Have you built a pedestal for a washer and dryer?

[cantdrv55]

If so, would you mind sharing your plans? Best Buy wants $450 for the pair!! My old Maytag front loader washer and dryer were tall enough that they didn't need to be on a stand. The newer appliances are way shorter.

So, if you've built a stand, please share your plans. Thanks!

[Oracle]

When we went to the appliance centre to buy those pedestals the advise was to not buy them, the price was a turn off #1, there are no returns turn off #2 then the reason is that all high efficiency appliances spin too fast and the vibration transmitted to the wobbly pedestal would cause them to vibrate even more to the point of failure of the appliance. Bosch specifically recommends to not use any kind of pedestal in any of the units (even the bosch pedestals).

I suppose if you build something really sturdy should be Ok.

[Evans, Marv]

I offered to build my wife a sturdy cabinet for both with storage underneath, but she wasn't interested. That was OK with me.

[Heel n Toe]

cd55, look at the space you have to put them in, decide whether you want one pedestal for each, or one large one for both to sit on, make measurements, then stick build them/it and face the structure/s with 3/8" or 1/2" plywood... put 3/4" on top.

Check to see if the floor is level... some laundry room floors slope towards an exterior door for obvious reasons. If yours is sloped, just build your pedestal/s to compensate. Maybe even build the bottom plate out of treated.

Here's an idea... this guy built individual pedestals and put 3" casters on them:
Building our own washer, dryer pedestals. #1: Cutting out parts, & starting assembly. - by Dick, & Barb Cain | LumberJocks.com :: woodworking community

[cantdrv55]

Thanks John!

[targa911S]

We went to sears and bought a discontinued floor model stand. heavy sombich. Metal, all welded. paid $50.00 for it off the floor. We have HE models ( Maytag) and It's just fine.

[T77911S]

funny, i was just looking at the front loads in the paper this morning and thinking about those bases. i thought about maybe a 2x12 and make one big one. but i did not think about the wobble. i also thought it might be better to have them low and put a shelf over them for her to work at.

not to change the subject, but i kinda dismissed buying a front load because i have heard they are not as reliable as top loads.

[targa911S]

Ours is just that, one big and VERY heavy unit.

[vash]

set them at floor level, and dig a trench in front?

[jmaxwell]

I just took one out of my house. It is a one piece unit built of 2x12 with 3/4 plywood deck, then linoleum on the deck. Put a 1x12 stained finish board on the front and teflon or nylon slides on the bottom to let me move it out from the wall, as it fit into an alcove. If you're in Tulsa or there abouts, I'll give it away.

[island911]

fwiw, I built one for side by side W/D. Wood, w/ 4x4 posts at the corners, 5/8th plywood (cabinet grade) facing, and 2x4's spanning internally. (the W/D's sit in the box, for a couple inches, and on the 2x4's - iirc)

side note; I figured that making that small space into some sort of storage just wasn't worth the effort. ...such a small, hard to access space. Also, having a heavy, strong wood base is great for damping noise when the washer starts hyper-spinning an unbalanced load.

[cantdrv55]

Thanks again for the replies, guys. Too bad I'm nowhere near Tornado Alley.