Can Pergo Laminate Be Installed Over Old Existing Hardwood Floors?

Moisture Concerns

• You must remove an old hardwood floor is if it is installed over concrete, such as a basement floor. Because concrete transfers moisture, the old flooring may swell and warp after the laminate is in place, resulting in bumps and bulges in the new floor. Pergo suggests installing their laminate only over wood floors with less than 14 percent moisture content. You can find a meter to read your old floor’s moisture content at hardware stores and lumberyards.

Flat

• For the best results, the old hardwood floor should be relatively flat. The manufacturer recommends that you not install their laminate flooring on floors with more than a 3/16-inch discrepancy within a 10-foot radius. In addition, the old floor should not slope more than 1 inch within 6 feet. To accommodate the new laminate, secure loose wood boards with wood screws, or use a flooring sander to smooth down high areas.

Smooth and Clean

• Countersink any nail heads that have worked up from the old hardwood and clean the old floor thoroughly. Any protruding nail heads not discovered before installation, may create a bump in the new laminate floor. The same holds true for large bits of sawdust or other debris left on the floor.

Baseboards and Underlayment

• Either the new laminate will come with a foam vapor barrier attached to the underside of each panel, or you’ll have to install a separate layer of foam underlayment over the existing hardwood. Before installing the new panels, remove the baseboards. If they come off without breaking, you can reuse them.

Other Considerations

• Consider the new floor height if you decide to install the laminate over the old hardwood. Pergo planks come in 5/16-inch and 3/8-inch thicknesses. The added height may affect the ease with which doors open and close. If you’re installing the laminate in only one room, the added height may create a tripping issue at the room's threshold.