How to Install Click Together Pergo Hardwood Flooring

Pergo flooring in progress

Laminate flooring is an affordable alternative to wood floors. Made up of a resinous core covered with a printed top layer, it can be difficult to distinguish from real wood even up close, yet laminate costs only a fraction of the price. Pergo is a Swedish flooring company that was the first to manufacturer laminate flooring. Today, this material is made by companies throughout the world but is still commonly referred to as "Pergo flooring."

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pergo or laminate flooring
• Asphalt paper
• ¼-inch plywood
• Hammer
• Masonry nails
• Rubber mallet
• Miter saw
• Base boards or trim

Instructions

1. Measure your room to determine how much material you will need. Multiply length and width to calculate square footage.

2. Purchase your material at a local home-improvement or hardware store. Add 10 percent to the square footage you calculated in Step 1 to account for damaged planks or future repairs.

3. Allow your flooring material to sit inside your home and acclimate to the temperature and humidity levels for 2 to 3 days before you begin installation. This is necessary because of the way wood expands and contracts.

4. Prepare your subfloor. If you are installing over concrete, start by placing a layer of asphalt paper across the surface to act as a moisture barrier. Next, lay a single sheet of ¼-inch plywood over the subfloor, no matter what the subfloor is made of. Nail the plywood to the concrete or existing floor. This will give you a stable and level base to work with.

5. Lay your laminate planks along the longest wall in the room. Leave a ¼-inch gap between the flooring and the wall to allow for expansion.

6. Connect your next row of laminate. Place the tongue on the side of the plank into the groove on the adjoining piece and snap them together. Give the exposed side of the wood a tap with a rubber mallet to ensure it is firmly connected.

7. Continue laying your planks, connecting them via the tongue and groove connectors. Be sure to stagger the joints along each row. Use a miter saw to cut any pieces as necessary.

8. Use a pry bar to force the last row into place, again leaving a ¼-inch gap at the base of the wall.

9. Install baseboards around the perimeter of the room to cover the expansion gaps and complete the project. These boards should be nailed in place every 6 to 8 inches and can be cut using your miter saw.