Installation Guide

1. FLOATING FLOOR — Pergo flooring is designed to be
installed as a floating floor — thus it is not nailed or glued
to the subfloor. Instead, planks are fastened together uti-
lizing unique tongues and grooves to create a durable,
easy-to-maintain floor surface. Because Pergo flooring
expands and contracts with temperature/humidity
changes—it is essential that a
3
⁄8" expansion space be
left around the floor’s perimeter. Depending on the type
of Pergo flooring you purchased and your home’s sub-
floor type, you may also be required to install a sound
underlayment and/or 6-mil. (.15mm) non-recycled (100%
virgin) resin polyethylene film as a moisture barrier
beneath your Pergo floor. Please refer to the detailed
installation instructions by subfloor type that follow. The
illustrated example below shows Pergo being installed
over a concrete subfloor.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW — Pergo flooring consists
of planks made from a durable laminate surface, a
wood based core and a balancing backing. The planks
are clicked together to form a long lasting, easy-to-
maintain surface. Like almost all materials in the home,
Pergo flooring expands and contracts due to changes
in temperature and humidity. You must allow unopened
cartons of Pergo flooring to lay flat in the room where
they will be installed to acclimate for 48-96 hours,
depending upon climate, before beginning installation.
A
3
⁄8" expansion space must be left around the perimeter
of the floor to allow for movement. Failure to meet these
requirements can result in the flooring buckling.
Pergo flooring is a complete flooring system that includes
a wide range of coordinating moldings and transition
strips designed to cover the
3
⁄8" expansion space at the
walls, doorways and transitions to other flooring.
Specialized tools, required to properly install Pergo
flooring, are available where Pergo products are sold.
3. BEFORE STARTING —Before beginning a Pergo
installation project, it is critical that you 1) fully acquaint
yourself with the detailed installation instructions for your
specific flooring and subfloor type and 2) conduct a
complete job site evaluation (see section 6, Job Site
Evaluation).
a. For appropriate installation information, review this
guide and the assembly instructions printed on or
provided within each carton for the Pergo flooring
type you purchased. If you prefer to speak to a
person regarding installation, call 1-800-33-PERGO
(1-800-337-3746).
b. Make a complete job site evaluation (see section 6,
Job Site Evaluation) to assure that environmental
conditions are acceptable for installing Pergo flooring.
c. Determine the quantity of Pergo planks, flooring
transitions and wall trim needed for your installation.
Depending on the type of Pergo flooring purchased,
the type of room and the type of subfloor you are
working with, you may also need glue, sealant,
a 6 mil (.15mm) non-recycled (100% virgin) resin
polyethylene film as a moisture barrier and/or
sound underlayment designed for laminate floors
(see detailed installation instructions). Add 10%
to your square footage for standard installations.
For diagonal installations, add 15%.
d. Make sure you have the appropriate installation
tools, an Installation Kit, additional spacers (used to
maintain expansion space).
e. Acclimation — Allow unopened cartons of Pergo
planks to lay flat in the room where they will be
installed for 48-96 hours, depending upon climate,
before beginning installation. During this time, the
planks adjust to the specific temperature and
humidity conditions of the room.
4. A BASIC OVERV IEW
a. Remove any existing quarter round molding. The
existing quarter round can be repainted and installed
after the Pergo installation or you can select a new,
finished, color-coordinated Pergo quarter round
available at your retailer.
b. Always remove carpet, pad and tack strips.
c. Remove wood flooring if it is installed over a concrete
subfloor.
d. Be sure the surface of the subfloor is flat, clean, dry
and sound before starting. (Refer to Subfloor
Requirements Sections 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11.)
e. On concrete subfloors, use a non-recycled 6-mil. (.15mm)
non-recycled (100% virgin) resin polyethylene film as
a vapor barrier, overlapping edges 8", or follow the
directions for installation of an equivialent vapor barrier.
f. Use Pergo SilentStep
TM
or Soundbloc
TM
Foam or equiva-
lent foam underlayment to absorb sound and to make
the floor more comfortable to walk and stand on
when the Pergo product that you are using does not
have an attached underlayment foam. Do not install
Pergo over multiple layers of acoustic underlayment.
g. Inspect every plank for any shipping damage when
removing from the carton.
5. INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
a. Pergo is intended only for indoor use.
b. Acclimation— Allow the Pergo planks to lay flat in
unopened cartons, at least two feet from walls where
they will be installed, for 48-96 hours before starting
the installation. In very dry or very humid climates,
allow at least 96 hours (4 days). For acclimation, the
relative humidity should be 30-90%. The temperature
should be at least 65°F for product acclimation and
at least 65°F two days after installation.
Pergo SilentStep
™
Foam or Soundbloc
™
Foam to be used with flooring that
doesn't have attached underlayment.
Vapor barrier over
concrete –
Moisturbloc
™
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