Installation Guide

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Pergo American Era 3/4” Solid Hardwood Flooring

Installation Instructions

Solid Hardwood Flooring can be installed over most properly prepared subfloors, making them suitable for installation on or above

grade levels where moisture conditions do not exist. We continuously make technological advancements that improve product

performance or installation techniques and methods. To confirm you have the most recent installation instructions, please visit our

website at www.pergo.com or contact Technical Services at 1- 800-33-PERGO

Caution: Wood Dust

Cutting, sanding or machining wood products produces wood dust. While wood

products are not hazardous under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29

CFR 1910.1200), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the

State of California have classified wood dust as a human carcinogen.

Precautionary Measures: Airborne wood dust can cause respiratory, skin and eye

irritation. Power tools should be equipped with a dust collector. Use an appropriate NIOSH-

designated dust mask. Avoid dust contact with skin and eyes.

First Aid Measures in case of irritation: In case of irritation flush eyes with water. If

needed seek medical attention. If dermatitis occurs, seek medical attention.

PROPOSITION 65 WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the state of

California to cause cancer and/or reproductive harm.

To request a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), call 888.387.9881, Option 3.

WARNING! DO NOT MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE

EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT,

ASPHALTIC “CUTBACK” ADHESIVES OR OTHER ADHESIVES.

Previously installed resilient floor covering products and the asphaltic or

cutback adhesives used to install them may contain either asbestos

fibers and/or crystalline silica. The products in this carton do not

contain asbestos. Avoid creating dust. Inhalation of such dust is a

cancer and respiratory tract hazard. Smoking by individuals exposed to

asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm. Unless

positively certain that the product is a non-asbestos containing material,

you must presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may require the

material be tested to determine asbestos content and may govern the

removal and disposal of material. See current edition of the Resilient Floor

Covering Institute (RFCI) publication “Recommended Work Practices for

Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings” for detailed information and

instructions on removing all resilient covering structures.

INSTALLER / OWNER RESPONSIBILITY:

It is the responsibility of the installer and owner to ensure that job site

environmental, sub-floor and subsurface conditions involved meet or

exceed all requirements as outlined in installation instructions prior to

installation. Manufacturer declines all responsibility for product

performance or installation failure due to sub-floor, substrate or

environmental deficiencies or jobsite conditions.

Manufacturer requires Solid Hardwood products acclimate for a

minimum 72 hours prior to installation. Additional time may be

required for 5” wide or wider products as determined by moisture

content. Acclimation allows flooring to achieve equilibrium moisture

content (EMC) with the installation environment. All wood continually

expands and contracts until it reaches moisture equilibrium with the

environment in which it’s installed. As with all wood flooring, expansion

and contraction will be minimized if climate control is consistently

maintained year round. This is especially important with tropical

species, because denser woods experience more significant

shrinkage in low moisture / low humidity environments.

All work involving water or moisture (plumbing, masonry, painting,

plastering) must be completed prior to flooring being delivered. Building

envelope must be complete and exterior doors and windows installed.

Exterior grading and gutter downspouts should be completed

and permanent HVAC systems operational.

Precautions should be taken to protect floors from other trade work.

Do not cover floors with plastic, red rosin, felt or wax paper or

previously used cardboard. Instead use a breathable material

such as clean, dry, plain, uncoated cardboard or Kraft paper.

Inks from printed cardboard could stain the hardwood floor. The

floor should be thoroughly cleaned before covering to remove grit and

debris that would damage the finish. The floor must be completely

covered to eliminate uneven ambering from exposure to UV light.

Room temperature should be 60 – 80

0 F

, with relative humidity

between 35 – 55%. These environmental conditions are specified

as pre-installation requirements and must be maintained for the

life of the product. The HVAC system should be in operation for

a minimum of 14 days prior to performing moisture tests or

installation.

Building interiors are affected by two distinct humidity seasons –

Heating and Non- Heating. Care should be taken to maintain year

round humidity levels between 35-55%.

Manufacturer warranties do not cover natural expansion and

contraction which results in separation between planks or

damage caused by excessively low or high humidity. Seasonal

gapping is not a manufacturing defect.

Heating season – Low Humidity, Dry. All heating methods create

dry, low humidity conditions. Humidifiers are recommended to prevent

excessive shrinkage or gapping in wood floors due to seasonal periods

of low humidity.

Non Heating Season and Coastal or Waterfront Areas – High

Humidity, During the non-heating season proper humidity levels

should be maintained by using an air conditioner, dehumidifier or by

turning on your heating system periodically during the summer months.

Do not install in full bathrooms. Do not install over radiant heat.

Do not install below grade.

The owner/installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection of

product quality. Examine flooring for color, finish and quality prior

to installation. Check all carton end labels for lot number. Lot numbers

are 9 digit alphanumeric and listed on all carton end labels. Do not mix

different lot numbers within the same installation area. If material is

unacceptable, contact the seller immediately. Wood is a natural

product with characteristics such as variations in color, tone and

graining. Flooring is manufactured in accordance with industry

standards, which allows manufacturing and natural defect tolerances

up to 5% of the total installation. Installer should work from several

cartons at the same time to ensure good color and shade blend.

The installer must use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off

pieces with deficiencies. Do not install undesirable pieces. Flooring

warranties DO NOT cover materials with visible defects once they

are installed. Installation is acceptance of product quality.

Purchase an additional 5% of flooring to allow for cuts and an additional

10% if installing diagonally.

WARRANTY NOTE: Installer should provide owner with carton

end label from each lot number for product installed for warranty

Pergo Solid Installation Instructions 02172016 Page 1

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
Pergo American Era 3/4” Solid Hardwood Flooring Installation Instructions Solid Hardwood Flooring can be installed over most properly prepared subfloors, making them suitable for installation on or above grade levels where moisture conditions do not exist. We continuously make technological advancements that improve product performance or installation techniques and methods. To confirm you have the most recent installation instructions, please visit our website at www.pergo.
PAGE 2
purposes. Owner should retain carton end labels and o r i g i n a l sales invoice with product style name and style number for their records. Owner should retain excess flooring and store in a climate controlled area for future repairs in the event flooring is damaged. The use of stain, filler or putty for correction is considered a normal practice and a routine part of installation.
PAGE 3
Warranties DO NOT cover products installed over improperly prepared subfloors, substrates or environmental related deficiencies. INSTALLATION HELPFUL HINTS DO NOT INSTALL FLOORING IF MOISTURE TESTS RESULTS EXCEED RECOMMENDED LIMITS. 3. Wood Subfloor Moisture Content Test both wood subfloor and wood flooring for moisture content using a reliable pin type moisture meter. The subfloor material must not exceed 12% moisture content.
PAGE 4
Step 2 – INSTALL FIRST ROW • Using the string as a straight edge lay the first row of flooring in place with the tongue facing the center of the room. Leaving a ¾” gap at the wall, pre-drill and face nail using 10D nails. Continue nailing the entire length of the room. • Leave a ¾” expansion gap at each end. Set nails and fill holes with matching putty. Remove strings and nails.
PAGE 5
Hardwood flooring will scratch and dent COMPLETING THE JOB – FINISHING TOUCHES Final Touches: Install the proper trim molding at the doorways to achieve the transition and along the walls to cover expansion gap and the edges of any gaps along the wall due to irregularity. Complete the job by using wood filler that coordinates with the installed hardwood flooring to fill any gapping along the joints or areas where brad nails were used in the trim or the flooring.
PAGE 6
FASTENER SCHEDULE Hardwood flooring must be installed over a proper-floor. Tongue and Groove flooring MUST be blind nailed. Wood Flooring Type Size Fastener to be Used Fastener Spacing Solid Strip T&G 1 ½” - 2” fastener, or 6d-8d casing or finish nails. On slab with ¾” underlayment use 1 ½” fastener, ½” crown on staples Blind fastener spacing along the length of the strips, minimum 2 fasteners per piece near the ends (1”-3”). In addition, every 8”-10” apart for blind nailing, 10”-12” for face nailing.