Will Pergo Work on Uneven Floors?

Pergo Flooring

• Pergo is laminate flooring that consists of several layers of wood and synthetic materials fused together to create planks. Some of the planks are designed to simulate real oak and other kinds of wood. The planks snap together to create a floating floor, which means it's not nailed or glued to a wood or concrete base or a subfloor. A floor that's uneven can hamper the installation of Pergo planks, even though the planks aren't attached to the floor they cover.

Subfloor Condition

• The Pergo company indicates that the subfloor must be flat for the proper installation of its flooring. The company's definition of a flat floor, however, leaves some room for imperfections because Pergo planks can be laid on top of floors that have low areas and high spots within certain parameters. The company's website information indicates that low areas and high spots in a subfloor are permissible as long as they don't exceed 3/16 inch within a 10-foot radius.

Surface Leveling

• You may be able to sand or grind down high areas in a wood or concrete subfloor to make it flat enough to install Pergo flooring. The company recommends filling low areas of a subfloor with cement or a latex-based leveling compound to make the surface even. Ensure that the cement or compound is completely dry before installing Pergo planks. Also, fixing squeaks and tightening loose planks in wood floors is wise before they are covered. Screwing the boards into the wood joists beneath them with deck screws tightens the boards and stops squeaks.

Floor Slope

• The subfloor's slope also determines whether or not Pergo flooring can be installed without encountering problems. The slope is the amount at which the floor slants upward or downward in a horizontal or vertical direction. Pergo indicates that the subfloor can't slope more than 1 inch across 6 feet for proper installation of Pergo flooring. Too much of a slope probably will prevent planks from aligning properly at opposite ends of the room.