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Building a laundry room over existing wood floors

6 years ago

I will be adding in a laundry room to an area that currently has engineered hardwood. I would prefer not to tear up the wood floors to put tile down. Has anyone else had this situation?

-Erin

Featured Answer

hcbm

6 years ago

I have a stacked compact front loader and dryer in a front hall closet. It has an oak floor. I installed new hoses and a water leak detection automatic cut off alarm. I am on the 4th floor of a converted factory building. The leak detection vavles and alarm were about $150 or less. Well worth every penny. I tested it and less than a few drops set it off. The wood hasn't been a problem and either has vibration. I think there is a beam right under that area. Mine is vented through the ceiling and into a central building wide system.

Comments (7)

enduring
6 years ago
Will you have a front loader or top loader? Front loaders have more forces to deal with. Is your engineered wood on a joist floor or a concrete floor. I don't think the wood will be a problem unless you get a leak. They have special leak warning matts or something that will shut down the water, if a leak is detected. I don't know anything about them though.

If you have a front loader on a joist floor, it is best to put them against a load bearing wall, according to my installation instructions. Ideally, IMO, it would be best to block the joist in the area of the washer, to stiffen up the floor. You don't want to put a washer in the middle of the span of a joist floor, because it will bounce like a trampoline.
snarkyinla
Original Author
6 years ago
The washer/dryer will be stacked, against a load bearing wall. It used to be the exterior wall of the house but decades ago an addition was put on, so now that is an interior wall. These are all good points thank you!
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I think an ideal place for a washer/dryer is close to the bedrooms and bathrooms -its much more time efficient. The majority of your laundry goes to the bedrooms and bathrooms. As you age, its also easier on the arms and legs. Since you are building a new home, why not put a a washer/dryer behind closed doors in a kids bathroom? If you are worried about noise, put a small inexpensive stacked unit there for small kids loads - leave space to later put a full size unit in if you decide you like the set up. Build a normal laundry room in the basement. If you hate the laundry upstairs - you can turn that space into storage - no mater how much we have we always need more storage. If you love the upstairs laundry - then you can bring your larger machines upstairs and the smaller ones downstairs. I think if you can give yourself options you will be happier in the long run. Its harder to change things once they are built. Take precautions and install the recommended floor drain. If you don't want to purchase two washer /dryers start them upstairs and be prepared to move them if you are unhappy into a space downstairs that is already set up. Having the washer/dryer near where your clothes and towels are stored will make your life so much easier IMHO.
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i would like to make a laundry room in my small home as a christmas gift to myself. i have a small open storage area at the end of the hallway by the back door. its about 3ft wide and 24 inches in depth- the depth is flexible as the back door opens to the back porch. but do plan on getting one of the shallower stacked gas sets. kitchen and bath are on either side of the hallway and close to the planned laundry area. home has a crawlspace and original 1920's wood floors- will reinforce joists from under the crawlspace. breaker box is on the exterior wall just outside the planned laundry area. i know i'll need plumbing, drain, gas, venting and possibly electrical work. question is ballpark figure to expect and what's involved. i will get several estimates but i like to get an idea of the proposed materials and what the hookups should look like. thanks.
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enduring
6 years ago
Great. how about your dryer vent? There are limits to vent length. Check your manual. Mine is a max length of about 36'. But it is only 8' from the exterior wall. Each elbow = 5' deduction of your max run. I have 3 so that =15' deduction, then the exterior vent cap=10' iirc. So I'm at 25' before I even start the run. I add the 3' to get down into the joist space, then the 8' run to the wall. I'm at 36'. The solution to longer runs is to get an online fan to supplement the dryer. Condensing dryers don't need vents.
enduring
6 years ago
Also make sure you can easily access the vent for periodic cleaning, and access to the shutoff water valve.
snarkyinla
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, the reason the laundry room is being created is because the existing laundry area is in the center of the house and doesn't vent safely, IMO. It probably met codes ages ago, but certainly not now. Venting is the primary reason for the move. It will adjacent to an exterior wall
rococogurl
6 years ago
What @hmorton says. A pan can be put under the washer with leak detection. Done all the time in apartments.
snarkyinla thanked rococogurl

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