remodeling

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AlisonB

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 16, 2007
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Hartford, CT
we're going to start doing a few projects around my house soon, one of these is that diy snap together laminate flooring. since it is not real, solid wood, i am concerned that my tanks would damage it (the tanks in that room are currently 30 and under).
At lowes they had several different types, some that looked like it was composed of layers, the stuff we are planning on using is one solid piece with the laminate wood pasted on top.
I inspected the box, and it said nothing about weight capabilities but claims to have a "high density core". I am planning on combining and enlarging my tanks. If i do end up ruining the "wood" it's an easy fix, although it would be nice to do it right the first time.
 
sorry about the double post, internet was malfunctioning.
 
Most of that flooring is tough stuff... I have a 270 sitting on mine in my basement with no even a dent... most of it would come back to your flooring underneath it ( nice and level) and also how the weight of your tanks are spread out... I mean if you have 10 30gallon tanks on a steel stand with only 4 feet on it ... those 4 points of presure are going to prob do some damage on most floors... Generally though 30 gallon and less tanks are not going to be an issue for 99% of the click flooring ... although they don't all handle water spills very well... but thats another issue LOL
 
Putting a tank and stand on laminate flooring is not a great idea, the whole idea behing the flooring is to be able to float.

With the weight of the tank on the floor it's locked in place and you run the risk of failure.

It can be done, might not hurt a thing. If a warranty issue were to come up with that tank on it you would out of luck. Even if it was bad manufacturing. Installers around here won't even put it under kitchen cabinets.

If it's a wood stand, put it in it's final place. Then install your floor with the required gap around the edges and cover the gap with shoe moulding or quarter round.
 
yeah that'll look real good when you move the stand ... It's no different than having a wall unit and all your couches chairs, desks, beds, dressers and such on the floor... with all the weight of the standard room these floors don't actually float and are "Locked" in place... they call it a "floating floor" because it doesn't require any actual attachment to the underflooring, the spacing all around is standard in ALL WOOD flooring as it's for expansion and contraction of the wood.

Contractors that don't put it under the kitchen cabinets are most likly worried about the humidity factor than anything else.. which is what is the bigger problem with this flooring
 
Try and move a floating floor with a fish tank on it. Not going to happen.

I can move a floating floor with a chair, bed or any other normal furnishing on it.

Putting a tank on it is almost like nailing it to the floor. Toothing new pieces in after a tank is moved isn't hard. Maybe an hour fix. Run a saw down the middle of the old ones take them out in two pieces. Then snap your new ones in.

I doubt that the reason is humidity under kitchen cabinets. The humidity is no different in the middle of the kitchen than under a regular base cabinet. Sink base maybe, in that case you have plumbing issues or a damp crawlspace/basement. None of which is the floors fault.
 
I just reread the original post, 30 gallon tank. That shouldn't be an issue. I misread it as 300 for some reason.

Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer of the flooring you choose and see what way they will warranty the installation. A warranty is tough to pull out of most of them, don't give them one more reason to weasel out of it.
 
Thanks so much! There is is plastic you are supposed to use in between the foam and floor for damp places. I'm definitely going to lay down a layer of that stuff.
I have not ripped up the nasty old carpet yet, so i have no idea how level the floor really is. (*crosses fingers and hopes that the builders didn't slack off*)
 
That plastic only protects from the moisture from coming up through the floor.. IE if you put it in the basement on concrete there can sometimes be an issue so that plastic helps with that... the biggest problem is standing water on these floors... no big deal if it is always kept clean and dry... but a small leak that goes un noticed for a day or two can cause these boards to get really nasty. These is a finish that they sell that will help prevent that from happening in "high risk" areas... I don't for the life of me remember the name of it right now... but next time I'm at one of my building suppy stores I'll try to remember to look it up for you!
 
yea, i kind of got the impression about the "damp barrier stuff" but it might help in the occasion of a flooding (we have a basement, it happened last year, almost ruined my drumset!!!!). Last time i was at lowes we only got one box of the laminate so that we could set it out and make sure that it was the right choice for the room. When we go to get the rest i'll ask them about that sealant/paint.
 
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