Before placing heavy furniture over laminate planks, you must know the weight limit. So, what’s the weight limit for laminate floors?
Laminate floors can support up to 350 pounds of weight per square inch. If you put more than 350 pounds per square inch, the floor will crack and develop wraps.
However, the type and quality of the planks and subfloor determine the weight limit. For instance, engineered hardwood laminate planks are limitless regarding the weight the floor can handle.
Weight Limit
The weight limit for laminate floors is 350-500 pounds per square inch, with 350 pounds being the average limit. However, mechanically engineered floors don’t have a weight limit. These floors are designed specially to handle high foot traffic and heavy furniture.
Most laminate floors will show signs of damage if more than 500 pounds per square inch are placed over the planks. The planks will crack, separate, or break if the weight limit is exceeded.
To know the weight limit of your floor, check the manufacturer’s website or the user’s guide.
If You Apply Too Much Weight:
The laminate floor will crack if you place too much weight over the planks. However, the crack will happen over time and not immediately. This is because planks are made to be flexible and sturdy enough to handle intense pressure without cracking immediately.
Laminate planks are made of recycled materials which makes them flexible. However, if you put too much weight, you will hear a squeaking noise from the floor. The squeaking noises are coming from the join and locks being under intense pressure.
If heavy furniture is left for too long on the floor, the locks will start to break, and the plank will sink to the subfloor. When the planks sink into the subfloor, they will become bent and crack open in multiple areas. Laminate boards will also separate and buckle if heavy weight is left over them for too long.
Wait Time Before Heavy Furniture
You must wait 3 days after installing laminate floors before placing heavy furniture on the planks. This gives the planks enough time to adjust and acclimate before handling weight. If you put heavy furniture too soon, gaps will be created between the planks because they haven’t adjusted to the floor yet.
When the floor is installed, the planks (or boards) go through a process known as acclimation. During acclimation, boards expand and adjust on the floor. So, before putting heavy furniture on the floor, you must wait until the acclimation process is completed (3 days).
Also, you must use a furniture pad before placing heavy furniture on the newly-installed boards
Different Types of Furniture
Piano
You can place a piano over a laminate floor as long as the piano’s weight isn’t more than 500 pounds. If the piano is heavier than 500 pounds, the boards will bend and buckle since it exceeds the planks’ weight limit.
Based on this distinction, large pianos will be too heavy as they weigh over 500 pounds. If you are to put a piano on the floor, ensure the floor is padded first.
Refrigerator
You can put a refrigerator over laminate flooring because refrigerators weigh less than 300 pounds. This means the weight of a refrigerator is less than the weight limit.
However, you must install a waterproof carpet before putting a refrigerator on the floor to prevent moisture from affecting it.
Pool Table
A laminate floor can support the weight of a small, portable, and medium-sized pool table because they weigh less than 450 pounds (total). However, you shouldn’t place large pool tables on the floor as these tables weigh more than 700 pounds.
Check the table’s weight to know if the floor can support it or not.
Kitchen Island
A laminate floor can support the full weight of a kitchen island as long as the kitchen island is equally spread over the floor. This means that the kitchen island should rest evenly on the planks.
Kitchen islands weigh less than 200 pounds. Though the furniture might look huge, it’s mostly made of hollow spaces and drawers for you to put stuff in.
Treadmill
You shouldn’t put a treadmill on laminate planks. Treadmills don’t weigh more than 500 pounds, but the user’s weight (you) will increase the pressure on the floor locks. In addition, the constant vibration from the treadmill will damage the planks.
Washing Machine
Laminate floors can support the weight of a washing machine. However, installing laminate flooring in laundry rooms is not recommended, as the planks don’t do well in high-moisture areas. If you are to install them, use a rubber floor mat to protect it from water.
Protecting Laminate From Heavy Furniture
- Use concrete as a subfloor, as concrete helps the planks support more weight.
- The subfloor must be even and smooth before laying the laminate boards
- Use a furniture floor pad on the planks before putting heavy furniture.
- Don’t drag heavy items across the floor.
- Ensure the laminate planks are installed correctly.
- If the laminate flooring gives a squeaking sound, it means the weight is too much, and you must remove the item from the floor.
- Don’t put more than 500 pounds per square inch on the floor.
Final Words
Laminate floors are strong, flexible, and durable, so the planks handle weight well. The weight limit of the planks is 350 pounds per square inch, with 500 pounds being the maximum. If you place more than 500 pounds per square inch, the planks will buckle, separate, or crack.
To know the weight limit of your floor, check the user’s guide or the manufacturer’s website. Also, use floor furniture pads before putting heavy furniture to prevent dents and scratches.
