"Anthony Ewell" wrote in message
...


(snip)


Hi Tim,

My washer, dryer, water heater, and forced air heater are
all next each other in a big square. Is there a way to
reinforce the floor just under the laundry room? The crawl
space is about 2-1/2 foot from the ground to the bottom
of the floor. (I was thinking of a bigger water heater as
well.)

--Tony


Anything can be reinforced, but why do you think you need to? Unless you
keep getting the floor wet and it rots, a typical residential floor can
easily handle that load. The big metal things themselves don't weigh that
much empty- basically big tin boxes plus a few pounds of
castings/motors/etc. Water does weigh, but only 8 pound per gallon or so. So
figure 40 gallons for the water heater, maybe 10? for the washer, for 400
pounds plus hardware. Call it maybe 800 pounds overall? You wouldn't worry
about four big guys being in the same room at once, would you? (I'm sure
someone will jump in and correct my SWAG estimates as needed.)

But yeah, if you want to go down in crawlspace, and dig holes for and pour
footers, and lay up a few piers topped with PT wood (or short screw-top
columns), holding up some short pieces of steel or 2x8 headers jammed up
against the joists in that area, go for it. Just make sure you don't block
off access to the gas and water lines and whatever else is down there, or
provide an easy path for termite infestation.

aem sends...