How to Protect Vinyl Plank Flooring from Heavy Furniture

Vinyl plank flooring isn’t immune to damage.

Especially from heavy furniture that can warp a floating floor, leave dents, scratches, and marks on the surface, or get messed up completely by dragging furniture across it!

In this article, I’ll cover: 

how to protect your vinyl plank flooring from heavy furniture
  • How to protect your vinyl flooring from heavy furniture
  • The issues heavy furniture can cause a vinyl plank flooring
  • Tips and tricks for maintaining your vinyl flooring in good condition

(Some of the below links are affiliate links which means I get paid a bit if you click through and buy something — it doesn’t add anything to your cost! Just helps keep the lights on.)

How Can You Protect Vinyl Plank Flooring from Heavy Furniture? 

There are 4 ways your heavy furniture might damage your floors that you need to be aware of and avoid:

  1. Putting furniture down on a dirty floor – the grid underneath may scratch the floor
  2. Moving your furniture without lifting it or using a slider
  3. Putting too much weight in too small of an area
  4. Everyday use of furniture that causes small shifts which then leads to scratches

Here are a bunch of easy ways to ensure you never cause damage to your vinyl plank floors: 

Clean your floor regularly and ESPECIALLY before moving furniture to a new spot. At the very least sweep up or use a microfiber mop to thoroughly clean the floor before moving furniture to a new spot. The cleaner it is, the less likely you’ll get damaging grit caught between the floor and your furniture. 

Side Note: after installing new floors if you have floating vinyl planks, you can put furniture down as soon as it’s installed otherwise if you have floors that you use adhesive you need to wait 48 Hours generally before you put anything on the floors they say.

Avoid Furniture or Chairs with Rolling Casters or put safeguards in place to avoid causing issues. Rolling chairs can cause scratches and dents on vinyl flooring due to their casters. Consider replacing them with stationary chairs or using chair mats to protect the surface. 

Assuming you can’t avoid having rolling casters on furniture or chairs, you need to install something in between the floor and the caster. This could be: 

Add Area Rugs under your heavy furniture

Pretty self-explanatory – adding a rug under your heavy furniture provides that extra layer of protection from everyday scratches and gouges. 

Add Rug pads under your rugs

Rug floor pads are great for keeping your rug in place and adding a layer of cushioning between the rug and the floor. But be sure it isn’t made of rubber which could stain your floor.

These under-rug pads from Veken (Amazon) work well and aren’t made of rubber so they won’t stain your vinyl floor.

Install Furniture pads Under the Furniture Legs

Felt pads are soft, durable, and can be attached to furniture legs or bases. They reduce friction and pressure on vinyl flooring, preventing scratches and dents.  

You can either buy it in sheets and cut the pieces to size or buy pre-cut furniture pads like these from X-PROTECTOR (Amazon).

They’re really easy to install. Just lift up or tip over your furniture and the right size underneath each leg.e

Install Furniture Glides: Furniture glides are smooth, sturdy attachments that can be added to furniture legs or bases. You nail them in and they allow easy sliding and movement on vinyl flooring without causing scratches or dents.

How to Safely Move Heavy Furniture Over Vinyl Plank Flooring

Never drag heavy furniture across the floor. Either lift it or use sliders when moving pieces to minimize the risk of scratches and dents. Here’s how: 

Lift Using Forearm Forklift Straps

Grab a set of forearm forklift straps (Amazon) and grab a friend to lift heavy furniture and carry it without touching the floor.

Use an Appliance Slider To Move Big Appliances Like Refrigerators or Washers

When moving an appliance, grab an appliance slider like this Appliance Buddy Appliance (Amazon) mover.

Slip Sliders Under Each Leg Before Sliding Furniture

Get felt-bottomed furniture sliders and slip them under each leg before pushing it to its new location.

These are a great option for sliders: X-PROTECTOR Furniture Sliders (Amazon)

And if you’re having trouble lifting up the furniture to get the sliders in use a furniture lever (Amazon) to raise each corner of your furniture so you can insert sliders underneath. Just make sure you have something soft under the arm of the lever so it doesn’t dent the floor under it.  

How Does Heavy Furniture Damage Vinyl Plank Flooring?

If you don’t take care, your heavy furniture could seriously mess up your vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl Plank Flooring is scratch resistant but NOT SCRATCH PROOF. You can scratch vinyl plank flooring. So what can go wrong? 

Dents and Scratches: Heavy furniture can leave dents and scratches on the surface of your vinyl flooring, especially if the furniture has sharp legs, casters, or edges. These imperfections can be unsightly and lead to further damage over time.

Buckling and Folding: Excessive weight from heavy furniture can cause buckling and folding of vinyl planks. This problem is exacerbated by heat expansion, which can lead to significant distortion and an uneven floor surface.

Gaps and Misalignment: As furniture is moved or shifted, it can cause gaps and misalignment in vinyl plank flooring. This plank separation can create an unstable surface and diminish the overall aesthetic of your floor.

Rips and Tears: Dragging heavy furniture across vinyl flooring can result in rips and tears. These not only look unsightly but also create pinch points where dirt and debris can accumulate, further damaging the floor.

Types of Furniture to be Cautious With:

For instance, imagine a heavy dining table with sharp-edged legs. If not properly protected, these legs can gouge the vinyl flooring, creating deep scratches that are difficult to repair. Similarly, a heavily loaded bookshelf can cause the vinyl planks to buckle and fold, leading to an uneven and potentially hazardous floor surface.

  • Large, bulky items like couches or entertainment centers
  • Furniture with pointed or sharp legs
  • Heavy kitchen appliances, such as fridges and stoves

FAQ

Can you have heavy furniture on vinyl plank flooring?

Yes, you can have heavy furniture on vinyl plank flooring, but it’s important to use caution to avoid damaging the floor.

How can you keep furniture from scratching vinyl plank flooring?

To keep furniture from scratching vinyl plank flooring, use protective pads or coasters under the legs of your furniture, and avoid dragging furniture across the floor.

How much weight can vinyl plank flooring hold?

There isn’t a specific weight limit for vinyl plank flooring as it largely depends on the quality of the installation, the type of subfloor, and the specific product used, but it’s designed to withstand typical household furniture and foot traffic.

What do you put on the bottom of furniture on vinyl plank flooring?

To protect vinyl plank flooring, it’s recommended to put felt pads or furniture coasters on the bottom of furniture legs to distribute weight evenly and prevent scratches.

Picture of Tom Powell

Tom Powell

Over the last 7 years, I’ve done a bit of everything when it comes to maintaining and repairing my 110-year-old house. Installed vinyl plank and vinyl peel and stick flooring, resurfaced and stained wooden porch, leveled and installed tiling on a concrete floor, resurfaced our kitchen cabinets… It never ends, but it feels great when you finish a project yourself and end up with a beautiful new (or repaired) floor.

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Picture of Tom Powell

Tom Powell

Over the last 7 years, I’ve done a bit of everything when it comes to maintaining and repairing my 110-year-old house. Installed vinyl plank and vinyl peel and stick flooring, resurfaced and stained wooden porch, leveled and installed tiling on a concrete floor, resurfaced our kitchen cabinets… It never ends, but it feels great when you finish a project yourself and end up with a beautiful new (or repaired) floor.

Unbiased, comprehensive flooring advice and reviews backed by extensive research, real experience, and flooring experts. 

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