Yes. You can put heavy furniture on laminate flooring. Laminate floors are pretty strong and durable and will therefore hold up to any heavy weight.
early delivery and acclimation period
Laminate flooring material needs to acclimate (adjust) to the moisture and temperature conditions of the installation environment for 24 to 72 hours (depending on the product) before it can be installed.
The biggest concern with a heavy object is pinning your laminate to the subfloor. With direct pressure on the joints and planks, this can cause buckling if expansion and contraction is blocked. Pianos under 500 pounds should be fine over a properly installed laminate floor.
Prepare the Furniture Properly
Before placing the furniture on a floating laminate floor, it's important to cushion the furniture's base so that it does not damage the flooring. Install furniture glides (either felt pads or padded plastic cups) on the base of the legs on chairs, tables and sofas.
Putting a refrigerator on a floating floor is a little risky but not impossible. As much as possible, ensure that the floor does not come in direct contact with the walls or cabinets in the kitchen so that it has plenty of room to shift in any direction without creating problematic lumps.
To reduce the amount of movement it is essential to acclimate a laminate floor immediately before installation. The normal period is 48hrs within the room of installation, before beginning to lay the floor.
When the air is humid the humidity also enters the core of the laminate causing it to expand. When the air loses humidity the laminate flooring will contract. Laminate flooring takes 48 – 72 hours to acclimate, but it is always best to follow the manufacturers' guidelines.
If you don't acclimate laminate flooring before installation, you risk the planks compressing or expanding from its installed position as it adjusts to the current humidity and temperature of the room. This may result in buckling or gaps at the joints if the planks expand or contract.
The main problem with laminate flooring that has not been properly staggered is that it is more likely to separate from the boards it is adjoined to. In addition, in severe circumstances, the boards may lift or move out of place.
Laminate flooring is supported by a thin rubber underlayment, which forms a moisture barrier and adds a cushioning layer beneath the plastic-laminate planks. It also helps deaden sound. There are a few different types of underlayment available, so be sure to use the kind recommended by the flooring manufacturer.
Expansion gaps are essential in all laminate floor installations. Temperature and humidity will change in all rooms. This result is the laminate flooring will expanding and contract as the temperature and humidity change. It's the same with solid and engineered wood floors.
Buckling or Warping
Buckled wood floors are almost always a result of moisture damage. Laminate flooring is stirred by water in various ways. High moisture content in the air triggers buckling or warping. Unnecessary water on the floor surface can also cause warping or buckling.
How long does it take to install laminate flooring? Installation in a typical 10-by-20-foot room is four to five days with an extra day added for each additional room. Laminate flooring needs at least two to three days to acclimate to the environment of a room to prevent problems like particle board expansion.
You can easily lay DIY laminate floors in almost every room in your home, including kitchens, since it doesn't have to be glued down and doesn't involve grout or mortar. Planks can be cut with a hand saw, circular saw or flooring cutter, so you don't need many tools.
Cost to Install Laminate Floors: Labor Cost
The average labor cost to install laminate flooring is $1,500. Installing laminate flooring for a 1,000 sq. ft. floor costs $800 to $2,800 per square foot on average.
In what direction should you lay a laminate floor? In most cases, you should lay your laminate flooring parallel to the longest side of the room or your home. This will create a more natural flow and will accentuate the length of the room better.
Depending on the quality of the flooring, laminate flooring can last between 15 to 25 years on average, or longer. Choosing the right flooring for your home is about more than just aesthetics, it's also about durability and strength.
With laminate or tiles, there is the requirement of a small gap between the flooring and the skirting board. Therefore, skirting boards shouldn't have any contact with the floor and should be fitted after the flooring has been installed.
Underlayment for laminate flooring is a must. Since laminate is a floating floor, it must be evenly distributed across your subfloor. Underlayment is what allows the floor to float, gives it stability, support, noise reduction, and supports the locking systems in between planks to assure the sturdiest flooring project.
If the proper expansion gap is not left during installation, and the planks on the sides push up against the wall, the pressure will cause planks elsewhere in the room to buckle. Buckling floors are repairable, however, they are a major inconvenience and can be tricky.
Since laminate flooring is a floating floor, it is not meant to be attached to the subfloor by nails or glue. The floor needs to be able to expand and contract with temperature changes and therefore must freely lay on the underlayment or subfloor.
Although gluing isn't always necessary, it's still a widespread installation method. Using glue for laminate flooring ensures your flooring remains durable. Because your laminate is glued directly to the subfloor, it makes it less likely for the planks to rise from moisture damage.
Installing a laminate floor costs $8 to $15 per square foot for labor and material. For the flooring alone, expect to pay between $2 and $6 per square foot. Laminate floors can mimic the look of stone or tile, but most have a wood appearance. The type of wood changes the cost.
Laminate, on the other hand, is made out of recycled hardwood, so it is not waterproof. Due to its melamine wear layer, it has a tough finish which resists against scratches and may have minor protection against minor water (quick spills).