A laundry closet will keep your laundry separate from the rest of your home.
A laundry closet is a nice way to enclose your washing machine and dryer from the rest of the house. Before you frame in the laundry closet, you should have someone professionally run the pipes for your washing machine. Also have a professional install the ductwork and the proper electrical work for your dryer. It's essential that these be done correctly to prevent a fire or flooding. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the space you need to build in to enclose your washing machine and dryer. You can use the existing back wall if it is already finished. You will need to find the studs, since you must attach the new wall to them. A "stud finder" device is the easiest way to find the studs; simply place it against the wall and it identifies the studs for you. Measure for the floor to the ceiling. Subtract 4 inches from this measurement to find out the height for the cross pieces in your wall frame. Measure the length of the wall to learn how long to make the bottom and top pieces for your frame.
2. Cut the wood for the frames. You will need two pieces for the top and bottom of each wall, and enough cross pieces to put one every 18 inches along the wall. Build the frame by laying out the top piece and nailing the cross pieces at each end and 18 inches across. On the top and bottom pieces, the 4-inch side of the 2-by-4 will run parallel to the floor and ceiling. They should sit flush against the wall. Once you have done that, nail the bottom of the frame onto each of the pieces. Create the space for the door by nailing in two cross pieces exactly where the door frame will go so it fits exactly (both width- and height-wise).
3. Install the walls. Nail them into the floor on either side of the cross piece and into the frame on the wall every 18 inches from the ceiling down to the floor. Use a handsaw to cut out the bottom of the frame, where the doorway goes.
4. Put up the drywall using the drywall screws. Mark the places on the panels where you need to cut holes for the vent and plumbing work. Cut the spaces out before you hang the drywall. Use drywall compound to seal in any seams and cover the screw holes. You should use screws in each of the studs on the wall at the top, middle and bottom of each drywall sheet.
5. Sand the drywall compound smooth and paint the laundry closet walls. Nail in baseboard around the bottom of the walls. Once the paint is dry, put in the washer and dryer, connecting them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Hang the door in the door frame. Slide the already framed door into place and nail it at the corners, as well as every 18 inches along the frame. Install a baseboard around the door frame to create a finished look for the closet.
Tags: cross pieces, your washing machine, door frame, every inches, laundry closet