Pergo Paradigm - glued laminate flooring in Kitchen

I installed the higher-priced Pergo laminate “Paradigm” in my kitchen

This is the fourth room I have installed laminate flooring, so I am not a novice. I followed all the rules and instructions. The other floors in other rooms (Pergo; Dupont; and Mannigton –glued; are in fine shape after 5 to seven years of quite heavy use. The glued –“premium”, significantly more expensive -Paradigm laminate is lusterless, has started splitting at the seams at several places and generally along the length of the plank…..this is not separation because of little or no glue…..the tongue itself has broken. In addition, chips are starting to break along some of the length seams of the planks, even those planks that are perfectly aligned and not broken. i.e. the laminate upper surface of the plank is becoming brittle in a little less than 2 years!

This splitting is I think a major product defect because of the following: The kitchen floor underlayment is a full three-quarter inch, tongue and groove plywood and is smooth, and my level shows the floor is flat. In addition, there are no creaks or sweaks when one walks….so I am certain that the floor underlayment is sound.The problem again is this brand of heavier density, “water resistance” treated Pergo Plank.

Have you tried getting hold of Pergo…..this is not a Home Depot problem because this whole thing was special delivery. Pergo has not returned my emails neither my calls.

Ramesh

Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054