Pergo Laminate Flooring - Learn How to Do a DIY Pergo Flooring Installation

Pergo Laminate Flooring is one of the giants in the laminate hardwood flooring industry. The floors are designed for home remodeling DIY enthusiasts, so questions related to installing laminate flooring abound. Pergo, Harmonics, Armstrong Laminate Flooring and similar products are pounced upon by gleeful, hand-rubbing first-time home remodelers. An average-sized floor can be ready to use and admire within a day - just imagine all the compliments from somewhat green-around-the-gills neighbors...

The days of battling to fit messy, sticky, glued laminate flooring are long gone thanks to ranges such as Pergo glueless laminate flooring planks. The unique tongue and groove designs of Pergo floors simply click together for a perfect finish. This is one of the most gratifying do it yourself jobs to tackle, as progress is measurable and the end result quite spectacular.

Is Installing Pergo Flooring Over Existing Floors Advisable?

The beauty of Pergo Laminate Flooring is that it can be laid directly over ceramic, vinyl, tiles or real wood floors, saving you the trouble of ripping out an old floor first. Make sure that the floor is clean, smooth and carefully sand down any bumps or peaked joints. Carpeting needs to be taken out however. It is always recommended to do fittings of cabinets or cupboards first, before tackling your flooring project. Real hardwood installed over a concrete sub-floor also needs to be removed before a Pergo installation.

Do I Need Expansion Room Around The Perimeter Of My Pergo Flooring Installation?

Pergo Laminate Flooring is a floating floor product, meaning that it isn't permanently fixed to the sub-floor area. These ranges expand and contract due to changes in humidity and temperature. It is therefore vital to leave a 1/4" expansion space between the flooring planks and the adjacent walls or cupboards. If you don't do this, you will have unsightly buckling floors. The Pergo floor moldings are used to hide these spaces after installation and to ensure a professional finish. Use spacers to keep your distances even. If you are tackling a very large floor area, the expansion space needs to be increased.

Does Pergo Laminate Flooring Also Have A Hollow Sound When Used?

The sound depends largely on the sub-floor layer and the thickness of the laminate flooring installation. One way to get around this is to install a sound underlayment and resin polyethylene film underneath your Pergo Laminate Flooring planks. This is a highly effective technique to use if you want to dampen the sound. This protective layer also acts as a moisture barrier, lengthening the life of the flooring. Take a look at Pergo SilentStep foam or Soundbloc foam and Moisturbloc vapor barrier. By adding these a cushioning layer, you also ensure a more comfortable, soft floor underfoot. If the sub-floor is wood, a vapor barrier isn't introduced before installing Pergo Laminate Flooring.

Can I Install Pergo Immediately After My Purchase?

To be on the safe side, acclimate your Pergo floor planks by leaving the cartons in the room where they will be installed, for a period of 49 to 96 hours. This precaution will give you a floor that remains clicked into place, rather than becoming an ugly buckling disaster area.

Can I Use Pergo Laminate Flooring In A Bathroom Or Kitchen?

Pergo Laminate Flooring's surface is highly water resistant, so the planks can be used in high humidity areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. In these areas however, the expansion spaces need to be sealed with Pergo Sealant or a similar mildew-resistant silicone product before installing the trim or molding. The same should be done where the planks were cut to make room for cupboards or a dishwasher. Some experts also recommend sealing the joints by using glue. Check with your supplier about the most satisfactory installation process. In spite of its water resistance, Pergo Laminate Flooring are not made to handle standing water.

Can I Use Pergo On Stairs?

Pergo flooring is perfect for stairs. Steps are finished with Pergo Stair Nosing. The nosing is adhered with a quality construction adhesive and finishing screws. A stair application is the only time that the floating floor concept of Pergo is replaced with a glued end product.

How Do I Ensure A Professional Finish When Installing Pergo Laminate Flooring?

A large range of color-coordinated transition moldings are available to give an elegant and stylish finish to your flooring project. T-Moldings are used in doorways, while end moldings are used along sliding doors and around tubs and basins. If you need to go from a raised Pergo flooring area to a lower hard surface such as vinyl, you would choose a hard surface reducer.

Oops! I Have A Nick In My Pergo Laminate Flooring! What Now?

No problem. The folks at Pergo realized that this is an inevitable mishap in a bustling household. They therefore made sure that you have access to Pergo Finishing Putty. Simply neaten the edges of the chipped area with a small knife, make sure the area is clean, and fill the hole with putty. A spatula gives a neat finish and the excess is simply wiped away with a clean cloth. Plank replacements are also possible if a more major repair is needed.

With a gleaming Pergo Presto or Pergo American Cottage floor installation, your home will be transformed into a wrinkle-less, stylish lady. Pergo Laminate Flooring has been performing plastic surgery on properties for years. It's about time to let that tattered carpet go...