Installation Guide

to 1.5% of the square footage within the crawl space.
Example, 100 square feet of crawl space must have at
least 1.5 square feet of open vents. The building must be
correctly constructed, maintained and undamaged with
a correctly graded site that prevents excessive water
exposure.
e. Grading — Inspect the outside surroundings for
improper drainage or obvious sources of moisture.
The soil should slope away from the foundation (at
least
1
⁄2 inch per foot for at least 10 feet). Walkways
and driveways should direct water away from the
foundation. Adjoining properties should drain water
away from the building site.
f. Maintenance—Ensure the eaves are in good repair,
gutters, downspouts and spills caps are clear and
directing rainwater away from the foundation.
g. Floor drains or Sump Pumps — do not use Pergo prod-
ucts in any room with a floor drain. Pergo must not be
installed over any floor that has a sump pump — i.e.
should there be a floor at a below grade level or a
on-grade level concrete slab in the home and a
sump pump is located in that below-grade level
flooring or in the on-grade level slab, then Pergo
flooring cannot be installed anywhere on that floor.
h. Moisture Tests — Moisture tests and job site conditions
are inseparable. The results of any moisture reading
from meters or other test methods cannot be sepa-
rated from the above job site conditions. An accept-
able moisture reading can be obtained with incor-
rect job site conditions during a dry season. An
acceptable moisture reading must be accompanied
with the correct job site conditions to prevent excessive
moisture from damaging any finished floor covering.
7. S UB FLO O R R E Q UIR E M E N TS —G E N E R A L
a. The surface of the subfloor must be flat. The flat
requirement is defined as follows: the maximum
difference between two high points and the
intermediate low point is
3
⁄16 of an inch in a 10-foot
radius.
b. Fill excessive voids or low areas using a Portland
cement and latex based leveling compound. Allow
the leveling compound to dry thoroughly before
beginning the Pergo flooring installation. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions to be sure it is appropriate
for the application. High areas can be sanded,
ground down or fl
oated over with an approved self
leveling compound.
c. The subfloor must not slope more than 1 inch in 6 feet.
d. The surface of the subfloor must be clean.
e. Use Pergo SilentStep
TM
or Soundbloc
TM
Foam or
SoftSeal
TM
Foam/Film combination or equivalents as
an underlayment where appropriate.
f. Any existing wood flooring on concrete subfloors
must be removed prior to Pergo installation.
g. Carpet, pad and tack strips must always be removed.
h. If there is any question about the sui
tability of the
subfloor or its moisture content, contact the Pergo
Technical Support Service at 1-800-33-PERGO
(1-800-337-3746).
8. W O O D SUB FLO O R R E Q UIR E M E N TS
*These average moisture content measurements for
interior wood are based on a well-ventilated building
without excessive moisture. Department of Agriculture —
Forest Products Laboratory. Wood handbook— Wood as
an Engineering Material.
When installing Pergo flooring the maximum acceptable
moisture read
ing for wood subfloors is 14%.
a. Wood based products, once acclimated to the
interior of the home, have a stabilized moisture
content* relative to the geographic area where
they are being installed.
• Most areas in the United States will average 8%
moisture content—Range 6 to 10%.
• Dry southwestern areas will average 6% moisture
content—Range 4 to 9%.
New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and areas in
Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho and eastern
California.
• Damp, warm coastal areas will
average 11%
moisture content—Range 8 to 13%.
Gulf coast and southern Atlantic coast, Texas,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
and the Carolinas.
b. Plywood or other wood materials for subflooring
should meet the building code requirements.
• Creaking subfloors must be repaired before
installation of the finished floor covering.
• If the subfloor sags, inspect the joists below for twists
or weakness.
1. If the subfloor is cupped or is uneven at the joints
take
moisture readings and inspect for sources
that may be allowing excessive moisture into
the building.
2. Check for excessive moisture in the crawl
space or basement and look for other signs
of a potential water problem. (See Job Site
Evaluation, section 6.)
6% average
moisture content
11% average
moisture content
Recommended average moisture content for interior use of
wood products in various ares of the United States.
8% average moisture content