How soon can you put furniture on laminate flooring? This depends on the weight of the furniture, it is recommended that you wait at least 24 hours before any furniture is placed on newly laminate floor, in order to prevent creating gaps problem which can cause the floor to be squeaky.
This time-lapse is for heavy furniture; you can place lightweight furniture on laminate floor 15 hours after installation.
Read: When to put furniture on refinished floor
Can you put Heavy Furniture on Laminate Flooring
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Yes, you can place heavy furniture on laminate flooring as it is made out of wood, stone, or granite, and although it is not connected to the original flooring, it cannot be damaged by heavy furniture as long as it is moved properly.
When handled wrongly, the furniture can chip, scratch, or dent the floor. So here’s how to handle placing heavy furniture on laminate floor, so it does not damage it.
Proper Preparation
Before placing any furniture on your laminate floor, it’s recommended that a pad is placed underneath the furniture’s base so that there is no direct contact on the floor that can damage it.
There are different items you can use as cushion-like furniture glides (either felt pads or padded plastic cups) and place them on the base of the legs of the furniture.
If the piece of furniture rests on a solid beam or base, you can use heavy-duty felt cut into squares and attached to the base of the furniture with an adhesive. When properly protected, you can place your heavy furniture on laminate floor without fear the furniture of damaging your floor.
Lift Up The Furniture When Moving
When trying to change the position of your furniture from one point of the room to another, do not attempt to drag it across the floor. It is a recipe for disaster, and you can rip out your laminate boards.
When moving furniture, seek extra hands or make use of a dolly to slowly push it across the floor. Unloading should also be done gently, do not drop or slam heavy furniture on laminate flooring; this can dent or crack it.
Read: How to move furniture without damaging floor
Regular Cleaning
When your heavy furniture is surrounded by dirt particles, slight movements can cause it to scratch the laminate flooring underneath. This is why it is important to frequently sweep the area as well as dry or barely damp mopping; this will get rid of all the dirt particles that might have accumulated underneath the furniture.
However, avoid using too much water for this method as water can run into the cracks between the boards and settle between the laminate flooring and the original flooring. This can lead to the growth of mold, mildew on the original flooring.
Does Laminate Flooring Need Time To Settle?
It is highly recommended that you allow any new laminate floor product to sit for at least 48 hours before installation. This would enable the laminate planks to acclimate or to become accustomed to a new climate or conditions.
Why does laminate flooring need time to settle? You may ask, well, all laminate flooring has a wood core which is porous on a microscopic level, as they contain tiny openings which allow air inside the core, carrying with it whatever humidity the environment may be.
When kept in a humid region, the planks may swell; when there is less humidity in the air, the planks may shrink. Although these changes might be very slight, they could cause the snug locking systems to buckle or gap across the floor.
This is why it is recommended that you allow your laminate floor to settle before installing so that the planks become unified in the temperature and humidity of the environment. This will ensure that the planks are uniformly conditioned, and the locking system will not be compromised.
How to Protect your Laminate Floor
Place Carpets Or Rugs
Placing carpet or rugs in areas with heavy foot traffic while help to reduce the impact on your laminate floor. You can also place rugs underneath furniture to prevent scratches and scrapes on the laminate floor too. Areas like underneath the kitchen sink can also be covered with rugs as well.
To prevent your rugs from sliding around, you can place rubber or non-slip pads beneath them, especially in heavy foot traffic areas.
Another way you can use carpet or rug to protect your laminate floor is by placing welcome mats at doorways. This mat will catch dirt, pebbles, and sand from shoes that can easily scratch your laminate flooring. Before anyone steps onto your laminate floor, they get to wipe their feet before entering your home.
If you stay with a lot of people, you can try to enforce a “no-shoe” rule on the laminate floor.
Replace Plastic Casters With Rubber Wheels.
If you have kitchen tables and desks placed on the laminate floor, simply take out the plastic casters off of the chairs and make use of rubber wheels instead. This helps to prevent scratches and damage to the floor.
Make sure to opt for soft rubber wheels, and you can choose from a variety of options online or from many home improvement and office stores.
Maintain The Humidity Levels In Your Home
The humidity level of your home should be kept between 35 and 65 percent. This will help to prevent buckling laminate floor due to the expansion or contraction of the laminate plank.
To measure the humidity level of your home, you can make use of a humidistat that may already be built into your thermostat or humidifier, or you can buy one from local retail or home improvement store.
You can make use of a humidifier during dry conditions to stop your laminate flooring from shrinking; you can also use an air conditioner or dehumidifier in humid conditions to keep the flooring from expanding.
Trim Your Pet’s Nails
If you have pets with long nails or claws, they may damage your laminate floor. This is why it is important that you keep your pet’s nails trimmed but not too short that it is detrimental to your pet. You can either trim your pet’s nails yourself using nail clippers designed for pets or take your pet to a groomer. Doing this prevents pets from scratching your floor.
Also, ensure to check your pet’s paws when they come in from outside and remove any dirt and/or gravel stuck to their paws.
Do Not Mop With Too Much Water
Avoid wet mopping your laminate floor as it can cause extra water to seep into the floor, which will damage it over time.
Also, avoid the use of soap and detergent-based cleaners when mopping your laminate floor as they can damage it. Instead, make use of specially made cleaner for laminate floors and wipe the floors dry with a cloth or a dry mop.
The manufacturers of your laminate flooring might specify their own brands of cleaning products, and it is recommended that you make use of a cleaner specifically made for your type of flooring.
Clean Spills As Soon As They Occur
Cleaning spills as soon as they occur on laminate floor will help to prevent liquids from entering any cracks or joints in the flooring, which can cause your laminate flooring to weaken over time or start to warp.
Make use of a soft cloth or mop to wipe up spills; depending on the item that was spilled, you can go ahead and further clean the floor with the recommended cleaning product for your flooring.
If you need to use a cleaning product other than water to clean up spills and can’t find the manufacturer-recommended product, you can use a commercial window cleaner that does not contain ammonia.
Don’t Use A Vacuum With Its Beater Bar Or Rotary Brush Heads.
Before using a vacuum on laminate floor, ensure to take out its rotary brush or beater bar head. Using these types of heads on your laminate floor can damage it. Instead, make use of a felt or brush type vacuum.
Conclusion
This article answers your question about how soon you can put furniture on laminate flooring, so you know when to continue decorating your room after installing laminate floor.
This article also tackles other important questions like can you put heavy furniture on laminate flooring, and does laminate flooring need time to settle? This will all help you to achieve a successful laminate floor installation.
