From my experience, installing Pergo is a DIY kind of craft and you do not need to hire an installer.
You get to work at your own time and pace.
Installing Pergo floors as a family is very exciting and provides bonding time on weekends.
The DIY craft will also save you money on Pergo installation if you already have the right tools for the job or want to purchase your own.
Pergo floors are also easy to install and require a very minimum time to complete the craft.
Pergo can be installed over concrete or wood sub-floors.
You can install Pergo floors even if you have never installed a floor before by following the step-by-step guide highlighted in the article with the aid of a few simple tools.
The steps include…
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How To Install Pergo Flooring In 6 Simple Steps
1. Floor preparation by baseboard removal (check you have the essential tools)
The first step to Pergo installation is making sure the floor is carefully prepared before the installation work begins.
For proper installation of the Pergo floor, the older surface (wood or concrete) must be cleaned, flat, and leveled with no holes or moisture.
Any debris or dirt is cleaned out. Remove all the baseboards around the room perimeter as well as covers of air ducts or heating resistors on the floor. (you can see if you’ll need a saw for cutting baseboards here)
2. Check the flooring layout
Test-fitting the Pergo planks on the floor to see their layout arrangement is key to a good installation.
Smaller rooms are easy to handle while larger ones need calculations and measuring.
This you can do by arranging the side of the planks by side across the perimeter.
Be careful not to walk on planks whose joints are not fitted together as it may damage the edges of the planks.
3. Underlayment preparation
An underlayment is recommended as it helps absorb vapor and sound.
A vapor barrier is installed if the subfloor is concrete.
A foam sheet underlayment is then installed as the base for the Pergo.
The underlayment also helps you bridge minor bumps and gaps on the floor.
A thick plastic sheet can also do the trick. Trim the underlayment to fit the perimeter.
4. Fitting the planks
To fit the first row of planks, you need to trim off the planks tongues that will edge the wall.
This you can do with a circular saw or utility knife or table saw.
The longest wall is laid first starting from the right side to the left.
Make sure the groove edges face outside.
The spacing is done as directed by the manufacturer with spacers of scrap wood placed between the wall and the floor to preserve the gap.
Lock the joints of locked pieces with a hammer to tighten.
At the end of the wall, the last plank will be too long.
You need to measure the remaining length and transfer that to a full plank and cut to fit.
As you lay the other planks from the right to the left, the last piece on the right will have to be cut to fit, thus you can shift by beginning the next flooring from the right.
I would advise you to keep the cut pieces to less than 16 inches in length to avoid shorter planks. Laying the rest of the planks you can use different techniques.
5. Finish installation
When fitting the last row of planks you should make sure to give an allowance of ¼ inch expansion gap between the wall and the Pergo flooring.
Complete the flooring by removal of the spacers. You can then install baseboards and sealant around the room perimeter to conceal expansion spaces.
