How many pounds can a 2nd story wood floor hold?

Answer 1

no one will be able to answer this question without more information. A Structural Engineer would need to know what size and composition (is it 2x4 wood, 2x6 wood, concrete block, etc.) of the walls of the structure. It would also have to be specified what the size, span (how far is it to the walls the hold each part in the air) and composition of the flooring (wood joists, sub-floor, finished floor, concrete slab over metal decking?) to be able to give a general answer for how much weight a floor could be rated for.

A newer house should have 2x6 wood studs for a 2 story house, so those walls can hold a lot more than a 2x4 stud wall. I am out of my expertise if the house has metal studs.

If you are trying to figure out if it is okay to use a waterbed or a verylargefish tank or hot tub on a second story area of the home, fill in the blanks listed above, take some photos of the structural members, run a tape measure to all the walls in the house (first and second floors) or bring a copy of the architect's plans that will show this information. The price of the Structural Engineering calculations could pay for itself in insurance costs if you are well under the critical load factors for whatever you are doing.

If it issuggestedthat additional supports be erected, then the engineer would have ideas to make the supportsaestheticallypleasing to the eye or in some way functional more than holding something up, but by making it abeautifuladdition to the home.