I have an old home where the cement basement floor is far from smooth
and level. In anticipation that we will someday need a new washer and
dryer, and noting that some of them rotate at high speeds and need a
solid base, I am thinking of having a plumber put in a new access to the
sewer line (the pvc pipe the washer drains into; we now have just a
basin), and a cement pad big enough for the new washer and dryer. Since
the floor is thin, I anticipate the pad will be thicker and may extend
above the floor, as those I have seen do. I don't know yet if there is
sufficient clearance over the existing sewer to make the pad thicker,
but even with the old floor. I think it may be traditional around here
to elevate it, as our basements do sometimes have minor flooding.

I haven't selected the models yet, but the ones I have looked at seem to
have different footprints. I want the pad to be big enough to
accommodate whatever models we buy, but not so big that it is a tripping
hazard.

So what would be a good size to make this?

"Not@home" wrote in message

I haven't selected the models yet, but the ones I have looked at seem to
have different footprints. I want the pad to be big enough to accommodate
whatever models we buy, but not so big that it is a tripping hazard.

So what would be a good size to make this?

Make it big enough to accommodate whatever models you buy, but no so big
that it is a tripping hazard.

Why don't you look at the specifications for various machines?

Most full sized machines have the same standard footprint, washers 24" x 24"
and dryers 24" x 30" plus some space behind for pipes, wires and dryer duct.


"Not@home" wrote in message
news:O3ZGg.25997$yO4.11533@dukeread02...
I have an old home where the cement basement floor is far from smooth and
level. In anticipation that we will someday need a new washer and dryer,
and noting that some of them rotate at high speeds and need a solid base, I
am thinking of having a plumber put in a new access to the sewer line (the
pvc pipe the washer drains into; we now have just a basin), and a cement
pad big enough for the new washer and dryer. Since the floor is thin, I
anticipate the pad will be thicker and may extend above the floor, as those
I have seen do. I don't know yet if there is sufficient clearance over the
existing sewer to make the pad thicker, but even with the old floor. I
think it may be traditional around here to elevate it, as our basements do
sometimes have minor flooding.

I haven't selected the models yet, but the ones I have looked at seem to
have different footprints. I want the pad to be big enough to accommodate
whatever models we buy, but not so big that it is a tripping hazard.

So what would be a good size to make this?

do be aware servicing a machine on a pad is a PIA really!

at least make the pad as thin as possible, myself I would address the
water flooding issues, they hurt home resale value a LOT

"EXT" wrote in message
anews.com...
Most full sized machines have the same standard footprint, washers 24" x
24" and dryers 24" x 30" plus some space behind for pipes, wires and dryer
duct.

Actually washers are 27w x 25 1/2 d in most cases and the dryers 27 or 29 w
x 32 d. But the new machines like the Duet series front loader are much
deeper. The washer and dryer are each 27" w and you would want to allow for
a depth of 35-36" to cover the machines and hose/vent tubes, etc. I would
add a couple of inches to those measurements so the machines don't rub
against each other plus a slight curb of some kind to keep them from walking
off the pad if they get out of balance. To fit normal top load washer and
dryers into a laundry closet the closet needed to be 55" wide at the door
opening and at least 32" deep. My experience...sold these things for 25
years.
Someone said that the machines are hard to work on when on a pad. I'm not
sure why that would be on the newer machines as they are all designed to be
worked on without having to be pulled from the wall. Although, I'm sure
there are some cases where that might still be necessary.

Tom G.

"Not@home" wrote in message
news:O3ZGg.25997$yO4.11533@dukeread02...

I have an old home where the cement basement floor is far from smooth
and level. In anticipation that we will someday need a new washer and
dryer, and noting that some of them rotate at high speeds and need a
solid base, I am thinking of having a plumber put in a new access to the
sewer line (the pvc pipe the washer drains into; we now have just a
basin), and a cement pad big enough for the new washer and dryer.

When the pad? When installing a washer on an
irregular floor I carved two pieces of 2x4 until they made
a solid base for the four corner feet. (At least it
was solid for 17 years until we moved . . .)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)