washing machine on wooden floorboards - house shakes! Help? Help, advice, information, answers and tips on all types of flooring from laminate and carpet to timber and vinyl

[sarahholder]

Hi, currently renovating our kitchen, victorian old floorboards down, some need replacing, but the washing machine (it's quite an old one) vibrates the whole kitchen and it can't be good long term for the floor as everything vibrates, plus it's in the middle of units and i'm worried about my new kitchen to be. As we've got all the old floor coverings up to replace some boards is there anything i can do to reinforce the floor just under the washing machine area? We will be getting a new washing machine in the future so again that may help?

REALLY appreciate advice / suggestions?

[stevenc1603]

I had the same problem in more modern property. Whole house shook when the thing went into spin cycle!

I was able to get under the house and prop the joists to stop them vibrating. Made things much better.

[sarahholder]

Oh ok, when you say prop the joists, what did you do exactly? Slide wood struts under joists so they're too tightly packed to move?

[rosebery]

Errrmm I would suggest that in BOTH cases detailed above the problem lies with the washing machine and not the floor or the house.

The WM drum is clearly out of balance for one reason or another. It sounds like you need to tackle the cause of the problem ie the washing machine.

Cheers

[Johnnyvee]

i have exactly the same problem - and it's not a case of the washing machine not working correctly. I have a brand new direct drive washing machine and it shakes the kitchen - things fall off the worktops etc.
Washing machines will always make the floor move to a certain extent - depends how the clothes lie in the drum when it goes into a spin.

Now for problem - 1901 terrace kitchen has a concrete sub floor with a suspended wooden floor above. Thing bounces around like made so - would the best way to stabalise it be 1. Link the joists with noggins between them and then 2. Install "props" in the area around the washing machine?

Thanks for any help.

[TheDoctor5]

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