Can You Put A Refrigerator Or Heavy Furniture On Vinyl Plank Flooring?

When choosing the best flooring option for your home, it’s important to remember that not all flooring types are suitable for every room. For instance, when installing floors in your bathroom, you must ensure that the flooring type is water-resistant, and the floor in your garage will need to withstand the weight of a vehicle.

If you’re installing in your kitchen, you need to make sure the flooring you choose can handle the weight of heavy furniture, like refrigerators and ovens. If you’ve chosen vinyl plank flooring for the majority of your home, you might also be wondering if it’s a viable option for your kitchen. Let’s take a look.

How Much Weight Can Vinyl Plank Flooring Withstand?

A single vinyl plank can handle up to 500 pounds of weight. Of course, it’s important to note that most heavy furniture, like a refrigerator, is much larger than a single vinyl plank. Its weight will be evenly distributed between several planks and not just one.

Since refrigerators weigh, on average, between 200 and 400 pounds, there should not be any problems placing a fridge or other heavy furniture on your vinyl plank floors. Vinyl planks are specifically designed with durability in mind.

What is Vinyl Plank Flooring Made Of?

Vinyl plank flooring is made primarily out of heavy-duty plastics. The manufacturing process utilizes a synthetic material mixture created from polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC), which is melted, then pressure-mixed with plasticizers, white pigments, UV stabilizers, fungicide, and calcium carbonate.

The mixture is then added to a backing layer, which holds it in place. Most vinyl planks comprise two to six layers. As a result, vinyl floors are cost-effective, waterproof, and scratch-resistant.

How Soon Can You Place Furniture on Vinyl Flooring?

Many homeowners will be itching to put their furniture on the floors as soon as they’re installed, but they might be surprised to learn that they may have to wait. Depending on the type of vinyl flooring you choose, there could be a waiting period before the floors are ready.

Floating Systems

Floating systems are a flooring type that clicks together and doesn’t require adhesive. Fortunately, with this type of flooring, there’s no waiting period. Once the floors are installed, you can place your furniture immediately.

Adhesive Systems

Adhesive systems, on the other hand, have a waiting period of 48 hours before you can place any of your belongings on it. This waiting period gives the adhesive enough time to dry, but once that 48 hours is up, you’re good to go!

5 Tips for Placing Heavy Furniture and Appliances on Vinyl Plank Flooring

Now it’s time to talk about best practices when placing furniture and appliances. Even though vinyl planks are incredibly durable, they can be damaged. 

Here are five tips to use when placing heavy furniture and appliances on vinyl plank floors:

1. Clean the Floors Before Placing Furniture

Make sure there’s no dust, grime, or debris on the floors before you move and place the furniture. That includes the path leading to the furniture’s final position, as well. When there’s dirt and debris left behind, it can get caught under the appliance and cause scuffs or scratches.

2. Lift into Place

Instead of dragging items across the floor, lift them off the ground and place them gently into place. The sharp edges and corners of an oven or refrigerator can scratch, mark, scuff, or otherwise damage your floors. Lifting them into place will prevent this from happening.

3. Use Glides or Furniture Pads

If you can’t lift your appliances, you should use glides or furniture pads when moving them. They will enable you to move heavy things short distances without damaging our floors. Plus, it makes the moving process much easier. This can be especially helpful when you’re cleaning or rearranging. 

4. Be Aware of Buckling and Seasonal Timing

It’s also important to be mindful of buckling and seasonal timing. As the temperatures rise, vinyl flooring can expand, leading to changes in the vinyl’s placement and positioning. As this happens, you might need to adjust your heavy furniture to avoid potential damage.

5. Avoid Furniture Dollies Without a Mat

Furniture dollies make carrying things in and out of your home more manageable, but they also localize the weight in specific areas, which can put too much strain on your floors. Plus, if something heavy falls off balance while moving the dolly, the impact could cause severe damage. It’s best to avoid furniture dollies unless you also have mats you can put beneath them to protect your floors.

The Best Place to Buy Durable Vinyl Flooring Products

If you’re looking for the highest quality vinyl plank flooring on the market, you’ve come to the right place. By partnering with BuildDirect, you get access to incredible products handpicked by industry professionals at extraordinary prices.

Plus, if you become a PRO Rewards member, you get instant access to exclusive deals, 5% credit, on-site delivery, unlimited samples, and more. Become a PRO today!

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