Platform to raise a washing machine

[wpcoe]

The more expensive front-loading washers/dryers in the USA come raised on frames with drawers underneath them. With my aging back, I can see the benefit of not having to bend over so much.

What kind of a frame/support would be needed to raise a washer about 60 cm off the floor? I assume a machine with a full load of clothes and water would be fairly heavy. Add in the torque and vibration of a spin cycle, and the frame/support would need to be fairly sturdy.

What kind of construction would suffice? I'm more concerned with the washer. Dryers can even be hung from the wall with a special bracket.

[eyecatcher]

Subject to where it was i would raise it on a blockwork platform.

Either blocks laid flat cemented or blocks laid traditionally and filled with stone and a concrete slab to finish.

Say 750x750area. But agree the vibration and travel on a 1400rpm spin cycle can be worrying so i would incorporate a small kerb upstand...a brick for example to keep that washer in place.

Op...great question not even mentioned a water pump which is rare.

A bit of practical thinking for once.

[NeverSure]

If you think about it, in the US that washer would probably be sitting on a floor made of wood, perhaps covered with vinyl or tile, and would have nothing to keep it from walking. I can tell you that the floor isn't strengthened for it as the whole floor is designed to hold it or a piano or whatever.

The wood on a newer house would be 3/4" plywood glued to stringers on 16" centers, or 1 1/4" plywood on 24" centers. The glue is waterproof, permanent and comes in a tube that fits a caulking gun.

A builder in the US would make that from 3/4" plywood by ripping the 60 cm strips from one sheet and cutting them to length and building the box with more strips as stringers on about 1 ft - 30 cm centers inside. Then he'd cut the top from plywood and nail or screw it down. At all points he'd use exterior rated (waterproof) wood glue.

There are obviously a lot of choices about what to cover it with for appearance. Now the riser is strong but somewhat portable if you later want to lose it.

Cheers

[wpcoe]

Thanks. That seems simpler than I had feared. I had pictured pouring a 60cm concrete pad.

Or, on the other extreme, having Somchai stack bricks under the legs of the washer.

BTW, this would be in a condo, so the floor should already be reasonably level and a solid concrete slab.

[JDGRUEN]

Recycled wood pallets ... held in place by some bolts - in holes drilled into the concrete floor

[bankruatsteve]

If your'e in a situation where you need to do your own laundry, maybe a top loader/gravity drain is the best for you. But, c'mon... are you saying there is no able black hair nimble bodied laundry person available that can deal with whatever? If not, it might be fun to find someone for that.

[wpcoe]

I've always used top loaders, but was thinking of switching to front loader as it uses much less water and, some folks say, gets the clothes cleaner. I haven't reached a final decision, but the raised washers I saw advertised overseas looked might tempting, if quite expensive.

And, no, I'm not about to change my reclusive lifestyle just to avoid reaching into a washing machine.

[RichCor]

If you think about it, in the US that washer would probably be sitting on a floor made of wood, perhaps covered with vinyl or tile, and would have nothing to keep it from walking. I can tell you that the floor isn't strengthened for it as the whole floor is designed to hold it or a piano or whatever.

The wood on a newer house would be 3/4" plywood glued to stringers on 16" centers, or 1 1/4" plywood on 24" centers. The glue is waterproof, permanent and comes in a tube that fits a caulking gun.

A builder in the US would make that from 3/4" plywood by ripping the 60 cm strips from one sheet and cutting them to length and building the box with more strips as stringers on about 1 ft - 30 cm centers inside. Then he'd cut the top from plywood and nail or screw it down. At all points he'd use exterior rated (waterproof) wood glue.

There are obviously a lot of choices about what to cover it with for appearance. Now the riser is strong but somewhat portable if you later want to lose it.

Cheers

In another life, I did something similar to this myself. Had a space along a short wall between a utility closet and a fixed cabinet. I wanted to raise the Front Loading washer and dryer up off the floor so the tile below could be easily cleaned. Built a frame, topped with 3/4" plywood and gave it a waterproof cover, then screwed it securely into place along the three sides.

Still works great, especially when someone forgets and places bottled detergent on top of the washer and the vibration eventually sends it crashing to the floor and covering it in a thick mess (six times so far). Luckily we can squeegee the entire mess across the tile into a nearby shower drain.

The machines aren't actually that heavy (plastics mostly) but do have cement weights and counter weights to counteract the high spin rates.

While Front Loaders might be easier on the fabrics and do a better job of cleaning them, they do take a lot longer to run though their cycles.

[NeverSure]

I'm curious about needing to restrain it from walking. I've had a number of full sized washers in my life and none has ever done that.

Right now I have a large capacity front loader that's just sitting on the floor between the dryer and a cabinet with a top for folding clothes. That washer never offers to move out of place. I've never had a washer in Thailand.

Do they have Thainess washers that can walk around the room? Ghosts, 555? Seriously, is there really a concern about them moving at all?

Cheers

[manarak]

If you think about it, in the US that washer would probably be sitting on a floor made of wood, perhaps covered with vinyl or tile, and would have nothing to keep it from walking. I can tell you that the floor isn't strengthened for it as the whole floor is designed to hold it or a piano or whatever.

The wood on a newer house would be 3/4" plywood glued to stringers on 16" centers, or 1 1/4" plywood on 24" centers. The glue is waterproof, permanent and comes in a tube that fits a caulking gun.

A builder in the US would make that from 3/4" plywood by ripping the 60 cm strips from one sheet and cutting them to length and building the box with more strips as stringers on about 1 ft - 30 cm centers inside. Then he'd cut the top from plywood and nail or screw it down. At all points he'd use exterior rated (waterproof) wood glue.

There are obviously a lot of choices about what to cover it with for appearance. Now the riser is strong but somewhat portable if you later want to lose it.

Cheers

Plywood, glue ??

When seeing US action movies back in Europe we are always amazed at how easily anything would pass through a US house wall as if it was cardboard!

That's because it in fact almost is cardboard.

Also amazed at why people in hurricane zones don't build using concrete.

I've always used top loaders, but was thinking of switching to front loader as it uses much less water and, some folks say, gets the clothes cleaner. I haven't reached a final decision, but the raised washers I saw advertised overseas looked might tempting, if quite expensive.

And, no, I'm not about to change my reclusive lifestyle just to avoid reaching into a washing machine.

Yes, I'm fairly convinced frontloaders get the clothes cleaner.

[wayned]

"A builder in the US would make that from 3/4" plywood by ripping the 60 cm strips from one sheet and cutting them to length and building the box with more strips as stringers

Come on Smokie! No builder in the US would ever do that, as we don't understand the metric system!

[Gumballl]

If you think about it, in the US that washer would probably be sitting on a floor made of wood, perhaps covered with vinyl or tile, and would have nothing to keep it from walking. I can tell you that the floor isn't strengthened for it as the whole floor is designed to hold it or a piano or whatever.

The wood on a newer house would be 3/4" plywood glued to stringers on 16" centers, or 1 1/4" plywood on 24" centers. The glue is waterproof, permanent and comes in a tube that fits a caulking gun.

A builder in the US would make that from 3/4" plywood by ripping the 60 cm strips from one sheet and cutting them to length and building the box with more strips as stringers on about 1 ft - 30 cm centers inside. Then he'd cut the top from plywood and nail or screw it down. At all points he'd use exterior rated (waterproof) wood glue.

There are obviously a lot of choices about what to cover it with for appearance. Now the riser is strong but somewhat portable if you later want to lose it.

Cheers

Plywood, glue ??

When seeing US action movies back in Europe we are always amazed at how easily anything would pass through a US house wall as if it was cardboard!

That's because it in fact almost is cardboard.

Also amazed at why people in hurricane zones don't build using concrete.

I've been through several hurricanes, and never once had an issue with the type of construction that you allude to. The walls are definitely much stronger than those depicted in the fictional movies that you have watched.

That being said, the drywall is only on the inside of the house. On the outside, houses are constructed using concrete blocks and steel bars (rebar), or better known as CBS (Concrete Block/Steel construction). The outside of the house is generally covered with stucco (which is a fancy name for concrete).

On the other hand, if you look into the tremendously old houses, or even those owned/occupied by the poor, then might very well be made of just wood, drywall and a concrete slab.

In the US, the quality of house depends on how much one wants to invest in the dwelling. Houses tend to be larger, more intelligently designed, and easier to maintain than any property that I have ever seen in Europe... or Thailand.

[ignis]

Bigger places that sell washing machines also sell the stands.... they come in different sizes + of the different sizes you can make them a bit bigger or smaller as they are push in connections. my 1st washing machine was LG and I bought the stand

1x pack = 4 straight lengths and 4 x corners. looks clean and tidy..

As I have now a larger than normal size washing machine, they did not have, so just used 4x 9 [light weight] white thermo blocks [in cm.60 x 20 x 7] cost around 20 baht each, so way cheaper than the plastic stands

Edited March 19, 2015 by ignis

[wpcoe]

Or, on the other extreme, having Somchai stack bricks under the legs of the washer.

As I have now a larger than normal size washing machine, they did not have, so just used 4x 9 [light weight] white thermo blocks [in cm.60 x 20 x 7] cost around 20 baht each, so way cheaper than the plastic stands

Somchai, is that you?

Bigger places that sell washing machines also sell the stands.... they come in different sizes + of the different sizes you can make them a bit bigger or smaller as they are push in connections. my 1st washing machine was LG and I bought the stand

1x pack = 4 straight lengths and 4 x corners. looks clean and tidy..

Seriously, though, thanks for that info. If I buy the new washer from Numchai (in Pattaya) and they might have such a stand.