Build your own washer and dryer pedestal bases to bring your laundry up in height. Also includes storage for baskets. You'll love the step by step diagrams and cut list.
Special thanks to Sausha for letting us create this tutorial from her laundry room bases.
Preparation
- 2 – sheet of 3/4″ MDF or Plywood
- 5 – 2×4 @ 8 feet long
- 1 – 4×4 post @ 4 feet long (you can also use 2x4s laminated together – just add another 2×4 to your list)
- 1 – stick of base cap moulding like this @ 6 feet long and 1" brad nails for attaching
- 4 – Angle Brackets (like these)
- 3″ self tapping wood screws
- 2″ self tapping wood screws
- 10 – 2×4 @ 25″ (Joists)
- 4 – 2×4 @ 60″ (Sides of Floor)
- 2 – 3/4″ Plywood or MDF @ 28″ x 60″ (Decking)
- 4 – 4×4 Posts (or 8 2x4s) @ 11″ (Posts)
- Moulding cut to fit
Instructions
Step 1
Floors
You are basically going to build two mini floors for this project. The top floor need to be built as shown above.
The bottom floor you can skip the center joists (minimal weight on bottom shelf)
Use glue and 3″ self tapping screws to build the framing. You can also use pocket holes if you have a Kreg Jig, on the 1-1/2" setting with 2-1/2" pocket hole screws.
Step 2
Decking
Screw the plywood to the top of the 2x4s with glue.
Step 3
Corner Angles
This step is just because I have an old school washer and dryer that stomps out of the laundry room whenever I overloaded it. But the angles are cheap and will make your life easier. Screw down with 2″ screws.
Step 4
Attach Legs
Attach the legs to the top (the floor with the center supports) and screw down. If you can, add a few screws at an angle in as well.
Step 5
Place the second "floor" on the 4x4s and screw through the 3/4" plywood into the undersides of the 4x4 legs. At least three screws per leg is recommended.
Step 6
Trim
Cut trim to fit and attach around legs to fancy up the base (optional)
Step 7
Additional Bracing
If you find your base needs more support here are a few quick fixes -
- Cover the entire back in 3/4" plywood or MDF scraps from the build, glue and screw every 4" approximately to the 4x4 legs and the 2x4 framing with 3" self tapping screws.
- Attach the 2x4s framing to studs in the walls
Thanks Sausha!
Comments
pooch511
Wed, 01/21/2015 - 10:09
Not Enough Space!
My wife really wants me to make this soon but I noticed that it measures 19.5" in height. I only have 16" between washer/dryer and cabinets. Do you think it would be okay to make this without the bottom decking, and just have the top and 4 posts, or maybe still have the ply on bottom but not the 2x4 flooring? Thanks in advance!
pooch511
Wed, 01/21/2015 - 10:09
Not Enough Space!
My wife really wants me to make this soon but I noticed that it measures 19.5" in height. I only have 16" between washer/dryer and cabinets. Do you think it would be okay to make this without the bottom decking, and just have the top and 4 posts, or maybe still have the ply on bottom but not the 2x4 flooring? Thanks in advance!
MxChris
Sat, 01/24/2015 - 09:15
You can change the plans to
You can change the plans to suit your needs. I just finished building 2 sets of these, one for my mother in law and one for us. I changed the plans to make them work for what I wanted in both spaces.
For you I'd suggest using 1x2's on the bottom and keeping the rest of the materials the same. The bottom platform adds quite a bit of lateral stability that you will lose if you went with just the posts. You can and may need to also shorten up the posts a little, you need at least 12" if you want to fit a laundry basket on the bottom shelf. I made mine 13" so I could fit a total of 6 laundry baskets under there and hopefully never have to see them sitting on the floor of my kids rooms again.
dosjomanmen2
Mon, 08/03/2015 - 05:43
I cannot locate the brackets
I cannot locate the brackets for this pedestal in my area Houston TX, can someone tell me where can I get them?
Thank you in advance.
nikkiat14
Mon, 11/16/2015 - 09:43
Finishing the look
This is just what we have been looking for! We are going to start making this next weekend. One question - in the directions it mentions Sausha's finish with MDF but there is no link to the details. Do you still have that available? We would rather do that than use the wood filler.
Shleegee
Sat, 12/30/2017 - 10:53
Wrong supply list?
Maybe I’m missing something, but 5- 2”x4”’s aren’t enough for 10- 25” and 4- 60” cuts. It’s short by 10”. We had to go back and get another 2x4. Excited to get started though! Less bending down low to do laundry...