Platform for Washer and Dryer

[KennyG]

We've got the drawer bases for our Whirlpool W/D. Not sure if I would have paid for them but they came with the house. Really convenient, both from a height standpoint and storage space. They are about a foot high. I think you will find that's how high you want them.

 

[teejk]

personally I think you are doing this backwards......if the design factor is making the height correct for your wife then you should be measuring where she would like the door and controls and then build it to that height....easiest way is take a piece of cardboard cut to the washer or dryer size and draw on the door and controls and then hold it up at various heights until your wife says this is good.......measure down to the floor and that will tell you the height of the base.....washer/dryers don't weigh a lot so it won't take much to hold them up.......Jack

Washer/dryer don't weigh a lot? They weigh a lot empty! And then load them up with clothes that will soak up a lot of water (at 8 lbs/gallon) and will want to move around while they do what they have to do. I'd plan on over engineering this. Incremental cost will be zip. Do it once.

 

[grsthegreat]

i had a local cabinet maker build me a set with pull out drawers for mine. was cheaper and better than home depot set. Gives great storage for soap, etc.

 

[jfh28]

an LG WM4270HVA front load washing machine weighs about 200lb......average machines take 27 gal of water at around 225lb...energy efficient ones even less....so total load of 425 (this is not a big load in home construction) fully loaded over a rough platform size of 30 x 30 or 6.25 sf......so a live load factor of 68 psf ....throw in another 10psf for dead load.....we'll call it an even 80psf.......run the calculation for that using Home Depot hem-fir #2 at 16" o/c and a 2 x 4 will carry that load for a span of over 4 feet......remember this will only be spanning 2'-6".........if you want to play it safe up them to 2x6.....but the more important thing is to use 3/4" plywood with solid blocking under the machines legs so the load is transferred properly to the joists and is not sitting in between span on the plywood......the point I was trying to make before is its more important to get the height right for the people using it then to let lumber sizes dictate the height......Jack

 

[jfh28]

i had a local cabinet maker build me a set with pull out drawers for mine. was cheaper and better than home depot set. Gives great storage for soap, etc. View attachment 546072

that looks really nice......looks to be about 12" high.........Jack

 

[kthompson]

We had cabinet shop make and install a base with drawers with Formica top as you will have water sooner or later on it. Yes if you need to move them out for service it will be some pain but you could set up temp platform to slide them onto. 3.4 plywood is all used in ours and it is at least two years old. But it has plywood sides and back and front and also one divider between the drawers giving support to the top.

 

[kcflhrc]

After thinking about this maybe 2x8 or 2x10 with 3/4 plywood would be a better height. My wife is 5'3" on a good day so sizing it for her is the right thing to do. Even though I do more laundry than she does. These are front loaders with the controls on the front of the machines. Drawers would be nice but a pain in the butt.

 

[Groo]

I kept the wirlpool base and put it under the new maytag (I might have those brands completely off)

 

[teejk]

After thinking about this maybe 2x8 or 2x10 with 3/4 plywood would be a better height. My wife is 5'3" on a good day so sizing it for her is the right thing to do. Even though I do more laundry than she does. These are front loaders with the controls on the front of the machines. Drawers would be nice but a pain in the butt.

Drawers could be boxes on small wheels. They don't have to involve drawer slides. Not so sure what I would put in there if you already have storage for soap and stuff.

 

[Groo]

odd socks!