Bathrooms in apartments are often so small that residents have to go to all sorts of tricks to allocate extra centimeters of free space. A podium for a washing machine is an interesting and useful solution that allows you to place equipment in an apartment and at the same time save space.
Benefits of using a podium
A properly installed podium will bring a lot of benefits to the owner of the washing machine.
Firstly, equipment installed on a pedestal for a washing machine takes up significantly less space in a small apartment.
Secondly, you can make a box under the podium and place washing powder, conditioner, rags, soap and other items in it.
Thirdly, a properly manufactured design significantly reduces the vibration of the washing machine during spinning, which means washing will be much quieter.
Fourthly, with the correct selection of the height of the tray, it will be possible to load or unload laundry from the washing machine without bending over or putting a strain on your back.
Choosing a place to build a podium
In addition to the bathroom, a stand for a washing machine can be made in any other room.Most often it is installed in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet, pantry or on the veranda. The last listed premises are usually used by owners of private houses, because they are not available in apartments.
If the washing machine is installed in the bathroom, a good place to locate the podium would be the space under the sink. In the kitchen, the device is usually placed in the free space between cabinets or large appliances. For toilets or bathrooms, an interesting solution would be to install a washing machine on a stand behind the toilet. For storage rooms or verandas there are a large number of options for placement, it all depends on the size and type of such room.
Materials and tools for making a podium
Before you start building the structure, you need to choose what to make the podium from and assemble the tool.
It should be remembered that the structure must be stable and very strong to support the weight of the washing machine. Depending on the load and dimensions, it can reach 60-80 kg, in addition, do not forget about vibration during operation.
That is why the base of the podium is constructed from durable materials such as brick, foam block, concrete slabs, polycarbonate, wood blocks, metal corners, etc.
For finishing, ceramic or tiles, plasterboard sheets, PVC, and waterproof chipboard are usually used.
In addition to the material, it is necessary to prepare the tool for the job. To make a podium you will need:
- roulette;
- level;
- pencil;
- screwdriver or drill;
- a set of slotted and Phillips screwdrivers;
- hacksaw for metal;
- corner grinding machine;
- Master OK.
Installing a simple podium
The simplest podium in a bathroom or other room can be made from wooden blocks.It is advisable to choose larch material, because this tree is not afraid of dampness and moisture.
The procedure for making the podium:
- At a distance equal to the width of the washing machine, lay two 630 mm bars parallel to each other on the floor.
- Using self-tapping screws, attach boards 600 mm long, 300 mm wide and 30 mm thick to the bars.
- In the front part of the beam you need to retreat 30 mm from the edge.
- Fix a board 30 mm thick and 300 mm wide on the ledge, placing it on the edge.
Thus, a podium with a side height of 270 mm is obtained. If there is a desire and opportunity, the side can be reduced by sawing it lengthwise into two equal parts. To make the stand look more attractive, you can cover it with plasterboard or use other finishing materials. On such a podium, the washing machine will be more stable and will operate much quieter. The disadvantage of this design is the lack of a storage box.
Brick podium
To make such a stand for a washing machine, you need to lay two rows of bricks parallel to each other at a distance equal to the width of the device. On top of the bricks you need to lay a concrete or polycarbonate slab on the cement mortar. In front, several metal corners are sewn on to form a side.
The advantage of this design is that it is more spacious, which means it can be made with a drawer for linen or various small items. The box is made of laminated chipboard, it can be on wheels, then it will be very convenient to get what you need out of it. A similar stand can be installed in the toilet, but in this case it will be smaller and it will not be possible to make a drawer.
To make a podium in the toilet, you need:
- Cover the drain pipe with bricks.It is advisable to inspect it before this and, if it is old cast iron, replace it with a new plastic one.
- Build two high brick walls behind the toilet.
- Cover with a plate and sew on the corners.
To make the stand look more beautiful, you can cover it with ceramic or tiles.
Polycarbonate podium
To make such a structure, you need to order blocks and a polycarbonate slab according to your own measurements, and then assemble a podium from them in the chosen location. The materials are attached to each other using self-tapping screws. This stand is very durable and is not afraid of moisture and mechanical damage. The disadvantage of the design is its cost.
Installation of a washing machine on a podium
After the stand is ready, you need to start installing the washing machine on the podium.
Before installing the podium, it is necessary to take into account the distance to the outlet. If it is longer than the length of the power cord, you will need to use a surge protector or extension cord, which is unsafe and undesirable.
If the hose for filling water is short and does not reach the tap, you can replace it with a longer one; they are freely sold in specialized stores. When installing the podium, you need to make sure that it does not block access to the water supply and sewerage systems, otherwise it will have to be disassembled and moved, because the equipment will not be connected.
To prevent the washing machine from randomly draining water, you will need to raise the sewer pipe to such a height that it rises 400 mm above the podium. To do this, you need to connect the elbow to the old pipe, connect the required section of pipe to it and insert the drain hose of the washing machine into it.
Features of operating a washing machine on a podium
Many users fear that a washing machine installed on a podium will move during the spin cycle due to strong vibration and may fall. This worry is in vain, because to protect the equipment, protective sides are installed that will stop the device moving towards the edge.
When making a platform, you need to carefully calculate its height. It may happen that it has become more convenient to load and remove laundry from the washing machine, because you don’t have to bend over, but pouring detergent into the ditch is more difficult, because it is at a high altitude. This problem is especially relevant when constructing a high platform behind the toilet. Of course, you can pull out the loading tray, but this method is suitable for dry powder, not liquid laundry detergent. To avoid such a mistake, the height of the stand should be selected so that it is comfortable to load laundry and add washing powder.
Conclusion
Making a platform for a washing machine is a very smart and interesting solution for limited space in small apartments. You can make the stand yourself; it is a fairly easy process. You just need to purchase the necessary materials and assemble the required tools, and then decide on the installation location and follow the instructions.
