Vinyl or laminate flooring?

Reefltx · Mar 16, 2017

Hey guys

I'm redoing the floorings in my home. Does anybody have experience with either types of flooring and how they'd hold up with a aquarium tank on top?

I was set on doing laminate but the premium vinyl stuff looks interesting, as they are waterproof and installed just like laminate.

PJS · Mar 16, 2017

Vinyl all the way for water, laminate can soak in water and cause an issue. I've done several floors with vinyl plank recently, there is some nice stuff out there.
Hope this helps.

Reef on my friend,
Phil

sa6hir · Mar 16, 2017

I had laminating put down before my tank went in, it's been about a year, no water damage that's mainly due to having a towel around me when I'm carrying out maintenance, no problems holding up the weight. The tank is 6x2x2.5. But if I was to do it again I would rather tile under and around the tank, makes life that much easier!

Reefltx · Mar 16, 2017

PJS said:
Vinyl all the way for water, laminate can soak in water and cause an issue. I've done several floors with vinyl plank recently, there is some nice stuff out there.
Hope this helps.

Reef on my friend,
Phil

Yeah, I've been looking at those premium engineered vinyl at Lowes, they do look very nice.

sa6hir said:
I had laminating put down before my tank went in, it's been about a year, no water damage that's mainly due to having a towel around me when I'm carrying out maintenance, no problems holding up the weight. The tank is 6x2x2.5. But if I was to do it again I would rather tile under and around the tank, makes life that much easier!

True, but I'm more concerned about how it would hold up with the weight of the aquarium, mainly for vinyl as it's a more flexible material. Hate to have it curl up at the seams once I have a tank weighing 1-2000lbs sitting on it.

sa6hir · Mar 16, 2017

Reefltx said:
Yeah, I've been looking at those premium engineered vinyl at Lowes, they do look very nice.

True, but I'm more concerned about how it would hold up with the weight of the aquarium, mainly for vinyl as it's a more flexible material. Hate to have it curl up at the seams once I have a tank weighing 1-2000lbs sitting on it.

Sorry can't advise about that but what I can say is laminate WILL be able to hold up the weight of tank, but if you do decide to go with laminate just make sure you use the thickest under layer u can get, so it balances out the weight.

Smo · Mar 16, 2017

What type of subfloor, concrete slab or wood with joists? If wood, That's where your weight bearing concern me be better focused.

Reefltx · Mar 16, 2017

Smo said:
What type of subfloor, concrete slab or wood with joists? If wood, That's where your weight bearing concern me be better focused.

Wood with joists. The plan is to add 2 reinforce beams in the basement where the tank will sit before new floor installations.

blaxsun · Dec 11, 2022

Engineered vinyl tile here.

EverTile Elite | TORLYS Professional

TORLYS EverTile Elite. Our longest and widest precision-crafted luxury vinyl flooring with stunning, luxurious tile designs.

commercial.torlys.com

ThaBeast · Dec 11, 2022

Vinyl plank for sure...but don't buy at a box store. Go to an independent flooring retailer and get some commercial grade vinyl plank designed for use in bars and offices. Will last forever in your home. I have commercial grade vinyl plank in my home office, 8 yrs old. Has had a custom 160 and then a custom 400 on it no marks or distortions. Will have a new 183 on it soon. Traditional wood and joist subfloor (braced for weight of a 400). I'm a contract floor cleaner by trade & laminate is one of the worst flooring products ever sold to the public...we dont even touch it any more, just tell homeowner to replace if they call us to clean or refinish.

oreolk · Dec 16, 2022

vinyl plank all the way. My finished basement has survived many mishaps and still looks fantastic

Gtinnel · Dec 16, 2022

I installed vinyl planks in the first floor of my house and I will never install any other kind of flooring. I was honestly a little worried about having a 125g and a 100g tank sitting on the flooring because it’s a floating flooring but it hasn’t caused any issues.