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
Pam the Goatherd (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 06:04
Speaking as the wife of an
Speaking as the wife of an appliance repair person I want to emphasize that these pedestals should NOT be used for a top load washer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A top load washer will walk right off of the pedestal! I don't even want to imagine the mess that would make!!!
orangesugar (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 06:05
I'm also wondering about
I'm also wondering about washer movement and them possibly falling off the front. It probably wouldn't be too difficult to build up a ledge on the front in order to avoid that from happening though.
flydoos (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 06:48
I don't know about cloth
I don't know about cloth diapers but my mom had a top loader and then got a front loader and the front loader cleaned my step dad's clothes a lot better, he was a roofer. They would come out looking brand new. I take clothes that have stains I can't get out with my top loader to her house and they come right out without doing anything extra. I have 3 kids so I dream of front loaders all the time so I could do less laundry... :)
Sausha @ {show… (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 07:50
Thanks again Anna for the
Thanks again Anna for the plans - love them!!
And i can see some people are asking about the vibration - as long as your washer is level there are no issues (just make sure and adjust the little feet on the bottom)
I did build up a little ledge on mine just to make sure if they did go crazy they wouldnt fall off - so far so good - no movement at all!!!
AmyLynn (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 08:24
LOVE!!!! I think I'm going to
LOVE!!!! I think I'm going to put this on the list for my craft room. I can picture baskets filled with fabric scraps and yarn instead of laundry baskets. I too have a top load washer and when we get the front load ones they'll be going in the 2nd floor bathroom closet because that's where *all* our bedrooms are and, as I tell my husband, I want it that way :)
Marlene (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 08:52
HOW DO YOU DO THAT??? I have
HOW DO YOU DO THAT??? I have this written up on my blog with these exact photos. This is my next "have to make" project to get my laundry room done! Thank you, thank you, thank you Ana!!!!
Marlene (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 08:55
How do you do that??? You
How do you do that??? You seem to always know what I need. I have these exact photos on my blog. This is my very next "have to make" project and you've done the plans. Thank you, thank you, thank you again Ana.
Lucy (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 09:09
I must admit to a little
I must admit to a little skepticism about this, my front loader is 200+ pounds, and in the spin cycle literally vibrates the nails out of the walls. Is this going to hold up to that?
IAMSNWFLAKE (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 10:23
Thanks!!!! It's such a great
Thanks!!!! It's such a great idea to help keep baskets organized, get more storage space plus the added benefit of bringing the washer and dryer to more waist friendly heights. I so appreciate not having to bend down so much. And it can be custom built to meet machines of any size and brand.
IAMSNWFLAKE (not verified)
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 10:32
Thanks!!! It's so nice to
Thanks!!! It's so nice to have extra space for the baskets and boxes with the added bonus of bringing the washer and dryer to more waist friendly heights. I appreciate not having to bend down so low to load and unload the appliances. Love the idea that it can be custom built to meet machines of any sizes and brands.