Flooring (Load Strength)

Lil306

As topic title. I'm busy converting a spare bedroom into a computer room.

Is there any kind of flooring I can purchase that can support a load strength of max 400kg per square metre?

I've been thinking of solid flooring as opposed to laminate as I'm guessing I would need a minimum of 12mm solid oak or something similar to that.

In reality the server rack will be at max 150-200kg, but I prefer to err on the side of caution.

The room is approx 14ft x 8ft, not sure on the distance between the joists, but I'm guessing whatever the standard is (every 6-8")?

john.h

What are you doing, pulling your old floorboards up and replacing them?

John...

leveller2911

Standard Joist widths are 16" or 400mm centres which is measured centre to centre. If you have existing Chipboard flooring or softwood pine boards theres no need to change anything they will take the weight easily..

As an example a 1mtre length of 2"x2" pine (not free) standing upright has a load bearing capacity of over a Tonne so you need not worry .

I would take up a board and measure the depth of your floor joists just to have peace of mind, if they are 9" standard width or even down to 8 or 7" then I wouldn't worry.

ormus

building engineers take the maximum weight they think a room will ever hold and then use a multiply factor of 1.5 for safety.
so you are very unlikely to go thro the floor. unless the walls/joists/floors etc are in poor condition.

Lil306

john.h wrote: »

What are you doing, pulling your old floorboards up and replacing them?

John...

Possibly, the old floorboards are old. Was initially looking at laying something over the top, but may have to rip them up for the extra room.

leveller2911 wrote: »

Standard Joist widths are 16" or 400mm centres which is measured centre to centre. If you have existing Chipboard flooring or softwood pine boards theres no need to change anything they will take the weight easily..

As an example a 1mtre length of 2"x2" pine (not free) standing upright has a load bearing capacity of over a Tonne so you need not worry .

I would take up a board and measure the depth of your floor joists just to have peace of mind, if they are 9" standard width or even down to 8 or 7" then I wouldn't worry.

Ty, I will. The house I live in as an old pit village. So nothing would surprise me if anything is different to this house. The floor won't be pine. Probably a crappy wood what was used in houses of this age. I'll rip up floorboard for some picks if possible

ormus wrote: »

building engineers take the maximum weight they think a room will ever hold and then use a multiply factor of 1.5 for safety.
so you are very unlikely to go thro the floor. unless the walls/joists/floors etc are in poor condition.

TY, I myself am a fairly big lad and there's not even a creak from the floor. The house is old but still strong I believe. Although when I buy it I think I may be having to get it tied / pointed as I'm seeing cracks along the wall from my neighbours to mine both upstairs and downstairs. Not sure if it's wall damage or because of the stupid workmen putting her gas in