Worried that upstairs floor will collapse

Ashley23

Thanks for the replies, I suppose I am mostly paranoid but would love to know if the joists are 2x4 as that really does seem small and weak. I did alot of google searches and there seems to be quotes that houses are built to be able to withstand 30lbs per sq foot which for my room would equate to about 3000lbs spread over the entire floor, but its the bathroom that bothers me more than anything and a bathtub full of water being supported just by some wooden joists.

The middle of the house once had the hot water tank which is now the airing cupboard so i guess the flooring cannot be that weak.

FreeBear

A typical bath holds around 200 litres of water. But in use, you'd probably only put 100-140l of water in otherwise it would overflow when getting in. So a bath of water is going to weigh somewhere between 100-140Kg plus the weight of the bath and occupant.

A full hot water tank holds somewhere around 160-200l of water, or 160-200Kg. If your joists can support a HW cylinder, they will more than cope with a full bath.

Swasterix

Ashley23 said:

Thanks for the replies, I suppose I am mostly paranoid but would love to know if the joists are 2x4 as that really does seem small and weak. I did alot of google searches and there seems to be quotes that houses are built to be able to withstand 30lbs per sq foot which for my room would equate to about 3000lbs spread over the entire floor, but its the bathroom that bothers me more than anything and a bathtub full of water being supported just by some wooden joists.

The middle of the house once had the hot water tank which is now the airing cupboard so i guess the flooring cannot be that weak.

My house was built in 1960. I can confirm that even after nearly daily use, 60 years on, the bath is still in the bathroom, and not the kitchen below 

A_Lert

Get a surveyor if you're that worried.

But if the floor was built to regulations and hasn't been damaged by a water leak then it will be safe. Some movement is normal. I live and work in 19th century buildings and the wooden floors are still sound.

travis-powers

Please calm down the only thing that is 2x4 is your walls, your house was built and passed building regs.