ᐅ Load-bearing capacity of an old house, wooden beam ceiling, single-family home

Hello,
I want to place a home gym station on the first floor of an older building (wood beam ceiling/single-family house/year built: 1939), but I’m not entirely sure if the ceiling can support this weight.

• Dimensions (LxHxW): 174x212x200 cm (69x84x79 inches)
• Weight: 180 kg (397 lbs)
• Maximum user weight: 100 kg (220 lbs)
• Maximum load capacity: 130 kg (287 lbs)

I couldn’t find the load-bearing capacity of the ceiling in the old documents.

Should I consult a structural engineer?

Best regards

Hello Tesla,

If you add up the loads, it would be a maximum of 310 kg (683 lbs) distributed over about 4 m² (43 sq ft) – so roughly 80 kg/m² (16.4 lb/sq ft).
This would be approximately equivalent to the following situation: Imagine standing with two or three friends, sharing a glass of wine – would you be worried whether the ceiling can support that?

Since I don't know the device or the ceiling, the condition of the wood, the dimensions of the joists, etc., it would still be advisable to have a structural engineer take a look at both the device and the ceiling; this should not cost more than 100 Swiss Francs.

Hello,

We did the same and I was also unsure whether the wooden ceiling could support my fitness equipment. I couldn’t find any information in the documents either. So I hired a structural engineer for this. It cost me 80 CHF and he gave the green light.

No problem, the wooden ceiling can handle it.

But the data provided here shows that the ceiling can support this load. Of course, anyone who wants to be certain can also hire a structural engineer. However, they will not come to a different conclusion.

But if you hire a structural engineer, you are on the safe side. That reassured me as well, and it didn’t cost a fortune either.

If you are unsure, you should bring in external expert advice for the house. But with this weight and load, nothing can go wrong. I’m not overly cautious. 😉