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
Pookie's Mama (not verified)
Sun, 03/27/2011 - 16:35
pedestal topper for front load washer blog
Tiffany, just posted a comment about the top for the pedestal as well as some "anti-vibration" things to reduce vibration on a framed floor, I hope!
Loni (not verified)
Fri, 01/28/2011 - 09:59
I was just thinking I would
I was just thinking I would probably do that anyways just as extra precaution even though my machines don't "walk".
Jenny (not verified)
Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:01
WOW! I might actually enjoy
WOW! I might actually enjoy doing laundry if my laundry room looked like that!
Edie (not verified)
Sun, 01/30/2011 - 16:48
Like Tiffany, I am curious
Like Tiffany, I am curious for those who have built this (Sausha, etc) where their machines are located in the house. Our first house they were in the basement on the cement slab and they were SO quiet! Perfect! Now they are on our first floor on a tile floor and a vibrating loud mess. I LOVE these but am worried it would get worse.
Rebecca (not verified)
Sun, 01/30/2011 - 21:03
I have had my front load
I have had my front load washer/dryer combo for years. Even have the pedestals which are basically a waste of space except to raise the machines up to make them more accessible. Ugh!! (My pedestals aren't as deep as the current ones so can't hold liquid detergent) Anyway.... on the pedestal there is a slot for attaching the machine to the pedestal. This prevents the machine from wobbling off and if you have to scoot the machine around to get behind it the pedestal moves also. I imagine it shouldn't be too difficult to find a way to attach the machine to this pedestal also.
Sausha @ {show… (not verified)
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 13:57
My washer/dryer are located
My washer/dryer are located on a 2nd floor (not on a concrete slab) and everything is just fine. As long as you make sure your washer is level you arent going to get vibrations - wether your on a slab or not. The bottom of the washer has little feet that raise up and down - just use those to adjust and you should get very little vibration.
I did this is my laundry room almost 2 years ago now and everything is just fine.
Sausha @ {show… (not verified)
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 14:00
mine is all attached to the
mine is all attached to the wall, and i have cross supports as well so the thing is not going anywhere!! I have crawled up on top of that thing so many times to paint the walls and the thing doesnt even budge! If you are worried, you could always add center supports - maybe just push it towards the back so you couldnt see it??
Sausha @ {show… (not verified)
Wed, 02/02/2011 - 14:01
as long as your washer/dryer
as long as your washer/dryer are level you shouldnt have any problems. The bottom of your machines have little feet on them that you can adjust if you are getting vibrations.
Priscilla-The … (not verified)
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 06:27
These are definitely in our
These are definitely in our plans :)
We were going to just build up and tile the floor but storage pedestals are so much more clever :)
Amanda (not verified)
Thu, 02/10/2011 - 05:34
Beautiful! This will
Beautiful! This will definitely have to go into the mental filing cabinet for later! :-)