Pergo Laminate

dnebout

I recently installed that new pergo product called Vintage Home Traditional. It's a click together floor that has 3 random lenghth boards 3.5 inches or so wide. It's beveled on all four sides and has a wood grain texture to it as well as highlights in the grain and the bevel. It's an awsome looking floor and I'm real happy with it, but it crackles when walked on. The floors were leveled both concrete and wood substrates. Pergo pad put in. Supplier told me taht it would settle in 6 months but it has not. It crackles when walked on at all times and temperatures, near baseboards or in the field. Don't know what's up!!! Any ideas!!!

bassmaster

How and what did you use to level the floor with ??

I have had a laminate wood floor in my kitchen for a few years. If I remember correctly, (Although mine not pergo, similar product) the sub-floor can not be off by more than 1/16 of an inch over a 3ft radius.

I was having a crackling sound as well. found a spot in the floor that was off by more than 1/16. That (IMO) would be the biggest reason for the crackling.
In addition, are all boards together correctly???

Perhaps someone else on the this site can give you more info.

Also, the crackling could be from buckeling. Is there expansion room around the perimeter of the floor, ( not butt up against the wall) ???

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BASSMASTER

Tom R

I don't know much at all about Pergo, - - but 'til someone more knowledgeable on it comes along (and they will), - - sounds to me like it was milled wrong, - - and the Pergo rep's answer is the one he's gettin' paid for. Make Pergo make good for it.

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Tom R

Oh, sorry Bass, - - didn't see your answer til I was done with mine.

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bassmaster

OK tom, I thought for sure you would have a better answer than me. as the only experience i have had with it is my own and a friend who had a guy install it butt up against the walls.

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Tom R

Nah, - - actually I don't have anything in particular against it, - - but it just seems most of my customers want the real deal. I've never once been even asked to install Pergo or similar.

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bassmaster

Ya, neither do I have anything against it. . Although I am just a little guy in the big construction world, (i.e. no employees, little jobs only) I have only had 1request in 3-yrs to put one in and never did get the job.
I liked it for myself at the time because the wife changes her decorating needs about 1x a year.. Laminate, in easy-- out easy, change the style.

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dnebout

It certainly has more variations than 1/16 in 3 ft. but my neighbor who does it for a living helped me out and said it would be fine. We sanded down the high spots and filled in the low spots with self stick vinyl tiles. He's been at it 20 + years. I think that our worst spot is probably 3/16 in 3 feet. The whole floor crackles. I know that in the 1200 sq ft we installed there has to be plenty of perfect spots.

Anyway my initial conclusion is that it's milled wrong. I called the supplier again today and they're sending out an independent inspector to check it out. I'll let you know. It won't be for a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the input!

Floorwizard

Tons of complaints about laminate crackling.
the cheaper stuff is always the culprit.

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bassmaster

Good, I hope they take care of you and it all works out for ya.
Good luck

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copusbuilder

I just installed a Quality Craft floor. Random length and bevelled four sides. Sound like a match. I have some, but very little cracking? I can assure you with mine being a pier and beam home on the side of a hill I do and will have significant deflections? So far so good but it was a concern and I have been warned of the tongues breaking after months if it is too bad??

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PrecisionFloors

There is also a possibility of it being too tight. It only has to be bound up a hair bit. I would suggest popping off all the quarter round and look for tight spots. especially near corners or areas the floor wraps around something. If no luck there take a dental pick and check for clearance at all door jambs. Have you EVER put any kind of wax or finish on the floor? If so that is your problem. As far as flatness of the substrate I believe 1/4" in 10ft is tolerance. If all of that fails to explain it for you, stay on Pergo's arse and get it replaced.

dnebout

Is Pergo Laminate considered the cheap stuff?

dnebout

My upper floors are pier and beam on an uphill slope as well. The lower floor is on a slab. I just walked it to see if there was a difference and there isn't.

I do understand your point about the pier and beam foundation being way more susceptable to movement and flexing, but it just isn't the case here. Thanks for the idea.

dnebout

I left plenty of space at the walls, arounf the fireplace and the door jambs. In fact we used a special undercuting tool that my neighbor has for the fireplace and door jambs. No quarter round, we put on new baseboard. My girlfriend wanted to wax it but I stopped her. I do however have more than 1/4 inch in 10 feet of deflection. Maybe thats just it. If this is the rule of thumb, and I have broken it, do you think Pergo will replace anything?

Another idea that my neighbor had was to put down talcomb powder, which i understand is an old flooring trick. The only problem with that is the residue getting stuck in the bevel. Do you know of a clear product that I can sweep into the joints?

Floorwizard

Actually, manufacturers make different grades within their selections.
The one you purchased is in the lower grade.
Pergo makes higher grades as well.

We all have a budget

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dnebout

I was of the opinion that this was one of Pergo's top products. "The Vintage Home Series" Are you sure?

Floorwizard

Vintage home is found at the big box store's yea?

they do not carry top of the line.

Pergo Select is a better product.

But don't let me worry you. Alot of consumers do not have top of the line and are happy.

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dnebout

I just got off the phone with the supplier of the floor and the Vintage Home Traditional Strip is Pergo's top of the line product. The Select product is a couple of grades below. Everybody wanted $4.79 a foot for that floor and I got this wholesale through a flooring supply house at $3.69 a foot.

Mike Finley

Not to side track the issue, but through my flooring wholesaler ProSource I get prefinished 3/4 hardwood for that price. That seems like a lot of money to pay for a laminate floor when hardwood can be bought for the same price.