Shelf to support a washing machine (Ed.)

[dormermike]

I'm looking to build a shelf to support a heavy washing machine, its 60kg or thereabouts, and and the shelf will be 90cm wide and 90cm deep, supported on brick walls. Will 18mm plywood be sufficient, mounted on top of 2x2 battens screwed into the wall, or should I go for 20mm+?

Thanks

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I would use 2x3, as a minimum, and double the thickness of ply, or two sheets, screwed together. The 2x3, will need to be Rawlbolted in place. Remember you are not just supporting the 60Kg, but the extra weight the washing, and the water, plus rotational loads, especially when it begins a spin cycle.

 

[dormermike]

Oh good point hadn't thought of that! Thanks!!

 

[Odds]

Can you not support the shelf on legs attached to the floor?
I've never heard of a washer being put on a shelf like an ornament.

 

[johnny2007]

Whatever you do the wall plugs or the bricks will fail because of the vibrations.
Put it on the floor.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Oh good point hadn't thought of that! Thanks!!

I hope this shelf is supported on three sides, by brick walls - like an alcove? It certainly wouldn't work, supported by brick walls on only two sides..

 

[dormermike]

Thanks all. I'm rethinking this idea

Yes it's a brick alcove, 3 sides.

 

[aveatry]

Thanks all. I'm rethinking this idea

Yes it's a brick alcove, 3 sides.

I would have it on 4 legs and 2x18mm and not on any batons attached on wall.
Actually thinking about it washing machines are heavy because they have a big concrete weight in them or something similar - this is to stop them wandering around your house when they are spinning so is there any reason he could not remove the weight and make the whole thing lighter and then bolt it in position on the legged top. After also securing the legs to the floor. But then the whole house will shake !!
I dont think it can be done successfully

 

[Burnerman]

If you wish to crack on......consider:
2x3 battens on the three walls but help them by running verticals to the floor plus a cross batten on the open side.
The top? 2 x 18mm ply or OSB glues together and screwed to the battens
Once the machine is in, add a small batten at it's front to stop it wandering.
John

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Actually thinking about it washing machines are heavy because they have a big concrete weight in them or something similar

The weights are there, not to stop the entire machine moving, but to give mass to the drum only, to prevent the drum having excessive movement, when spinning a slightly imbalanced load. Remove the weights, and the drum will make its way through the side of the case.

 

[mattylad]

I think what we are wondering is why?
Why are you doing this and why can you not put it on the floor?
How high are you planning this shelf to be?

It's destined for failure at some point IMO.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It's destined for failure at some point IMO.

If don't properly, and the they are indeed bricks, then no reason why it should fail, but the point stands, as to why?

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Mine is in a cupboard on a shelf in our wet room but it's only about 20cm off the ground so could well not be a "shelf" as such and more like a plinth. I will see if I can work out how it was constructed.

 

[cdbe]

Not a problem - people in upstairs flats manage to have washing machines.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Not a problem - people in upstairs flats manage to have washing machines.

On the floor though, usually