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vinyl flooring and shuddering washer?

15 years ago

Has anyone had trouble getting a floating vinyl floor to accept a front loader washing machine? Ours vibrates the entire house. I've leveled it as best as I can tell, and still shimmies like crazy. We had it on a pedestal and it was terrible, put it on the floor and somewhat better, but still awful. Brand new house, 2nd story laundry. Didn't shake much at all in 2nd story apt we came from.

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Comments (3)

regus_patoff
15 years ago
washer model number ?

Did you re-install the shipping bolts before moving the washer to the new house ?

(and remove them when you got there) ?
housekeeping
15 years ago
Your problem may not be leveling, but getting equal weight on all four feet. Something can read level and only be standing, firmly, on three feet. All's well until the machine gets into spin mode and then it will rock back and forth. The vinyl may also be cushion-y enough to allow the machine to sway back and forth during spins.

First, check that all the feet are firmly and evenly resting on the floor. Recheck to make sure the adjustment knobs are snugged up. The feet-checking has to be done in the place where it will be when running so you may have to move other things to get access to the feet. Some people do the adjustment when the machine is spinning with a wash load which is kind of exciting, but you can surely try it while the machine is quiet first. After you find the sweet spot for the feet mark it carefully with tape so if you have to shift the machine for any reason you can get it back to the precise spot without too much trouble.

If you think the vinyl floor itself may be the problem, then get a 3/4 thick piece of plywood and lay it on the floor under the machine. I'd start with a piece that's bigger than the foot print qand see if it makes a difference. If it does, then consider if you can tailor it to the machine's footprint more precisely. (It would be great if the plywood spanned two floor joists, not just the cavity, but you can't always achieve that.)

Just because you had your machine on the second floor before, it doesn't guarantee that in new constructin which relies on different, modern, structural techniques that you have the same stiffness to the floor. Things just aren't the same as they used to be. (Alas!)

HTH,

Molly~
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having done a total home reno, and having front load washers, I can tell you the good news - and the bad news the good news is - that the type of floor is not particulary important the bad news is - the subfloor is critical - as the subfloor is what provides the support - and it is the hardest thing to re-inforce/change the subfloor on the main floor if you live in a temperate climate, with no basement or crawlspace, is likely concrete - which is generally extremely solid. otherwise the subfloor is likely wood joists with wood sheathing on top. When tile tile floors crack, the real problem is not what is ON the tile floors, but generally a weak subfloor beneath the tiles. The weak subfloor flexes with pressure on top of the floor. Tiles can not flex to match the subfloor's flexing - so the tiles break. The best solution is to put in newer, taller floor joists, but unless you are doing a total gut rennovation - that's practically impossible. The easiest solution - which may or may not be enough - is to put additional layers of plywood - one or two sheets of 3/4 inch thick plywood on top of the existing subfloor - and then cover with any floor covering you like. Another strategy, is to make sure that where your washing machine sits on the floor, is as close as possible to a support wall below. The joists will be stronger on their ends - which rest on a support wall/structure, than they will be in the middle. This may invlolve relocating some plumbing - but it is still much easier than adding taller floorjoists. If there is room in the ceiling/crawlspace below - you could add some supporting columns underneath the floor directly below the washing machine.
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Also, the first time 2 years ago, the tiles' peel-off paper had word Stainmaster etc and large arrows to show the intended direction to orientate the tile. This week we bought the same exact product and there is lettering but no arrows, so we used the words to orientate the tiles in the same direction. Two years ago I researched and there were reasons to have it face the right direction, you can check it out or decide yourself. All else was the same in quality. Important to acclimate the temperature, several reasons but especially because if the tile is cool the paper doesn't release as easily from the adhesive on the tile back and you end up picking at the paper. ugh! Not counting floor and workspace prep, the 8x16 kitchen took the 2 of us about 9 hours, with husband peeling and doing measurments & any cuts and bringing the tiles to me. My job was making sure no 2 identical tiles were next each other, setting them where I wanted them for husband to pick up and peel them, and I layed the tiles as close and tight as humanly possible. Beverages and good music helps you keep your sense of humor. Take pictures throughout, you'll be glad.
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czechchick2
15 years ago
How about 1/2" thick piece of rubber pad to put under the washer?

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