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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alphonso Sirtle. | Posted under Interior Decorating
Four General Guidelines for Installing Pergo Laminate Floors
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1. Pre-evaluation Before purchasing a Pergo laminate flooring product, you should evaluate the site that you intend to use it. You do not want to install Pergo laminate floors in areas with poor outside drainage, high moisture, poor ventilation that may increase moisture during certain seasons, or rooms with a floor drain or sump pump. If the site is suitable for Pergo laminate floors, you then need to measure the area to determine how much flooring and wall trim you will need to buy. Depending upon they system you choose and the subfloor you have, you may need to buy glue, sealant, and a moisture barrier. It is best to read the specific installation directions for the system you choose to find out what exactly you will need. These will also come with the installation kit and tell you what tools you will need. If the Pergo laminate flooring system that you bought does not have an attached underlayment, you will need to purchase the foam underlayment called Pergo SilentStep or Soundbloc to cushion the planks to dampen noise from walking and to make it more comfortable. Once you have bought the Pergo laminate flooring, you need to place the unopened boxes in the room in which they will be installed. They need to sit flat there for 48-96 hours to adjust to the temperature and humidity before installation. 2. Preparing the subfloor First, take off the existing molding if there is any. You may want to save it to repaint or restain for use after the Pergo laminate flooring is installed. Otherwise, you may want to buy matching quarter round molding that is sold at the Pergo retailer's. Remove any carpet and padding. If there is wood flooring over concrete, it must be removed. However, if it is wood flooring over wood subfloor, you can leave it. The subfloor must be flat, which means that within a 10-foot area there should not be more than a 3/16-inch difference in height. If there are low spots, fill them in with Portland cement and a latex based leveling compound. Of course, this will have to dry completely before beginning installation. If there are high spots, you need to sand them down. The subfloor should not slope more than an inch in a 6-foot length, and you should clean it before beginning. A. Wood subfloorsSince wood will contract and expand with varying moisture levels, it is very important that the moisture level never exceed 14%. If the subfloor creaks or sags, you must fix the problem before installing the Pergo laminate flooring. B. Concrete subfloorsSince concrete and terrazzo will leak moisture, a moisture barrier such as Pergo Moisturebloc or Pergo SoftSeal must by lain first. Make sure the edges of the barrier overlap at least 8 inches. This moisture barrier is required even if the concrete is covered with other flooring such as ceramic tile or vinyl. If the moisture level is over 4.5%, Pergo laminate flooring should not be installed in that area. C. Other subflooringIf vinyl, ceramic tile, linoleum or resilient tiles are already on the floor, they do not need to be removed as long as they are smooth and in good condition. However, if they are over a concrete subfloor, you must remember to use the moisture barrier discussed in the section about concrete subfloors. 3. Kitchen, Bathroom, Laundry room Installation If the Pergo laminate flooring is installed in the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room, special considerations will have to be taken because of the increased chance of exposure to moisture. Kitchen-The cabinets in the kitchen should be installed before laying the Pergolaminate flooring. However, if the cabinets will not be attached to the flooring but to the wall, they can be installed afterwards. If an island needs to be secured to the subfloor, leave the 1/4' expansion space that is required around all edges around the screws and bolts. In the expansion areas subject to moisture exposure, such as in front of the sink, dishwasher, and refrigerator, you will need to fill with Pergo Sealant or a flexible silicone that is 100% mildew-resistant. This will keep water from getting under the planks. Bathroom-Since this is a high moisture room, the sealant mentioned in the kitchen section must be used around ALL expansion areas. This includes around fixtures, pipes, walls, and doorway transitions. It is important that any water spilled on the flooring should not remain there more than 30 minutes. Laundry Room-Just like bathrooms, the laundry room is exposed to high levels of moisture; therefore, ALL expansion areas have to be sealed with the mildew-resistant sealant, including the doorway transitions and wall areas. 4. Pergo Moldings Pergo provides 4 different moldings for transitions. These moldings will come in matching colors to the selected Pergo laminate flooring. You will need to plan ahead of time by counting and measuring each transition area so that you will know how many and what type of moldings to purchase. The T-molding joins the Pergo laminate flooring in doorways that are four feet or less wide. These will join two areas of Pergo floors together. If the floored area is 66 feet or more in length or width, a T-molding will be needed in order to provide the needed expansion space. End molding is used to end the floor at exterior doorways, raised hearths, and fixtures such as tubs or shower basins. Hard surface reducer moldings provide a transition between the Pergo floor to a hard surface that is lower than the Pergo floor such as vinyl, tile or wood. Carpet transition moldings are strips used in places where the Pergo floor will meet carpet. Pergo laminate floors will have specific instructions for installation included with the particular type that you choose. Make sure to familiarize yourself with these general guidelines and those specific instructions before beginning your installation project. About The Author: Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on flooring ideas at his website at http://www.improve-home.com |
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