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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3347

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Maximum Weight For A Bedroom Floor?
Hey guys,

Bit of an odd one but hang with me.

My girlfriend is moving in with me at my parents house until we can afford our own place/workshop which is fantastic and were both really excited about it.

However, being a Artist she has got a lot of stuff. Some of which is going in the skip, some of which is going in my current workshop, and some of which is going in my shed.

However, she (like any girl would) has got 4 suitcases worth of clothes, a large box of shoes, in addition to many other bits like art materials, bedding, personal stuff and just art.

So, how much weight can a 1930's bedroom floor take?

It's got a few pieces of fairly solid furniture in it as well as my stuff (less than you would think).

I'm just starting to worry one night I'm going to have a curry and a few beers get into bed and there be a ominous creaking noise, then I'll end up on the dining room table below Shocked
Post #343217 6th Jul 2014 5:01pm
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Depends on how solid the joists are and if they're not full of worm or rot! Guess you may find out. Rolling with laughter If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #343223 6th Jul 2014 5:07pm
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bob neville



Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

Spain 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Epsom Green
There are a lot of factors that contribute to how much weight a bedroom floor will take.

The thickness of the floorboards
The material (the precise type of wood, oak, pine etc) the floorboards are made of
The thickness and material of the joists
How far apart the joists are
The age and condition of the boards and joists
How the weight is to be distributed on the floor - a concentrated weight will break a floor that a more dispersed weight would not - a box with a flat bottom distributes the weight better than the point load of something like a bed leg.

2006 building control stipulates 40lb per square foot, that is not the breaking point but a safe limit.

A 1930's house will probably take a lot more weight if the floor is in good condition.

Easy rule of thumb is if the floor does not creak now but it does with all the extra contents you are probably close to the limits.

Good luck converting the house to a bungalow Rolling with laughter

Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !!
2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold
2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold
2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member
2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days !
Post #343230 6th Jul 2014 5:35pm
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5110

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
The problem isn't one of collapse. You could probably put whatever load you like within reason on your bedroom floor and the joists won't immediately collapse. The main problem with over-loading is that it will cause excessive deflection, which in turn causes damage to plaster on the ceiling below.

Saying that most houses built in the thirties are very strong and the joists fitted are sufficiently robust enough to take more weight than modern build houses. Remember in the thirties most people had iron beds and furniture was solid and heavy not like this light or particle board furniture we buy now, so houses were constructed to take the weight of the furniture of the period.

Older houses used the same span joists in the bathroom and an old cast iron bath full of water and a person caused no problems with weight. Most Modern homes that use lighter construction materials now have double joists in the bathroom.

I do not think you will have a problem at all, however if you notice hair line cracks in the ceiling below then remove some of the weight, but I think you will not have to worry one bit!
Post #343232 6th Jul 2014 5:52pm
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What puddle?



Member Since: 25 Oct 2013
Location: Reading
Posts: 952

United Kingdom 
Shaggy dog, like has been said, depends on the joists, really. We lived in a 1930s house in 1985. I took the chimney out of our bedroom and tied new joists into the existing ones. Ten years later we bought a water bed, a king size one. It sat directly on top of my tied in joists. I did wonder! However, the plaster boarded ceiling below didn't even show a hairline crack when we left in 2006. Personally, I wouldn't worry unless you were storing old bank safes! Now left.
Post #343233 6th Jul 2014 5:59pm
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3347

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Jolly Good Very Happy

That will put my fears at rest then. Will keep an eye on the dining room ceiling and see how it looks.

Floors not making any creaking noises so will just keep an eye on it and see how it goes.

Still have both chimneys below and in my room so all should be nice and strong.

So far just need another shed, and a workshop extension and the rest will fit Very Happy
Post #343244 6th Jul 2014 6:50pm
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