My wife and I decided to get hardwood floors (planks 3/4" x 2 1/4") and have found Bruce only because they are so prevelant in Lowes/Home Depot.

However, we also saw that Menards carries a brand called Columbia Flooring.

1) Both companies have been around for a while. Would it matter between these 2?

2) Also, should I not consider these 2 for another brand?

Well there are a ton of wood floor manufactures out there. Go to a flooring place besides the big box and see what they have to offer then go online to a place like this http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com and check their prices. You will be surprised at how much you can save even after shipping. I bought BR-111 Triangulo Tiete Chestnut for about 2.50 a SQ/FT less then at the local place. I feel kind of bad for using the local guy to see what samples look like in person but my wallet thanked me later.

I have Bruce enginered 3/8 X 5 plank in part of my house (25year warranty stuff) and the finish has been outstanding. My 90 pound Chocolate Lab does not even faze it. I just hope my BR-111 holds up as well. By the way, the BR-111 that I am currently putting down is beautiful and very well milled. I would recommend this flooring to anyone but not until after I see how it holds up under the dog’s toes.

There are a TON of choices with pre-fin wood. Just get 3/4 if you can in case you ever want to sand and refinish. BR-111 is outstanting milling and great finish...I have someBR-111 Santos Mahogony...stands up great..looks better that my site finished Jatoba(although I can recoat the Jatoba with no fear of contaminates in the micro-bev.)Just make sure you make the wife happy!!! Good luck, and always research first.

Columbia is a decent product.

Do you have any experience with Columbia and/or Bruce?

I would go with Columbia, before a comparable Bruce.

Me too.

Both companies make a wide range of products. Do your research to determine if the particular flooring you are looking at is:
1) all one species. Bruce will mix species sometimes
2) milled and produced in the USA. Bruce has some flooring made in CHina
3) a particular grade. Columbia is pretty good about defining which grade of wood you get with a product line. Bruce is not a good.
4) type of finish. Bruce is good about defining the finish and it's warranty.

I've laid both. IMO, neither is considerably better than the other. The last Bruce floor I laid, Dundee Strip, went together well, looked good, lots of long boards, very few bad boards,etc. All in all, a decent, nice looking wood floor for a minimal expense. The last Columbia was a similar experience but I did not feel their finish was equal to Bruce's.

Is there anything I should know about going with 3 1/4" width vs 2 1/4" width?

I saw some 3 1/4" width and not so sure about it.

It goes down a little quicker and I think it looks nice.

It is not a plank floor if that's what you mean, they are both considered strip floors.

Thanks...one reason I am not so sure about it, is that my house is not very wide...I am thinking that the smaller (2 1/4") will present better eye appeal. I am running back to front but again, the house is not that wide.

Ok, I havent even laid down one board yet and I have SO many questions.

I took back the 3 1/4" width from one brand (Columbia Flooring) as I just didnt think the width is what I liked. However, the color too was almost there, but not quite, for me.

So I picked up some Bruce 2 1/4" x 3/4" hardwood Butterscotch. The color and width is what I liked. We just picked up one carton and laid out a few boards here and there to see.

First off, the Columbia Flooring entire box had almost all perfect boards. One was cracked some (cut that off and I am fine) and 3 others had dark, really dark almost impefections. Hide those in closet. But nearly every board was straight as an arrow.

On the other hand, the Bruce box had several boards that were warped.

Now, is this just the coincidence and any product/brand is going to have some bad boxes here and there...or am I going to be fighting Bruce each and every board trying to straighten them out???

2&1/4" strip flooring almost always has some bows in it. Very common with all brands. It straightens out as it is installed. The 3&1/4" will typically be milled straighter. I just nailed down 600 ft of Bruce Dundee Butterscotch. I had no problems using my Bostitch M111 FS. I did notice on a few occassions that the end butts were not quite square so watch for that.