproof technology, where to install it, and even how it stacks up to other types of fake wood flooring.

We’ll also throw in some RevWood reviews, cleaning tips, and RevWood price ranges for good measure.  

Let’s jump in!

Or, to skip straight to our “is RevWood worth buying” judgment call, click here!

First of All: What Is RevWood, Exactly?

Simply put, RevWood is a hybrid hardwood floor alternative that combines the beauty of real hardwood flooring with incredible durability and waterproof qualities. Think of it like a cross between engineered hardwood and composite flooring, with all the advantages of both.

There are three main collections to choose from:

1. RevWood (which is fade-resistant, scratch-resistant, and water-resistant).
2. RevWood Select (which is fade-resistant, scratch-resistant, and waterproof).
3. RevWood Plus (which is fade-resistant, scratch-resistant, and ultra-waterproof).

We’ll get into the ins and outs of these three offerings in more detail further down.

Who Makes RevWood?

RevWood is made by Mohawk. If that company name sounds familiar, it’s because they’ve been making floors for over a hundred years. In fact, Mohawk is one of the largest and best hardwood flooring brands in the world today. 

The company started with a focus on carpeting, but has since become a leader in the production of solid wood, engineered wood, vinyl, laminate, and ceramic tile flooring. 

And fun fact: their RevWood floors are made right here in the USA! 

Is RevWood Laminate Flooring?

This is a question we hear a lot. The short answer is yes—RevWood is laminate flooring…and so much more. 

RevWood is not the faded, yellowing, plastic laminate of your grandparent’s generation. In fact, it’s is one of the most durable wood flooring alternatives out there. 

Mohawk says “RevWood products combine the beauty of hardwood with the toughness of laminate”. And we couldn’t agree more!

In fact, Mohawk actually advertises this as a wood floor because it resembles wood (in appearance and durability) so much more than it resembles your typical laminate.

What is RevWood Made Of?

Mohawk’s RevWood is a laminate product—but what is laminate flooring made of, exactly? In general, laminate is a composite flooring made of three layers:

• A wood-derived core making up the structure of the floor.
• A photo-realistic embossed image that’s printed on paper.
• A protective surface wear layer that prevents dents, scratches, and water damage.

RevWood is made of these same three layers, but it boasts some extras too—like Mohawk’s patented Hydroseal coating, which we’ll discuss further down.

Is Mohawk’s RevWood Real Wood?

Yes and no. Just like engineered wood flooring, RevWood features a real wood core (made of fast-growing southern pine). And like laminate, it features a high-quality image layer and super-durable wear layer.

However: RevWood’s image layer is special. It’s not just a high-resolution image—it’s actually embossed. That means that RevWood doesn’t just look exactly like real hardwood. It feels exactly like it too!

What Are the Different RevWood Varieties?

As we said earlier, RevWood comes in three different collections: RevWood, RevWood Select, and RevWood Plus. Here’s how they break down:

1. RevWood 

RevWood planks are 7 mm thick and can be purchased in various board widths between 5.25 inches and 7.5 inches wide.

This line has the most options with 8 styles to choose from; each style has 3 to 12 color options and is available in a range of finishes. 

The range of colors and plank size suit just about every palette, from Reclaimed Chic’s more modern look to the classic feel of RevWood Knotted Chestnut. You can even find options that look like ebony flooring (ebony oak, that is).

RevWood planks are embossed for an ultra-realistic feel, and can even boast hand-scraped finishes for even more personality.

RevWood Price

RevWood planks cost between $2.00–$2.50 per square foot.

2. RevWood Select

RevWood Select planks are 12 mm thick and 7.5 inches wide. These planks are textured to give a realistic hardwood look, and all boast Mohawk’s waterproof technology.

RevWood Select comes in 6 different styles, each with 3 to 10 wood floor color choices. The RevWood Select Rare Vintage collection offers nine color schemes, from a cool grey Silverstone Chestnut to a warm Cedar Chestnut.

The Briarfield collection offers 5 colors including Sunbleached Oak, Tanned Oak, and Hazelwood Oak.   

RevWood Select Price

RevWood Select planks cost between $2.25–$3.00 per square foot.

3. RevWood Plus

RevWood Plus planks are 10mm-12mm thick and come in a wide range of widths depending on the collection. There are 8 styles, each with 4 to 5 color options (including the ultra-popular RevWood Plus Elderwood).

RevWood Plus is the most realistic of the three options with its GenuEdge technology; these beveled edges give it a look that is closer to its wood flooring counterpart.

If larger planks are your thing, check out the RevWood Plus Antique Craft. At 9 inches wide and over 80 inches long, these planks feature deep graining and hand scraping for that characteristic hardwood look. 

Of course, the greatest achievement of RevWood Plus is its ultra-waterproof technology… but you’ll get a closer look at that a bit later.  

RevWood Plus Price

RevWood Plus planks cost between $2.50–$3.50 per square foot.

Mohawk RevWood Installation

Mohawk has done the research and trademarked their own click-together installation system, which they call Uniclic. Snap-together surfaces like this are some of the easiest types of flooring to install and come together to create so-called “floating floors”. 

Are there some disadvantages of floating floors? Sure, but installation is not one of them. In fact, when it comes to pricing, the cost to install RevWood is roughly equivalent to the cost to install engineered hardwood floors—and with so many more benefits.

RevWood vs. Other Wood Floor Alternatives: How Do They Compare? 

RevWood vs. Engineered Wood

There are a lot of similarities between RevWood and engineered wood. Both are composite floors made up of multiple layers. Both have a wood core. And like RevWood, engineered wood planks usually come with click-together, snap-lock, or Uniclic systems for easy installation (like we said, they all mean the same thing—Uniclic is simply Mohawk’s patented version). 

But that’s where the similarities end. Because engineered wood has a solid wood top (aka a veneer) fixed to its core, whereas RevWood has that embossed image layer and plasticate wear layer we mentioned earlier. That means RevWood is, predictably, much more durable and water-resistant. 

In fact, one of the biggest engineered wood disadvantages is that even the best engineered wood flooring isn’t waterproof! While some of the best engineered wood flooring brands claim to offer water-resistant products, very few (if any) can hold a candle to RevWood.

However: some engineered wood flooring can be refinished depending on the thickness of the veneer layer. That is not an option with RevWood. 

RevWood vs. Vinyl Plank (aka LVT or LVP)

Vinyl plank is often touted as an excellent, waterproof type of fake wood flooring. And really, when you compare vinyl plank vs. laminate choices like RevWood, the biggest difference is the material from which these two floors are constructed. 

The typical polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used in all the best types of vinyl flooring is fully waterproof, but it’s not a super eco-friendly flooring choice (big sigh from Mother Earth). 

Plus, it can be relatively hard to find low-VOC vinyl flooring. What does that mean? While vinyl plank flooring is durable and waterproof, low-quality products can sometimes off-gas after installation. This means the floor can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, potentially harming indoor air quality. 

That’s not something you have to worry about with RevWood. RevWood contains no PVC, and all of Mohawk laminates are Floorscore Certified. Translation: RevWood qualifies as non-toxic laminate flooring!

And when it comes to looks, RevWood also takes the cake—its embossed image layer arguably creates more depth and realism than even vinyl plank can offer.

Don’t take our word for it though—check out some Pergo Extreme reviews to learn what buyers say about those super-popular vinyl plank products (and how they stack up to Mohawk RevWood reviews).

What Are the Benefits of Mohawk’s RevWood?

There are so many answers to this question! Thanks to its durability, quality construction, and beautiful wood texture, there are tons of benefits to installing RevWood flooring in your home. We’ll talk about a few of the most common ones below, but we should also mention that RevWood also resists fading, scratches, and water better than most of its competitors.

RevWood is easy to install thanks to its Uniclic locking system

Like we said above, RevWood is easy to install thanks to its patented Uniclic locking system. This snap-together floor can be put together with zero glue—so if you’re looking for low-VOC flooring, this is the installation method for you (adhesives can be packed with VOCs).

RevWood Select and RevWood Plus are completely waterproof

Whereas RevWood is water-resistant, RevWood Select and RevWood Plus are completely waterproof. The trifecta of Uniclic, Hydroseal (Mohawk’s patented waterproof sealant), and a wrap-around wear layer put this laminate flooring in a category of its own. 

It gives you the look and feel of real wood 

RevWood’s embossed photo-realistic image layer gives you the look and feel of real wood. You can even use RevWood to create beautiful wood floor patterns!

RevWood’s scratch-proof technology protects against wear and tear 

RevWood products stand up to life’s wear and tear thanks to its tough wear layer—made from a urethane base mixed with aluminum oxide. It’s tough stuff. 

RevWood comes with an All Pet Protection and Warranty program

Some would say RevWood Select and RevWood Plus are some of the best types of wood flooring for dogs. Why? Mohawk is so confident in their scratch-resistant flooring and waterproofing technology that they offer an All Pet Protection and Warranty. 

This program covers all things pets—including scratched floors and puppy accidents. You can rest easy knowing that Lassie’s after-dinner zoomies and over-excited accidents are covered.

What Makes RevWood Select and RevWood Plus Entirely Waterproof?

We want to be super clear on this one: RevWood should be treated as water-resistant wood flooring. 

But: RevWood Select and RevWood Plus are completely waterproof. 

We’re talking so waterproof they can be steam mopped. A hardwood floor that can be steam mopped? Crazy, right? There are three main features that RevWood Select and RevWood Plus use to create waterproof protection:

1. The Uniclic Joint System. Like we said before, this click-together installation system locks together so tightly, water can’t seep between the planks. Think of it like a wood version of the snap-together tile flooring offered by Daltile.
2. The Hydroseal Layer. Again, as we mentioned earlier, Hydroseal is Mohawk’s patented sealant layer. It prevents water from getting into and around the planks. 
3. Mohawk’s GenuEdge Technology. These beveled edges (again, a Mohawk trademark) don’t just give RevWood a more realistic wood grain appearance. They also bring the Hydroseal coating around each plank’s edge, further protecting against moisture.   

Pro tip: While RevWood definitely makes the list of DIY wood floors, we highly recommend that you follow installation instructions to the letter (or just have a local flooring store install it for you). Proper installation is key to getting the most out of its waterproof benefits and staying within warranty!

Where Should You Use RevWood in Your Home?

Where should you use RevWood in your home? Anywhere that you wish you could put down hardwood, but can’t because of waterproofing or wear issues. Really! 

The perk of this fabulous fake wood floor is that it’s more versatile than traditional types of wood flooring. RevWood technology can withstand wet climates, dry climates, and everything in between.

RevWood makes wood floor bathrooms easy

Perhaps your deepest desire is a wood floor bathroom—but hubby says you’re crazy and starts suggesting different types of tile for the family water park instead. Mohawk has completely changed the tile vs. laminate debate with RevWood. 

Whether bathing your crazy kids or energetic pup, RevWood’s waterproof flooring options can make your desires a reality. Without worry!

Plus, it can handle high-traffic rooms

Thanks to a tough wear layer that’s designed to resist scratches and scuffs (along with a gorgeous appearance) RevWood products are appropriate for hallways and busy living rooms. 

It can even handle rooms that attract the outdoors! 

Do you dream of mudroom flooring in a classic amber walnut? But you know that snow and rain and rocks in shoes would ruin any hardwood around? Fear not, RevWood has a protective wear layer that provides maximum protection against life’s most active residents and outdoor elements. 

How about the traditional elegance of pine flooring or the caress of warm oak for your sunroom flooring? There’s no need to research concrete flooring that looks like wood just yet; RevWood is the perfect solution. In addition to stain, scratch, and water resistance, RevWood is made to resist fading.

RevWood in the bedroom? Oh yes—the options are endless

If you’re anything like us, you’ve considered carpeting the kids’ sleeping area. Or maybe you’re redoing the master suite and are on the fence between using carpet or hardwood in the bedroom. 

It totally makes sense—carpet is traditional for bedrooms because it’s comfy, a great sound buffer for the kids’ wrestling matches (no judgement here), and you don’t have to worry about scratches or dents. 

But, laminate wins the carpet vs. laminate debate when it comes to day-to-day maintenance. You can sweep, mop, and wipe down laminate—whereas carpeting requires vacuuming and a steam cleaner for tougher messes. 

Ready for another RevWood perk? It can be installed over radiant heating systems. Dream of heating wood floors in the cold winter months? No problem.

Oh and don’t throw the carpeting idea away just yet. Peel and stick carpet tiles are trendy, fun, and easy to change. Just slap them down on your new, beautiful faux-wood flooring and have the best of both worlds. 

Yep. RevWood is a game-changer in the world of hardwood floor alternatives.

How Do You Clean Mohawk’s RevWood?

Let’s just say you don’t want to bleach wooden floors unless you know what you’re doing. Same with your RevWood floors!  

All RevWood floors can be cleaned with cotton, terry cloths, or microfiber mops. You can also use a vacuum, but make sure there’s no beater bar.

For stains such as paint, oil, tar, or markers (parents, you know what we’re talking about) you can use acetone-based fingernail polish remover. 

And Mohawk has really taken things to a new level with RevWood Select and RevWood Plus because you can use a wet mop! 

That said, always try to clean up spills immediately and don’t saturate your floors even when wet mopping. It’s also advised that you avoid wax, polishes, shine enhancers, and varnish.

RevWood Reviews: Honest Customer Opinions

As with the reviews of any product, responses are mixed when it comes to RevWood flooring. But overall, RevWood reviews are overwhelmingly positive (especially for RevWood Plus)! The biggest issues as reported by customers are installation difficulties and product defects. 

We cannot stress this enough: if you’re considering RevWood, ask your local flooring retailer about the warranty. Each of the three collections—RevWood, RevWood Select, and RevWood Plus—has a different warranty. All are available on Mohawk’s website. 

Here’s are some RevWood reviews from around the web:

“I had RevWood Plus installed throughout our apartment 7 months ago. It looks amazing and it’s surprisingly very quiet. I use a damp mop about once a week, sweeping with a dry broom as needed, and the mopping hasn’t caused any problems.”

“Two of us, decent DIYers, spent 11 hours installing 300 square feet of Mohawk RevWood Select with Uniclic. It took a while for us to get the hang of it, but went OK after an hour or so. A little tougher than expected.”

“The laminate floor looks great in our kitchen. I’m glad to have a more waterproof floor now!” 

“My sister used cheap laminate in her home, not Mohawk, and the bubbles and warping from tiny spills is ridiculous. I went with RevWood Plus after her experience, and haven’t had any issues. It’s been down over a year and looks very good.”

“The color of this laminate looks really dark and rich and not washed out. It looks like real wood!” 

Conclusion: RevWood Is an Amazing Wood Floor Alternative—But Other Brands Do Exist 

To sum it up: RevWood is an amazing product that mixes the durability of laminate and LVT, but with the look and feel of real wood. It’s built to last with a tough wear layer and wood core. And if you’re worried about water damage, RevWood Select and RevWoodPlus are an excellent solution.  

Just remember: it’s not the only waterproof laminate flooring option in the world! Some companies, like Newton, may even sell comparable waterproof laminates at a lower price point. It’s all about finding the right solution for you!

And remember: you don’t have to go at it alone. Rather than walking into a giant box store and crossing your fingers, head to a flooring store in your area. Use this local flooring dealer near me search to get started! 

Want more info on all things flooring? Check out:

• Douglas Fir Flooring: Is it Right for You?
• Is Teak Flooring Right for You? Teak Pros & Cons
• Is the Cork Flooring Lowe’s Sells Actually Worth Buying?
• How Much Does it Cost to Replace Carpet With Hardwood?  
• What is Subflooring? Underlayment? We’ll Explain.
• Engineered Bamboo Flooring: Pros and Cons