Carmon

Pergo is a pretty well-known term, but it's one of those names that doesn't exactly describe itself. What's a "pergo" anyway? Real estate agents and home improvement gurus throw the word around as if you're automatically supposed to know what it means. Well, if you've been wondering, here's the lowdown:

Pergo is just a name brand for a type of laminate flooring. It's basically a company's name. Granted, Pergo is more well known that a lot of other manufacturers, but in the end, it's probably not worth paying more for "Pergo floors."

Now if you're new to all this, you might not be that clear on what laminate flooring is either. Basically it's a material that's made to look like hardwood. It's made of synthetic materials (or sometimes synthetic materials combined with natural ingredients) that are topped with a wood-styled design.

The main benefit to laminate (including Pergo) is that it's cheaper to buy than hardwood floors, but it still looks good. It's also easier to care for than hardwood (it's pretty impervious to scratches and dents and doesn't need to be refinished periodically). Lastly, laminate floors can be installed by do-it-yourself types, whereas hardwoods typically need professional installation.

Despite these perks, many homeowners still prefer hardwoods to laminate. Wood is a tried and true flooring material that lasts for generations (while laminate is relatively new to the flooring world and, despite decades-long guarantees, has yet to be proven). Also, wood feels warmer and softer underfoot, and it's all natural.

So, hopefully, the big Pergo question has been answered now. It's just a type of laminate flooring.

TC Thorn is a writer, blogger, and webmaster. More articles like this can be found in the Flooring section of the author's Home Improvement site. This article may be reprinted so long as those links are included.