Installation Guide

0446ES | 03/2021 | PAGE 4 OF 9
PERGO® IS MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED BY MOHAWK INDUSTRIES, INC.
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES - HARD SURFACE | 888.387.9881 OPTION 3 | [e-mail]
Rigid Core Vinyl Plank Installation Instructions
Defense+
™
APPROVED SUBFLOORS
Concrete, Plywood, OSB, Particleboard, Chipboard, Hardwood (Solid, Engineered, Parquet), Tile (Ceramic, Terrazzo, Stone,
Asbestos, Peel and Stick), Non-Cushion Sheet Vinyl, Metal, VCT, DRIcore
All subfloor requirements noted below must be met prior to the installation of Pergo Defense+ Vinyl Plank.
Concrete Subfloor Prep
• Perform moisture tests at locations around exterior doorways, near walls containing plumbing, near foundation walls and in
the center of the room.
• High spots can be removed by grinding; depressions can be filled with patching compound formulated for use in floor
installation.
• Cure for at least 90 days (applies to newly-laid concrete slabs).
• New and existing concrete subfloors should meet the guidelines of the latest edition of ACI 302 and ASTM F 710,
“Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring” available from the American Society for
Testing and Materials.
• Can be either sealed or unsealed.
• Moisture levels of concrete slabs before, during and after installation must be ≤ 8 lbs/1000ft2/24-hr using an anhydrous
calcium chloride test according to ASTM F1869 and pH must be between 5.0 and 9.0; or, if using ASTM F2170 in-situ probes,
should be less than 90% RH (relative humidity). Always measure, record and keep your testing results.
Wood (Plywood, OSB, Particleboard, Chipboard, Solid Hardwood, Luan) Subfloors
• Wood subfloors must be A.P.A. approved with a minimum grade of “BB” or “CC”. For reference, A.P.A. is the acronym for an
organization originally known as the “American Plywood Association”, and that is now known as “The Engineered Wood
Association”.
• Perform moisture tests using a reliable moisture meter in multiple locations. Moisture readings should never exceed 14%
for plywood, OSB, particleboard, chipboard and solid hardwood subfloors. If moisture readings exceed 14%, it should be
corrected at the job site before installing Pergo Defense+ Vinyl Plank.
Other Subfloor Prep
• Adhered and sound vinyl sheet goods, linoleum and resilient (VCT) tiles: Old vinyl and linoleum tiles or sheet goods normally
do not need to be removed if they are fully bonded and free of any notable damage. Some older vinyl sheet goods and
tile contain asbestos. Should it contain asbestos, special precautions must be taken for your safety. Contact a professional
immediately for inspection and removal.
• Ceramic tiles and terrazzo: Old flat ceramic tiles normally don’t need to be removed. Grout joints wider than ¼" must be
filled. Usually, Pergo Defense+ Vinyl Plank products can be installed directly over ceramic tiles and terrazzo, providing they
are fully adhered, smooth, sound and dry. These flooring materials must be smooth and flat to within 1/4" in a 10' radius and
must not vary more than 1/16" when measured with a 3' straight edge.
• Do not install over more than one layer of vinyl.
Radiant Flooring Heating Prep
• After market, radiant heated floors must be approved by the manufacturer for use with resilient flooring applications. The
subfloor temperature should not exceed 85°F (29°C).