Here are some effective ways to remove excess weight from overloaded floor:
• Relocate heavy furniture and equipment.
Look for obviously heavy items like pianos, pool tables, filing cabinets, industrial equipment, etc. and move them to other floors or outside the building if possible. Reducing concentrated weights will help.
• Remove stored items.
Excessive stored items like boxes, debris, vehicles, lumber, etc. add extra weight to floors. Remove any unnecessary stored stuff from the overloaded areas.
• Reduce live loads.
Limit the number of people walking on or using the overloaded floors as much as possible. Re-route foot traffic to other paths if you can. Every person adds weight, so minimizing live loads helps.
• Install supporting beams or trusses.
For some overload situations, the solution is to provide additional structural support. Installing extra beams below the joists or trusses at critical areas can distribute the weight more effectively. Wood, steel or composite beams can be used depending on the application.
• Use higher capacity joists or trusses.
If the existing floor supports are undersized, they may need to be reinforced or replaced with larger, higher-capacity joists or trusses that can handle more weight. Installing double joists side by side also helps increase capacity.
• Reduce moisture and humidity.
Excess moisture in wood floors or structural supports reduces their capacity. Control sources of moisture like HVAC issues, leaks, or high humidity levels. Drying wet wood may allow more weight before overloading issues appear.
• Shoring or strap the structure.
In severe cases, temporary shoring using metal posts, brackets or straps may be needed to provide stability to the overloaded areas while other measures are put in place. Shoring can prevent further sagging or collapse risk.
• Professional solutions.
Complex structural overloading issues often require solution by an engineer or building professional. They can evaluate the specific situation, determine the causes of overloading, and recommend tailored solutions to stabilize the floors in a permanent and safe manner.
The solutions needed will depend on the extent of overload and damage. It is best to have a professional help determine if floors that are already showing significant signs of overload can be safely restored or if partial or full demolition-rebuild is necessary. Safety should be the top priority.
