Pergo flooring does one thing and they do it well. DIY installation for hardwood, laminate and vinyl planks are all you will find and your choices are not as limited as they seem.
This company prides itself in innovative features, designs and colors to help you find the perfect floor for your needs.
What you will discover here is that Pergo floors are not only highly rated, but worth every ounce of your attention.
Whether you need to redo your living room, bathroom or the entire house, Pergo has a solution that matches your needs. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Pergo Flooring.
Key Takeaways:
Pergo luxury vinyl planks, Pergo hardwood planks, and Pergo laminate wood planks are the best flooring options we recommend. Pergo flooring is intricately layered and only available at Home Depot, Lowes, and select local stores. Always clean Pergo immediately if you spill or stain, but avoid chemicals and wax – opt for vacuums and dry mops.Â
Top Pergo Flooring Options
Pergo doesn’t have a lot of various flooring types to wade through. They keep it simple and they produce high quality floors in three styles.
- Pergo Luxury Vinyl Planks. These planks are among the most durable, beautiful and easy to install of all flooring types and brands.
- Pergo Hardwood Planks. Whether you want solid hardwood planks or engineered hardwood, Pergo has you covered.
- Pergo Laminate Wood Planks. Simple to install and ready for almost every room in your home, laminate planks fit the bill.
What to Expect from Pergo Floors
Pergo has a limited sales system and you can only find them in Lowes, Home Depot and a very select group of local outlets that vary by region. Even shopping through the Pergo website will take you to one of the retail store sites.
However, this only aids in their availability. Since the big box home improvement stores handle the stock, shipping or in-store pick up, you know you will get your order, where it is coming from or when you can pick it up.
Pergo Manufacturing Process
Depending on the type of flooring you choose the process is a little different. The main differences will be the materials used (laminate, vinyl or wood) and how thick the planks are.
Hardwood planks come in two styles, solid and engineered. For the solid hardwood, you get the hardwood plank cut from one piece of the selected wood source and a top clear coat layer for wear protection and waterproofing.
The engineered wood, laminate and vinyl are a mixture of layers. Starting with the base layer or underlayment, the rest of the plank is built on top. You have a choice in the material taking up the core layers. Depending on the plank type there are options for plastic core, wood core or composite core for added durability and dent resistance.
Finally, each plank is topped with the Pergo Ultimate Shield wear layer to help prevent scratches, wear and tear as well as dents or mars.
Installing Pergo Flooring
If you go through a professional, it is advised that you get at least 3 quotes for the job. To help select the right contractor you should also make use of online services like Angie’s List, Thumbtack or Home Advisor. These sites will have contractors listed that perform flooring installations in your area as well as reviews and comments from previous users.
For DIY installation, you will need to first prep your area. In the case of hardwood planks you need to place the planks in the room for 48 to 72 hours to let them acclimate and expand prior to installation.
Then, you need to remove any carpeting or padding, clean the sub floor, patch any holes and if you are installing on concrete, you need to lay down a moisture barrier.
After all that is done you can begin laying the planks and locking them together. You should always start along the longest wall and work towards the other side of the room. Make sure each row is offset at least 6 inches to prevent joints from lining up.
Once the final row is in place, you can let the floor set overnight to finish expanding and then move your furniture back in. All that is left is care and maintenance as you enjoy your new floor for years to come.
Pergo Luxury Vinyl
When it comes to Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP), you have a lot of options. If you are deciding on this type of flooring, you may want to check out our review of the best LVP on the market.
Pergo Has several options for LVP, though it is not what they are known for. However, with their experience in other flooring areas, it only makes sense that they know LVP just as well as anyone.
Their planks are made from composite core materials and most have an underlayment already attached. This will save you some money upfront and prevent the need for a moisture barrier. However, the price may turn off some potential buyers.
Pergo LVP is simple to install, only takes about a day for full acclimation, installation and expansion. Once installed the floors are waterproof, durable, eye pleasing and comfortable.
With the wear layer and composite core, the LVP is also scratch resistant, dent resistant and comes with the Pergo lifetime warranty.
Pergo Laminate
The laminate department of Pergo makes durable and scratch resistant planks. One thing to note off the top is that there are no laminate planks on the market that are 100% waterproof. Pergo and several other brands market as waterproof, though.
Because laminate planks have a wooden or wood composite core, which will swell, bow or crack when exposed to water, they are not waterproof. However, when the floor is completely installed and the top layer is allowed to seal, the entire floor becomes waterproof. Individual planks and unfinished floors, though, are not.
Since that is the case, even the best laminate planks, regardless of finish, should not be installed in wet areas like bathrooms or basements. In all other rooms, laminate flooring is durable, viable and resilient.
Pergo laminate floors are scratch resistant, waterproof (as mentioned above) and dent resistant. After the install, the floors are solid, smooth and even.
Pergo Hardwood
There are two options when it comes to natural hardwood. You can choose from Pergo Max and Pergo American Era. Each option comes in many types, colors and finishes, though.
Pergo American Era is the solid hardwood option. Each plank is made from a single cut of timber in your chosen wood, grooved for DIY install and covered with the Ultimate Shield wear layer for added durability and scratch resistance.
Pergo Max is the engineered hardwood option. You get a plank made from a wood composite core with a back layer for balance. There is a solid hardwood veneer with a clear Ultimate Shield wear layer on top. It has the look of solid hardwood and the durability of engineered wood.
Either way you go, you still get a simple install, great comfort and design and the lifetime warranty. Pergo hardwood flooring options aren’t as deep as some other brands, but with the choices they do offer, you can match almost any décor.
Care and Maintenance of Your New Pergo Floor
Cleaning your floors is a chore that never ends. However, Pergo makes it easy. Each of their flooring options are relatively low maintenance and have specific do’s and don’ts.
For LVP and Laminate planks the cleaning and maintenance are almost identical. You do not want to use wet mops, steam mops, and do not leave puddles of water behind. However, you can sweep and dust mop, or even vacuum as needed.
For spots and spills, you want to clean them up immediately without using any soap or detergent-based chemicals. To best keep them clean, use a cotton cloth or mop for dusting and spot cleaning as well as vinegar or ammonia based cleaning solutions.
When it comes to the hardwood, things are similar as well, but there are a few stand outs. As long as you can help it, you do not want to mop your hardwood floors at all. This includes wet mops or damp mops.
You also don’t want to wax the floors or use any chemical cleansers on them (vinegar solutions are best). Any spills need to be cleaned up quickly and not allowed to set. Dry mops, sweeping and vacuuming are recommended as the only cleaning methods you should use.
Comparing Pergo to Other Top Brands
Pergo isn’t the only choice for your flooring needs. How do they compare to popular brands like Shaw, Armstrong and LifeProof? Let’s take a closer look.
Pergo Vs. Shaw
Shaw Flooring is one of those brands that will always be in the top or best of lists. Their attention to detail and quality is among the very best.
Compared to Pergo, they have a larger selection of colors and styles, but they also have a much higher price tag.
Shaw floors also come in LVP, laminate and hardwood. They also include tile, stone and carpeting in their arsenal as well. Unlike Pergo, though, Shaw has various warranties for their products, which include 3-year, 10-year, 25-year and lifetime warranties.
Shaw has their own flooring stores to sell through, and have created a flooring network to include Shaw Floors, Home Center and Flooring Specialty.
You can also find some of their flooring solutions in big box home improvement stores like Home Depot.
If you are looking for the best of the best, and don’t mind needing professional installation, Shaw floors are always a great choice. However, if you want to save some money upfront, install the floor yourself and still get a great product, Pergo is a solution worth looking into.
Pergo Vs. Armstrong
Armstrong floors are also considered mid- to high-end flooring options that come in a lot of styles and colors. You can choose from rigid core or luxury vinyl, sheet or tile laminate, tile or stone (engineered).
The selection is quite robust compared to Pergo, and falls in the same price range. Like Pergo, you will find most options through their online site and locally in Home Depot or Lowes. There are also a few select regional dealers that carry Armstrong options as well, though usually more limited.
The warranties work much like those from Shaw, and will vary from 10 years to lifetime, depending on product, style and other options. When it comes to the more popular choices like LVP and laminate, though, their warranties are lower than most others.
If you want an affordable and easy to find flooring option, Armstrong has a durable and attractive solution. If you want a better warranty Pergo has your answer.
Pergo Vs. LifeProof
LifeProof is among the leaders when it comes to LVP. Where they lack, though, is in selection. The LVP is their biggest selection, where you can choose from 6 colors and various finishes. They also have some laminate planks as well as engineered hardwood, which is actually bamboo.
LifeProof is an exclusive through Home Depot (though some other retailers are picking up older styles to sell). You can shop through their website, like Pergo, but will end up at a Home Depot sales page.
The warranties are also lifetime for the LVP and up to 25 years for the other options. However, unlike Pergo, selection is based on location and availability. Not all stores have the same stock and if your local Home Depot doesn’t have the one you like, you will have to have it shipped to you, which adds to the cost.
LifeProof is a low-cost solution for flooring that actually holds up. The budget-friendly price is the biggest draw, though. If you want easier installs or a better selection, consider Pergo.
What I Like About Pergo
- Choose from LVP, Laminate or hardwood options.
- All floors have a lifetime warranty.
- DIY install, even for solid hardwood.
- Low maintenance and simple cleaning instructions.
What I Dislike About Pergo
- Can only buy at Lowes and Home Depot, even online.
- Not all options have an underlayment attached.
- No wet mopping, even on waterproof floors.
- Has gotten mixed reviews online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the more common questions about Pergo flooring. As always, if you have further questions you want answered, just use the comment section below.
Q. Is Pergo flooring really waterproof?
- The short answer is yes. Once the flooring is installed, acclimated and expanded, the top wear layer (the clear Ultimate Shield layer) seals between the planks to create a waterproof barrier.
However, individual planks are not waterproof and any rows laid that expose the core, sides or bottom are not waterproof either. This includes the first and last rows that meet the walls, or if laid on concrete without a moisture barrier.
Q. How long do Pergo floors last?
- Even with a lifetime warranty, the flooring itself is claimed to last you upwards of 25 years. With proper care and maintenance and minimal moving of furniture, you shouldn’t have any issues for years to come.
Q. I heard Pergo is going out of business, is this true?
- No, it isn’t true. Rumors were spread back in 2013 when Pergo was in a financial deal that ended with a merger with Mohawk flooring. Since then the brand has spawned more flooring and higher quality with no plans of shutting down anytime soon.
Q. Why can I not use a steam mop on Pergo floors?
- Steam is moisture and heat. It is also pressure. When you put pressure on hardwood, LVP and especially laminate, the steam can push the moisture into the planks. This is bad for all wood as moisture and heat can cause wear, damage, swelling or worse.
