Pergo Waterproof Flooring | Pergo Vinyl & Laminate Options
Is Pergo Flooring Waterproof?
Pergo manufactures four laminate flooring collections and one vinyl flooring, that are either waterproof, water-resistant or spill-proof. Read on for options, prices and where to buy.
Pergo Extreme vinyl flooring is the only 100% Pergo waterproof option, click here to find out why.
February 3, 2023, by: Greca Fotopoulos
If you’re wondering if Pergo flooring is waterproof you’ve come to the right place. In this post we will take you through each Pergo collection, both laminate and vinyl, and clarify which of them is waterproof and which is water-resistant or spill proof.
Read more about what laminate flooring is and waterproof laminate flooring.
If you’re in a hurry you can compare each collection in our “at a glance” table below for specifications and links to retailers. We always appreciate hearing from our readers so if you have any questions or would like to share your experience with Pergo flooring please drop us a message in the comment section at the end of this post.
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Let’s get started with Pergo’s one truly waterproof flooring collection.
PERGO WATERPROOF VINYL FLOORING
If you’re wondering if any Pergo flooring is truly waterproof then we have good news. Pergo manufactures one vinyl flooring collection, Pergo Extreme, and with its rigid core construction it is 100% waterproof.
PERGO EXTREME WATERPROOF RIGID CORE VINYL
Pergo Extreme is a luxury vinyl flooring with an SPC (stone plastic composite) core making it 100% waterproof and is your best choice if you are looking for complete protecting against water damage in your home.
Summary: As well as being waterproof, Pergo Extreme is also very durable and comes in a very wide range of styles. The range includes stone-look tiles and wood-look planks. There are many wood-look options, with varied widths and lengths, and some offering super realistic EIR planks.
Key Features:
- Pergo Extreme comes in 60 different styles, including 15 tile-look options25
- 100% waterproof
- Kid and pet proof and highly dent resistant
- Attached Underlayment
- Easy click and lock installation
Specs:
- Plank Locking System – Uniclic
- Wear Layer – 22mil
- Plank Width – Multiple widths between 5” and 12”
- Plank Length – Multiple lengths between 24” and 60”
- Plank Thickness – 6mm
- Can be Installed – On, Above or Below Grade
- Subfloor Type – Plywood, Ceramic Tile, PVC, VCT, Glued Laminate, Glued Hardwood
- Underlayment – Attached & 1mm thick
- Warranty – Lifetime Residential / 10 Year Medium Commercial
Cleaning: Dust mop or vacuum with a hard floor attachment. Do not steam mop. Although floor is waterproof clear up spills asap to avoid staining.
Prices: Pergo Extreme costs between $3.99 and $5.99 per Square Foot
Where to Buy: Local Independent Flooring Retailers
Installation & Warranty Info: The warranty for this vinyl flooring states that “Pergo Extreme Flooring will be 100% waterproof under normal conditions and the structural integrity of the floor will not be significantly diminished by exposure to water”. There are two important caveats, firstly the warranty does not cover mold or mildew damage. Secondly, despite being waterproof you can only claim against damages under normal conditions which means you are still not covered for water damage from flooding or from hydrostatic pressure forcing water up from below your floor. Click here for the full Pergo Extreme warranty.
Conclusion: If you need your flooring to be completely waterproof from top to bottom then Pergo Extreme is the best choice for peace of mind and is a great choice as a vinyl basement or vinyl bathroom floor. For more in-depth information read our Pergo Extreme performance report.
Pergo is most well-known for its laminate flooring so let’s compare Pergo’s laminate flooring collections and access their waterproof qualities.
PERGO WATERPROOF LAMINATE FLOORING
It is probably worth stressing from the outset that none of Pergo’s laminate floors are completely waterproof. Instead, they have varying degrees of protection from surface water and other spills. Pergo certainly market their laminate as waterproof but, as we have discussed on our post about laminate flooring for a basement, laminate flooring can have a waterproof or water-resistant surface or top layer but not a waterproof core. This means you will be responsible for preventing moisture from seeping into Pergo’s laminate floors from below.
Let’s compare Pergo’s different laminate floor collections and gauge just how waterproof they are:
PERGO OUTLAST+ SPILL-PROOF LAMINATE
Pergo rates its Outlast + range as a waterproof but in fact, with its patented SpillProtect technology, it is more accurately described as water-resistant.
Summary: Outlast + has the largest range of styles of all its laminate collections and is the most popular collection amongst buyers. No doubt this is thanks in part to its reasonable price and easy availability from Home Depot.
Key Features:
- Pergo Outlast comes in 56 styles, more than any other Pergo collection
- Resistant to spills, splashes and pet accidents
- Great for kitchens and bathrooms
- SurfaceDefense technology protects against scuffs and scratches
- Easy to clean and approved for steam mopping
Specs:
- Plank Locking System – Uniclic
- AC Rating – AC4
- Plank Width – 5.23″
- Plank Length – 47.24″
- Plank Thickness – 10mm
- Can be Installed – On, Above or Below Grade
- Subfloor Type – Plywood or concrete
- Underlayment – Attached
- Warranty – Limited Lifetime Residential / Limited 10-Year Light Commercial
Cleaning: You can wet mop this floor but don’t let the mop get so wet that water puddles and is left standing on the floor. You can use a steam mop but it must be on its lowest heat setting or laminate floor setting if it has one.
Prices: $2.79 to $2.89 per Sq/Ft
Where to buy: Home Depot
Installation & Warranty Info: Pergo Outlast offers a limited lifetime residential warranty. When it comes to its definition of waterproof the warranty states that “the floor will resist damage from moisture due to wet mopping and everyday household spills”. You can install on, above or below grade but the room must be a “dry, climate-controlled area”.
Before installation “A moisture test must be performed to determine if excessive moisture exists in the subfloor.” And “values must be ≤ 5 lbs/1000ft2/24-hr or <80% RH with an in-situ probe”
It is very clear that the warranty doesn’t cover any water damage other than from normal household spills. So, you’re not covered for “flooding, standing water, leaking pipes, mechanical failures or appliance leaks” or “damage caused by water or moisture in the subfloor or underneath the flooring”
The warranty for Outlast Plus also covers cleaning info – https://pergo-cdn.azureedge.net/pdfs/2020_06_op_warranty.pdf
Conclusion: This is a robust floor with a water-resistant surface, but you should not allow moisture underneath the floor or to sit on top of it for longer than necessary. Here is our full Outlast + report.
PERGO TIMBERCRAFT + WETPROTECT & PERGO PORTFOLIO + WETPROTECT
These two Pergo collections are also advertised as completely waterproof but once again their +Wetprotect technology delivers surface water-resistance rather than full top to bottom waterproof protection.
Summary: We have lumped these two collections in together as there are far more similarities than differences. Like Outlast + they are both popular, well priced and easily available exclusively from Lowes. For more read our full Pergo TimberCraft report and Pergo Portfolio report.
Key Features:
- TimberCraft comes in 19 styles and the Portfolio collection offers a further 25
- Resistant to spills, splashes and pet accidents
- Great for kitchen and bathrooms
- ScratchGuard Advanced technology offers scratch and stain resistance
- Easy to clean (see below)
Specs:
- Plank Locking System – Uniclic
- AC Rating – AC4
- Plank Width – 5.23″ to 7.48”
- Plank Length – 47.24″
- Plank Thickness – 10mm for Portfolio and 12mm for TimberCraft
- Can be Installed – On, Above or Below Grade
- Subfloor Type – Plywood or concrete
- Underlayment – Attached
- Warranty – Limited Lifetime Residential / Limited 10-Year Light Commercial
Cleaning: Regularly dust mop and occasionally wet mop with a well wrung out mop. You can use a steam mop (on lowest heat setting) on TimberCraft flooring but not on Portfolio flooring. Check Warranties.
Prices: Pergo Portfolio costs $2.59 per Square Foot. Pergo TimberCraft costs $2.79 to $2.99 per Square Foot
Where to Buy: Lowes
Installation & Warranty Info: Very similar warranties to Pergo Outlast +. Must be installed in dry climate-controlled environment, warranties only cover everyday household spills. Carry out a moisture test and install a moisture barrier if installing over concrete. Don’t use a steam mop on the Pergo Portfolio collection.
Conclusion: Pergo TimberCraft is thicker than both Pergo Outlast + and Pergo Portfolio. However, when it comes to waterproof qualities both TimberCraft and Portfolio are very similar to Outlast +, despite using a different name (WetProtect vs SpillProtect) to describe their waterproof technology. In short, TimberCraft and Portfolio floors are great against household spills but no match for subfloor moisture problems or flooding.
PERGO XP
This is the second of Pergo’s laminate collections sold exclusively at Home Depot, the other being Outlast + described above.
Summary: We won’t go into much detail about Pergo XP here as Pergo XP is not marketed as a waterproof or water-resistant flooring. For more read our full report of Pergo XP.
Cleaning: No wet mopping. Dust mop and occasional damp mop.
Prices: Pergo XP costs $1.99 to $2.99 per Square Foot
Where to Buy: Home Depot
Installation & Warranty Info: If you compare the Pergo XP warranty with Pergo’s other laminate warranties you will see that there is not much difference especially when it comes to subfloor moisture issues or flooding. The main difference is that Pergo XP is also not waterproof against standing water either. No wet mopping and no steam mopping and don’t allow moisture to stand on the surface for more than 30 minutes.
Conclusion: Pergo XP has little to no water protection and therefore is not suitable for anywhere standing water might be a problem.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ALL PERGO FLOORING
Finally then, we offer you this quick comparison table outlining the different waterproof and water resistant flooring options from Pergo:
|
Name
|
Waterproof Status
|
Average Cost
|
Where to Buy
|
| Pergo XP (Laminate) | Not Waterproof | $1.99 to $2.99 sq/ft | Home Depot |
| Pergo Outlast + (Laminate) | Water-Resistant | $2.79 to $2.89 sq/ft | Home Depot |
| Pergo Portfolio (Laminate) | Water-Resistant | $2.59 sq/ft | Lowes |
| Pergo TimberCraft + (Laminate) | Water-Resistant | $2.79 to $2.99 | Lowes |
| Pergo Extreme (Rigid Core Vinyl) | Waterproof | $3.99 and $5.99 | Local Flooring Retailers |
RELATED POSTS:
Best Water Resistant Laminate Flooring
Best Waterproof Flooring for a Basement
Is Bamboo Flooring Waterproof? – Ask the Home Flooring Pros
About the Author:
Greca Fotopoulos
Greca is the lead style writer at Home Flooring Pros (more), with a BA in Technical Art, she’s focused on flooring trends, flooring ideas, and flooring brand reviews.
“There’s nothing more satisfying than creating a home that you love. The hardest thing about this job is trying not to covet all the great floors I get to review; if I could remodel my home every month, I would!”
Hey, thanks for letting me know that one of my tables wasn’t working. Fixed now
Dick head
We need to have our carpets replaced with another type of floor. We would prefer laminate, but we were told that it emits certain poisons in the air . My husband has COPD. It would be dangerous for him to breathe this product for ten years. We would like some information about a type of laminate which is considered “green.” Does it exist and, If so, where would we go to purchase it in the Henderson/Las Vegas area?