zero2

I decided I want to replace my carpets with something more durable, and decided on Pergo.

So I made some phone calls to carpet & flooring contractors, and was shocked at how much the estimates were. Most of the estimates were in the range of $4400.00 for 440 sq. ft which would cover Living Room, Dining Room, and Hallway.

I then checked on the internet, to find out what Pergo costs, and found out that doing it myself I could probably save as much as $1000.00 or so and do my Living Room, Dining Room, 2 Hallways, and 2 Bedrooms.

If I were to do it myself, what type of tools would I need, and what is the process of installing Pergo?

DaveOrion

Alrighty then, 2 questions in 1 day that definitly fall into my area of expertise. As I said in the thread about installing a new kitchen floor, I've been a flooring & remodeling contractor for 20 years.....Ok, pergo is a laminate, which means its formica laminated onto a composite backing, just like your countertops, if you have formica countertops that is.....the formica used in flooring is stronger but can scratched just like a counter top. Any furniture you have will need felt pads on the legs to prevent scratching and so on......Many people I installed laminate floors for were not happy with them so keep this in mind, not the installation, the product itself. Your floors need to be very level, no more than 1/4 of variance in 4 feet, most floors arent that good unless your home was built with enginered floor joists. If they are wavey like the ocean you can fill in the low spots with filler, which costs more of course, the reason the floors need to be so level, is that laminates are not glued or nailed directly to the floor, you install a pad, then the laminate locks together and floats on top of the pad. If they werent level you'd get the old trampoline effect.First of all what kind of mechanical apptitude do you have? Can you use a skill saw?? You'll also need some specialized tools like a jambsaw, to undercut your door jambs so the laminate can slip under, everywhere else you can use shoe mould to cover the edges. If its just a square or rectangular room its fairly straightforward, but if its several rooms and a hallway it gets more complicated. Hallways have lots a door jambs and usually the most difficult. Ok, well read this and I'll get back to you about installation if you decide thats what you want....*Dave*

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shakran

I prefer Diamondplate to Pergo. It's tougher, and looks better. Also, do NOT cheap out on the underlayment. Get the good stuff. Installation is frankly a cast iron bitch if you haven't done it a lot. Make sure you have a very good blade in your mitre saw and be ready to change blades often.

DaveOrion

Oh yea, a carbide blade is a must!

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thingstodo

Most people will charge you around $4.50/foot to install. Could be more. To me something like that is worth it if you don't know what you're doing. A wood floor is an investment that pays big dividends!!

I just had an exotic wood called Kempas (from China) install and man, it looks awesome! You should check it out. The colors vary and give a neat, classy look without the expense. Most woods like this cost $8/foot or more. Lowes has it now for $4.58/foot. Here's a picture of it at this link: http://www.surfacingsolution.com/

This word is solid and very hard. They finish it like all the other stuff.

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zero2

@thingstodo: Wow that looks so good. $3.00/sq ft. is not so bad for real hardwood floors. I always thought it would be a lot more expensive.

After checking more estimates, I think it's better to have it done professionaly. I not very confident after reading what's involved in laying Pergo. In fact, after you mentioned a few people being dissatisfied, with Pergo and having a few doubts of my own, I definetely want to get something that will last for a long time, and look good.

shakran

Check out the Diamondplate that I mentioned. It's very tough stuff and it comes in lots of patterns. They also texture the floor to make it even more like real wood.

Out of curiosity, what made you decide not to go with real hardwood? There's nothing like it. . .

zero2

@shakran: I'm having some problems finding info on google about diamondplate. Is diamondplate, this material:

BadNick

I wonder if shak meant this
http://www.columbiaflooring.com/prod...tyhardwood.php


A tad less than half way down the front page it says:

Columbia 25-Year DiamondPlate Finish Warranty
Your Columbia hardwood flooring is protected by DiamondPlate™, our exclusive, state-of-the-art, clear, aluminum oxide finish. This means that your floor, when maintained according to Columbia's care and maintenance recommendations, will not wear through the DiamondPlate aluminum oxide finish during the specified warranty period.

cyrnel

Laminate isn't difficult to install but you might want to buy an extra box or two. You'll burn extra boards while you get the cut offsets figured out. Maybe start in a big closet so you learn all the seam/transition issues early, and in a room that doesn't get sunlight. (hides your lessons)

I've seen plenty of too-wide or too-narrow edges, and transitions between rooms that needed work, but the only screw-ups you can't hide are from hammering the boards together mercilessly. The joints buckle into little compression ridges and the seams become obvious. OTOH, it's easy to pull and correct loose joints.

I'd say do it. If you hate it by room #2 (which is about when you figure out what's up) you can turn the job over to a contractor. They're used to it.

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shakran

well I looked all over and couldn't find it on the 'net, which is weird because it's in my sister in law's house. I know because I installed it. Maybe they renamed it.

thingstodo

YOu'd be fortunate to get it for $3/foot. I suspect 4-5 would be more likely. Plus $4.50-5 for installation.

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clavus

With no previous experience I installed Wilsonart (more expensive than Pergo) glue-together floor in a whole house and it looked great. I did it by myself. Tools used - hammer & nails (to brace it while the glue dried), mallet, table saw, radial arm saw.

I went on to do actual Pergo snap-together floor in a large room in my buddy's house. This time, I had help. We knocked that job out in a day. Same tools used (minus hammer & nails). Same results.

Then I did an office w/ a lower-end Pergo imitation. Same tools (minus hammer & nails) same results.

The first two rows are kind of a bitch, but once you get them in place, the whole floor just goes right in.

My advice - don't cheap out on the knee pads. Buy good ones with smooshy padding inside and hard plastic on the outside so you can scoot around on the floor. Don't beat on the pieces hard. tap tap tap them together.

With all respect, I must disagree. Start along a great big long wall. Do the closets last. You will have to rip fewer boards to size, and you won't risk starting off at a funky angle.

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JStrider

My dad and I did pergo in their house, living room, hallway, closet, and one bedroom... wasnt too bad... definently easier then the tile floor we did in the kitchen.

good kneepads are a must... as well as a foam sleeping pad folded over several times.

find directions and see if you can find a buddy that has done it before to help ya get started.

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noodle

I am currently in Pergo hell. IT geeks are too perfectionist to allow anyone else to do it, but we've (he has... won't let me) been working on the first row for 6 hours.

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noodle

I ended up laying about 300 sq ft myself. And as sore as I felt, it also feels damn good to know that I did that. Seriously though... hire an installer. And get boards more than 3 5/8" wide. Doorjambs and transitions suck! This weekend we install the quarter-round and paint it... then we're done. It's been a total of 18 hours of labor for two people. And we nearly beat each other with the boards, got snarled at by the neighbors and both have sinus infections from jibcrete dust and sawdust. But, it's gorgeous.

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Force 10

ohh man. I have a shitload of experience with Pergo type flooring. I'm a RE investor and flip/rent so I do them all the time. Don't go with the brand name Pergo, it's too petit. that is to say it breaks while trying to put it together...especially for an amateur. I like Kronotech. if you have futher, specific questions for me, let me know.

snicka

Skip the faux wood flooring, it all feels to flimsy. Rip out the old carpet, screw some backerboard down and toss some porcelain tile in. It is a bit harder and messier but damnit it looks a shitload better and is infinitely more durable.

thingstodo

My dude just finished installing the Kempus solid wood flooring. It is awesome. The planks are 4" wide and look really cool with the different shading. It is also pretty quiet. I am amzed at how good my stereo sounds - sort of like a concert hall now with fuller, richer sound!!

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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

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ramelan1

I havent had any experience but i have question. why, when you run your hand across pergo flooing, does it have tiny ridges throuhout

shakran

They're texturing it to try to make it more closely approximate real wood. No, I don't think it works either

ramelan1

Thanks for the reply on Pergo. To me the so-called texturing doesnt come close to approximately the fell of wood. What about wood floors? Anyone have any suggestions for the best wood floor for the buck