MarilynKelvin: Will A Heavy Pool Table Ruin My Laminate Flooring?

You’ve finally saved up enough to get a pool table! Now your home can be the ultimate entertainment space. However, you installed beautiful laminate flooring a few years ago… Will you have to sacrifice your entertainment to save you laminate flooring? With the way pool tables are constructed, the weight is distributed evenly throughout 4 legs, so worrying about the laminate flooring buckling isn’t a huge concern.

There are a few things you can look at though to make sure the flooring you have will be able to stand up the weight in the long run.

1. Durability and Stability

A thicker flooring with a higher AC rating will be your best bet when choosing a laminate for a pool table. The thicker the floor, the more sturdy the laminate flooring. The higher the AC rating, the more durable it will be. AC4, AC5, and AC6 rating flooring is tested to be commercial grade, which can withstand high foot traffic and constant pressure on the surface.

2. Locking System

With heavy objects, the direct pressure can affect the strength of the locking system. Alloc brand laminate flooring has a patented aluminum locking system is an ideal option for this type of application. It’s patented technology uses an aluminum system for a stronger joint than the traditional laminate tongue and groove system.

Alloc Commercial Locking System

3. Protection

With any piece of furniture over a laminate, we always recommend to place felt pads underneath the legs. With a pool table, we recommend using a wide foot, rubber coaster to help distribute the weight over a wider area. The rubber coasters will help to disburse the weight of the legs to prevent any denting, scratching or even damage to the subfloor below. It will also keep the pool table in place, which is safer for the laminate flooring joints. You can also lay down a rug that’s large enough to fit underneath. Lastly, we recommend hiring a professional to move the table into the room to avoid damages.

Transitional Family Room by Portland Interior Designers & Decorators Urban I.D. Interior Design Services

Quick Recap

The biggest concern with a heavy object is the limiting of the flooring to expand. With direct pressure on the joints and planks, this can cause buckling if expansion and contraction is blocked. Pool tables under 500 pounds should be fine over a properly installed laminate floor. With a floating floor, it is important to stagger joints and properly place transition moldings. If the room is larger than 30′ in any direction, the flooring will need a transition piece to maintain flooring stability. With these things in mind, go ahead and enjoy your entertainment room!