We are thinking of moving our washing machine into a large cupboard in our house. The cupboard has a raised floor with pipes going underneath - how can we tell if it is sturdy enough to take a washing machine. The cupboard also has a gas combi boiler up high in it. Will this cause any concerns? Anything else we should look out for that we may not have thought of?

Thanks
Aileen

A washer in a cupboard? Ive never heard of that before.

Well, its really hard to make a determination on whether it can support the washer, its something I would have to see an analize. One thing to consider is if the washer goes into a bad spin and starts to bounce around. Will it fall off the platform? Also consider the fact that your washer is a water appliance, should something start to leak, will it cause problems in the cupboard. Personally, I like washers and dryers on firm concrete surfaces, however I understand that not everyone has these.

Its really a judgemet call. What exactly are you defining as a "cupboard", to me a cupbard is a place to store glasses dishes in a kitchen.

What does Labman say, a two countries divided by a common language? I think a "cupboard" is a closet to us in the US. In any case the flooring should be framed exactly as the framing done in the home. Get more detail over in the construction forum. My guess is the floor is just a plywood cover over a weak frame just strong enough for the plywood.

And there are available large basins with drains made to have a washer sit in it when above finished spaces. Check over in plumbing for help on this. And on the gas unit.

Thanks guys. Let me explain the "cupboard" confusion.

This one is a large walk in cupboard/closet/small room about 1& 1/2 metres square. The flooring is 2cm thick chipboard on a wooden frame. It takes my weight easily and currently holds a large tool box, hoover, some piles of floor tiles and various other bits and pieces.

The flooring covers the whole space, so no danger of it falling of.

Well then, as I said before, I would have to size it up by actually seeing it in person before I could make an assumption.

As tkrussel suggested, you might want to try the construction board, maybe they can tell you what some general codes are for supporting a washer in your situation.

Good luck!