FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Pergo – good or bad and any how to tips

| Posted in General Discussion on January 31, 1999 08:08am

*
I am thinking about putting Pergo type flooring in my basement. There aren’t any moisture problems that I can see and the present floor cover is what used to be refered to as asphalt tile. The tile is all tight can I go on top of it. Any actual hands on help type information would be much appreciated. How long can I expect this product to last. There will be traffic on it everyday.

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. Guy | Jan 28, 1999 12:38am | #1

    *
    You should be able to go on top of your old floor. You'll use a layer of PVC (Pergo sells it) first as a moisture barrier, followed by a layer of thin foam.

    We used the "residential grade" Pergo in a store 2 years ago, and still have no scratches or any wear on it!

    1. H._Kimball | Jan 28, 1999 03:58am | #2

      *Read and follow the directions very carefully. I heard of a guy who installed Pergo and overlapped the thin foam underlayment sheeting instead of butting it together as the directions tell. It's a small thing but translated into an obvious problem to anyone who walked over the floor. The homeowners were very unhappy. The only fix was to replace the whole thing. It wasn't just one room but the entire downstairs of a house. The installer wasn't about to replace it at his expense-- insisted that he had done it right. I don't know how it turned out.I've installed a few Pergo floors (one over concrete) and they went easy. Looked good too but not like real wood. If someone really wants the look of real wood, they will be disappointed in Pergo (and any other laminate floor). Here's a tip: Glue squeeze out can be a chore to clean up, but it's much easier if you just leave it there for a few minutes, until it hardens a little, then you can scrape the bulk of it off with a plastic putty knife.Have funH. Kimball

      1. NJkwan | Jan 31, 1999 02:58pm | #3

        *I installed this for one customer who said that Pergo just didn't feel right on a bare feet. This may also feel colder in winter than wood. However, none of this comes from a personal experience. Check for moisture by duct taping a 1 foot square piece of plastic to the slab. If there is moisture on the plastic after overnight, you should consider further professional advice as well as some heavy duty moisture barrier. On moisture barrier, use tyvek tape to seal the joints and bring up the edge of the barrier against the wall and cover with molding later, ie, don't cut the barrier on the floor.

  2. Guest_ | Jan 31, 1999 07:29pm | #4

    *
    Sam, you use the phrase "Pergo type flooring." Are you planning to use Pergo, or some other laminate flooring?

    You ask how long you can expect the product to last, but the answer may depend on which brand you are using.

    I am curious as to which brands may not be as good as the Pergo.

    Rich Beckman

    1. Guest_ | Jan 31, 1999 08:08pm | #6

      *Make SURE to seal the basement floor with plastic. There are cheaper and probably better options than the Pergo stuff -- their prices for accessories are outrageous -- such as Tu-Tuff or an imported plastic (polyethylene?) I bought from Resource Conservation Technologies in Baltimore. RCT also sell a double-sided tape for making airtight seams.The problem with our basement is not so much moisture from the soil as condensation during the summer. The cool floor (what is the year-round underground temp -- about 55°?) and the humid air cause mold and other unfriendlies to grow. Of course real wood is generally not recommended for basements I've been using a dehumidifier and when I Pergo the floor I will put down some thin insulation board underlayment to keep the floor from getting so cool. The main point of the Pergo underlayment, incidentally, seems to be to prevent the boards from gettin glued to the floor. They make a big deal about the floor's need to expand and contract.Definitely rent the official clamps. They let you go faster and pull the boards together really tight, watertight and almost invisible. I found the stuff easy to work with, although it is really picky about the subfloor being flat -- they want no more than 1/8" variation in 10'. It's not cheap.

  3. Sam_M._Meek | Jan 31, 1999 08:08pm | #5

    *
    I am thinking about putting Pergo type flooring in my basement. There aren't any moisture problems that I can see and the present floor cover is what used to be refered to as asphalt tile. The tile is all tight can I go on top of it. Any actual hands on help type information would be much appreciated. How long can I expect this product to last. There will be traffic on it everyday.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Choosing a Paintbrush

Tips for picking the right paintbrush based on paint type, surface, and personal comfort.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 695: Saving Bricks, Cut-and-Cobble Insulation, and Waterproofing Foundations
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Waterproofing Below-Grade Foundation Walls
  • Midcentury Home for a Modern Family
  • The New Old Colonial

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 333 - August/September 2025
    • A Practical Perfect Wall
    • Landscape Lighting Essentials
    • Repairing a Modern Window Sash
  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data