Suggestions sought for a platform/box to raise the laundry machines

ChuckM

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As they get older, my retired neighbors find it harder to access their front-loaders. They want to build something to have the machines raised up by 12" or so. (The water taps need to be relocated.)

They'd appreciate any input on how that can be done. (I could help them with the domino joinery if the best solution can't be done with screws and/or brads.)
 

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why not just buy bases for these machines, or are they an older model and can no longer buy them?

Making something out of wood isn't always the answer.
 
Should've included that they tried, but such base or legs couldn't be found.
 
Did they check HD or Lowes or other appliance stores? My local HD and Lowes both have Maytag and Whirlpool pedestals as well as universal ones in graphite silver in stock that I could pick up today, and most likely any store can order for them.

They are pricey for what they are though at ~$290 each. I can remember paying that much for the machine not the pedestal. :-)
 
If you build one make it stout!  Our pedestal washer weighs about 260 pounds (118Kg) and you lay the washer on its side, bolt the pedestal under it and tilt the assembly up to the vertical.  A fair amount of stress in the lower structure of the pedestals during that maneuver, not to mention the stress in the lifter's back.
 
Fast and easy?  Us 2" x 8" lumber to build a "ladder" frame on the ground.  Top it with OSB.  The whole thing will take an hour. 

Leave it open in the front to allow a shallow basket and you have some storage. 

Paint to improve appearance.
 
If you make it out of wood than that box will act as a resonator, like the body of a guitar, and amplify the noise of the laundry machines.

Dunno if it's a thing in Canada, but I would consider aerated concrete blocks.

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Given the tightness of that space, I'd recommend using PT 2x material, but use some serious adjustable leveling feet along with casters to allow the entire assembly to be rolled out of position for maintenance once the leveling feet had been retracted.  I'd also use a clip-on toekick to permit easy access to the leveling feet and to the casters.
 
Wife wanted the machines raised. The factory bases were too much money for me to spend on boxes. I made one platform out of 2x4's and 3/4 cdx. Then covered it with a sheet of linoleum. Its been fine for years. No problem. Cheap and easy to make. The linoleum allows for easy wipe up cleaning.
 
Note that raising the machines is a good idea for front loaders only.  For top loaders, it will make retrieving the laundry difficult.
 
Sparktrician said:
Given the tightness of that space, I'd recommend using PT 2x material, but use some serious adjustable leveling feet along with casters to allow the entire assembly to be rolled out of position for maintenance once the leveling feet had been retracted.  I'd also use a clip-on toekick to permit easy access to the leveling feet and to the casters.
This. Even better are combination leveling feet with casters. Gold for this application.

For structure, you do not need anything special. Just make sure it is bottom-heavy for stability and really really strong too. The machines vibrate, so the piece needs to be able to handle multiples of their weight when loaded.

When it is heavy and strong, it will also tend to not resonate.

I would suggest a big strong cabinet with drawers below. Use 6 combination caster-leveling feet. For material - glued together 2x3/4 ply for sides, back and bottom should be fine. Do not skimp on material. I would also make the bottom a bit lower than the drawers and place a concrete tile below each drawer for some weight/stability. Face-frame design for drawers should lend itself well to the needed strength and you can make it from some fancy hardwood to boot.

In any case would avoid pure wood (resonation) or anything that may disintegrate from water seepage.

When I was making ours, some years back I even created a 2 cm edge height "reservoir" in which the machine was placed so that any small seepage is contained: I then put a rubber plate between the "reservoir" and the mini-cabinet/stand below it to further reduce vibrations transfer. Worked pretty well but was ugly as hell, to put it mildly. My woodworking skills were very much non-existent at the time ...
 
Thanks everyone for your inputs. I'm passing all the suggestions to my neighbor.
 
This is probably total overkill for what you are looking for but this is how I built mine.  Well ribbed plywood structure with high pressure laminate finish.  Front cover magnetically attached and when you pull off the front cover you have access to a couple of hex's on the end of threaded rods.  Crank the rods a few turns with a wrench and casters pivot down so you can roll the washer or dryer out with little effort.
 

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Update: After reading all the ideas in this thread as well as considering the amount of work and plumbing changes required, my retired neighbor has concluded that "for now I will not pursue the pedestals or building my own. Maybe the portable/mobile stool is in order though."

Thanks everyone for sharing your suggestions or showing how you solved a similar problem.
 
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