Podcast Episode Summary
Pergo Flooring
You're thinking about re-covering some of the floors in your home, and you're looking for an inexpensive, but good-looking way to do it. You've decided that hardwood flooring looks the best, but it's so expensive! Well, there's another option available, and it's cheap - Pergo Flooring. It looks so much like hardwood that it's hard to tell the difference unless you're an expert -- but it costs about half as much as real wood.
Pergo fooring was first introduced in Sweden more than 30 years ago, but only recently made its debut in the United States. After an initial success, Pergo made a deal with Home Depot to carry their line in all of their stores. And now the Pergo name is becoming almost synonymous with laminate flooring.
What is it about Pergo flooring that has made it the leading seller of flooring in the world? I think basically it's because of its combination of quality materials, ease of installation, and worry-free maintenance. No matter which room you're re-flooring, there's a Pergo floor to suit. Pergo has more design patterns than any other brand. And its composition makes it moisture, scratch, and stain resistant. It's also healthier because it doesn't use any of the chemicals found in other types of flooring.
A Pergo floorboard consists of four layers bound tightly together. The top layer is there to protect the underlying layers. This is followed by a computer-generated photograph of the type of material the board is supposed to look like -- this could be any type of material, but usually some kind of wood. The thickest layer is a wood-based melanine laminated board for strength. And finally, the under-side is a layer of plastic, designed to seal the inner material from moisture.
There are literally hundreds of varieties of Pergo flooring available, since the photographic layer can be made to look like any type of wood, stone, or tile. You can choose from light, medium, or dark colors to complement your decor. Planks are available in widths from about 5 - 8 inches, and in varying lengths.
Installation is simple enough that most DIY'ers should be able to do it without professional help, saving thousands of dollars in fees. It is a "floating" floor - not attached to the sub-floor - so it can be laid right over older flooring. Most Pergo flooring has a unique tongue-and-groove system that requires no glue. The fit is so tight that no dirt can get in between the panels, making it ideal for people that are allergic to dust.
Once it is in place, the only regular maintenance necessary is a quick sweeping, and maybe an occasional damp-mopping. Difficult spotting, such as nail polish or tar, can be removed with acetone. And major scratches or dents can be corrected with Pergo repair putty, which blends almost invisibly with the rest of the floor.
After you have made up your mind to install Pergo flooring, and picked out your pattern, you can then begin the process of beautifying your floors. When installation is complete, and you have allowed some time for the new floor to acclimate itself, have your friends and neighbors over, so you can proudly show off your new addition. And don't worry if someone spills a drink -- you own a Pergo floor!
Ezra says: Here are some examples of what your Pergo floor could look like. They illustrate 3 of the 12 different colors of Pergo Accolade flooring, now selling for just $2.28 per square foot -- the best price for Pergo I've found on the internet. For more information, just click on any of the pictures. Or, to see a lot more beautiful, but cheap Pergo flooring, shop online at FastFloors .
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