Installation Guide

PERGO American Era 3/4” Solid Hardwood Flooring Installation Instructions
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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.
Inks from printed cardboard could stain the hardwood floor. Instead use a breathable material such as clean, dry, plain,
uncoated cardboard or Kraft paper. The floor should be thoroughly cleaned before covering to remove grit and debris that
could damage the finish. The floor must be completely covered to eliminate uneven ambering from exposure to UV light.
Room temperature should be maintained from 60° to 80°F, with relative humidity between 35% and 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 humidity levels between 35% and 55% year round.
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: 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: During the non-heating season or in areas with high humidity,
wet conditions, proper humidity levels should be maintained by using an air conditioner or dehumidifier or by turning
on the heating system periodically during the summer months.
Do not install in full bathrooms or powder rooms. 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 a minimum of three cartons at a
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 one carton end label from installed product along with the
pre-installation moisture content readings for warranty purposes. Owner should retain carton end label and copy of
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 of damage to flooring.
The use of stain, filler or putty for correction is considered a normal practice and a routine part of installation.
BASIC TOOLS NEEDED
• 10D nails
• 15# felt paper or rosin paper
• Broom
• Chalk line and string
• Cleats or staples (see schedule)
• Coordinating stain, filler or putty
• Coordinating trims or moldings
• Drill and drill bits
• Construction adhesive and caulk gun
• Premium Quality Hardwood Floor Cleaner
• Mechanical fastener
• Miter saw
• Moisture meter
• Pencil
• Pry bar or trim puller
• Table saw
• Tape measure
• Utility knife
• Wood spacers
• Straight edge
• Hand or electric jam saw
PRE-INSTALLATION AND JOB SITE CONDITIONS
Flooring material should be delivered to the job site and stored in the room(s) for a minimum of 72 hours prior to
installation to allow flooring material to acclimate. Additional time may be required to allow flooring to recover from
prior storage and transportation conditions. Open carton ends but do not remove the product from the cartons. Make
sure the room temperature is set at a normal living temperature as described above. The flooring is acclimated and
ready for installation when it has reached a moisture level consistent with the job site and normal living conditions.
The subfloor and flooring should be tested with an appropriate moisture meter. The subfloor moisture level must not
exceed 12%. The difference between the moisture content of the wood subfloor and the hardwood flooring must not
exceed 4%. For hardwood products greater than 3” wide, the moisture content of the wood subfloor and hardwood
floor should not differ more than 2%.