Worried about how much weight your floor can support? Don’t be. Laminate flooring is incredibly sturdy and can support a lot of weight without any problems. However, it ultimately depends on several factors. Here is what you need to know.
Laminate floors typically hold up around 350 pounds per square inch. It ultimately comes down to the thickness of the planks or the materials used to manufacture flooring. It also depends on the subfloor’s condition, which has to be even, flat, and pristine.
Laminate flooring is considered to be very light and durable and can, in fact, support a lot of weight. Of course, it has its limitation, just like any other flooring. But how do I know if my laminate flooring can support this new furniture I’ve bought or what kind of kitchen appliances can I install without having to worry if it’s too heavy?
How Much Weight Can You Put on Laminate?
The amount of weight you can put on laminate floors will depend on several factors. However, you might be surprised how much it can actually support. But before you go and buy your next kitchen appliance or furniture, let’s learn how to know if your flooring can actually handle it.
- The quality and type of laminate floorboards
Not all laminate floorings are created equal. The thickness of the planks and the material used for making them can also vary. For instance, mechanically engineered hardwood laminate flooring can support heavy furniture and traffic without any problems, but a regular one will suffer.
- The condition of the subfloor
The level of preparation you do when installing laminate floors and the subfloor condition at the time of installation can also impact how much weight the flooring can handle. If you prep it right and the subfloor is even, flat, and in pristine condition, it can handle a substantial amount of weight. A poorly prepped and uneven subfloor will cause your laminate floor to become damaged when you put weight on it.
Generally, laminate flooring can support between 300 pounds to 500 pounds for every square inch, and the average weight they can handle is 350 per square inch. But, as it can vary, depending on the factors listed above, you should still check the user’s guide that comes with the purchase or on the manufacturer’s website for more information.
What Happens If You Add Too Much Weight On Laminate Flooring?
Adding more weight than the laminate flooring can handle will have consequences. Nonetheless, these will depend on how much extra weight has been added. Some of them can be managed, while others might lead to permanent damage to your laminate floors.
- Dents and scratches
If you have placed heavy items on your laminate floors, but not too heavy, then your floor may only suffer from dents where the item is placed. Moving it can result in scratches, and these may not be visible until you lift the object off the floor.
- Squeaking
Another consequence of placing too much weight on laminate floors is you will hear squeaking noises immediately. This is because the locks and joints of your laminate floorboards will be under intense pressure due to the weight. Every time you walk on the floor, you will hear it make squeaky noises.
- Buckle and separate
If the laminate floor has to support heavy objects and excessive weight for an extended period of time, the intense pressure can cause the floor planks to buckle and separate. They will not be able to withstand the weight and separate from each other or buckle.
- Warping and cracking
It should be noted that the laminate floor does not crack right away when you add a lot of weight to it. But, eventually, if there is more weight than what it’s made it’s designed to handle, the laminate floor planks will eventually begin to sink to the subfloor. This will lead to bent, warped, and cracked planks.
What Home Items Can You Put On Laminate Flooring?
Most of the home items, such as kitchen appliances or furniture, are very heavy and, in some cases, too heavy. Here are some home items that you can put on laminate flooring are listed here.
- Refrigerator
Laminate flooring can handle the weight of most refrigerators, as their average weight is not more than 250 pounds. However, you should ensure that the flooring is waterproof because refrigerators and moisture go hand in hand, and this can lead to damage.
- Kitchen island
The full weight of a kitchen island can be supported by laminate flooring, as long as it’s evenly spread across the floor. The weight of the island should be distributed equally on the floor planks.
- Room furniture
You can easily put room furniture on laminate floorings, such as a cupboard, bed, closet, and even a dining table. Most of these items don’t exceed the 500-pound weight limit. As a matter of fact, they usually weigh less than the average limit of 350 pounds, so you don’t need to worry about damage.
- Piano
The weight of a piano can be handled by your laminate floor, as long as the weight is not more than 500 pounds. A vertical piano, such as ‘Console’ or ‘Studio,’ might be an appropriate choice. If it exceeds the weight limit, your flooring will buckle and bend because of the pressure and weight. Therefore, it’s best to avoid using orchestral or grand pianos, as these tend to weigh more than 500 pounds. Moreover, it’s also recommended that you use padding on the laminate floor before putting a piano on it.
- Pool table
Another home item that you can place on your laminate floor is a pool table, as long as it’s portable and small. Large pool tables usually weigh between 700 pounds and 1,000 pounds, so you should try to avoid them. Get small or medium-sized ones, as they don’t weigh more than 450 pounds and can be comfortably supported by the laminate floor.
What Home Items You Should Avoid Putting On Laminate Flooring?
Since laminate floors have a weight limit, you need to know what items should not be placed on them to avoid damage. Should you install laminate flooring
under appliances? You need to ask this question to protect your laminate flooring and make them last. Some of the items you should not put on laminate flooring are mentioned as follows.
- Washing machine
While you can install laminate flooring under appliances, you should note that this does not apply to all of them. This includes washing machines. The weight of washing machines is not excessive, and your laminate flooring should be able to handle it easily. But, laundry rooms have high moisture areas, so the chances of your floor getting damaged are also high. If you want to keep your washing machine on a laminate floor, you should put it on a rubber floor mat to protect it from moisture.
- Treadmill
Treadmills can be found in different sizes, but generally, putting them on a laminate floor is not recommended. The treadmill’s weight is not the problem here, as they don’t weigh more than 500 pounds, particularly those made for households. It’s how treadmills are used that can cause problems.
Since people have to stand on top of the treadmill to use it, this can cause it to exceed the weight limit that the laminate floor can handle and put it under pressure. Secondly, the constant vibrations, running, and movement of the treadmill will also lead to dents, scratches, and eventually cracks on your laminate floors.
- Furniture items
There are some items of furniture that you should not put on laminate floors, not because of weight, but because of the damage, they can inflict. These include rocking chairs and heavy sofas, especially sleeper ones.
- Hearth
The weight and size of a hearth can be massive, as they are made of concrete, stone, brick, and masonry. They should be installed on the subfloor directly and never on the laminate floors.
- Pellet stove
Another home item you should not put on a laminate floor is a pellet stove because it’s a heat source. This makes it risky because laminate flooring is combustible, given that recycled materials are used in its composition. Putting a pellet stove or any other kind of stove could lead to a fire.
What Is the Alternative to Using a Thick Underlayment with Laminate?
Knowing how thick your underlayment needs to be is really crucial when installing your new flooring. Different types of underlayment options are available to be used with laminate flooring. Felt underlayment is the thinnest option to explore, as is foam. If you are looking for an alternative, you can find laminate floors that come with underlayment padding attached.
These laminate floorings are manufactured with underlayment attached to them, so no separate underlayment is required. You can install such laminate floors directly on the subfloor and may not even need a vapor barrier seal.
FAQs
What Happens If You Put Laminate on an Uneven Floor?
If you put laminate flooring on an uneven floor, you will not have the finished product you want. The floor will crack and pop when you walk over it because of the air gap between the planks. It could also damage the interlocking mechanism of the laminate floorboards.
The laminate floors can also be warped because they will leave some areas and dip in others. It can also cause slipping and sliding, which can lead to injuries.
Can I Install Underlayment Under Laminate with Attached Padding?
The attached padding is meant to perform the underlayment function, so you don’t need to install the underlayment separately. Installing underlayment and attached padding can add friction, make your laminate floor less stable, and even damage its interlocking system due to stress.
What Underlay Should I Use for Laminate Flooring on Concrete?
Since concrete is a porous material, it means that water can penetrate it and through the floor as well. The best underlayment for a concrete floor is one that can function as a vapor barrier, as this ensures that moisture cannot seep through and damage your laminate floors.
Thin foam underlayment is suitable in this situation, which is made up of polypropylene or polyethylene that can be rolled out in sheets. It will provide the underlayment needed to keep the laminate floor safe from moisture.