How to integrate a refrigerator into a kitchen set

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, if the height of the tray is selected correctly, 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.

How to choose a refrigerator cabinet

Before purchasing a stand, you need to consider what requirements it must meet. It is possible to choose the right design by following these recommendations:

1. The cabinet must easily carry the weight of the refrigerator. I recommend choosing metal structures, since analogues made of plastic, even high-strength ones, can only be used in the case of light-weight units. An alternative to metal structures are wooden ones, which can be made to order from a craftsman.
2. The cabinet must have maximum functionality, so it is preferable to choose designs in which it is possible to keep various items or use them as periodic food storage.
3. The stand is not only a support, but also one of the elements of the interior, so its design must have common features with the style of the room.

A stand for a refrigerator is an alternative option for optimizing its location in the room. When purchasing such structures, they are assessed for strength and only after that the external appearance data is considered.

Reference! A good option is a built-in refrigerator and a stand for it. Then it does not violate the integrity of the interior design of the kitchen and allows you to save meters of space in usually small rooms.

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.

Types of podiums

The simplest option is easy to implement and requires a minimum of skills, money and time. The stand is made of timber. The work consists of the following stages:

1. It is necessary to take two wooden beams, each 65 cm long, and lay them parallel to each other. The gap between them should correspond to the width of the washing unit.
2. Place the boards on the beam and attach them with self-tapping screws, leaving a small protrusion in front. A floorboard cut with a hacksaw into pieces of suitable size will do. Instead, you can take a double furniture panel, glued and fastened with reliable screws.
3. Attach a board 30 mm wide to the ledge with its edge. Secure it with self-tapping screws.

Advantages - ease of execution, quiet washing, the presence of a side, which serves for additional fixation of the unit and limits its dynamics during vibration. The downside is the lack of a shelf for small items and the material’s insufficient resistance to water.

I work in the household appliance repair industry. Extensive experience in restoring washing machines and dishwashers.

A more complex method is suitable for those who have time, have repair skills and are not afraid of difficulties. The stand is made of brick. The bottom line is this:

1. The brick is laid in the form of two walls located parallel to each other. The distance between them must correspond to the width of the machine.
2. On top of the prepared supports, a polycarbonate slab is attached to the cement mortar.
3. The front surface is trimmed with a metal corner.

The system is more reliable than the previous one and creates a spacious volume in the lower part. You can put small items in a niche or arrange a drawer on wheels. This solution will add aesthetics to the design and make it comfortable.

Podium with box

The location of the washing machine in the toilet room is suitable for small apartments. The progress of work looks like this:

• the drain pipe is bricked;
• build supports between the toilet cistern and the wall;
• install the slab and corner;
• covered with ceramic tiles.

This method saves space, but not every toilet can do it. Using the lower niche for storing things or arranging drawers is difficult or impossible.

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.

Popular podium designs

Even a child can make the simplest podium for a washing machine . Such a podium can be made from the simplest materials, and it can serve for decades without problems. The essence of the design comes down to the following. We take two wooden blocks 63 cm long and place them parallel to each other. The distance between the bars should be equal to the width of your washing machine (for example, 60 cm).

Next, we place two boards 60 cm long, 3 cm thick and 30 cm wide on the bars. We firmly screw the boards with self-tapping screws to the bars, and we get a shelf. We are left with a protrusion in front 3 cm wide. We place a board 3 cm thick and 30 cm wide on it edgewise, we get the simplest podium with a side of 27 cm. If possible, you can make a smaller side by sawing the board in half lengthwise. The side also needs to be firmly screwed with self-tapping screws. You can’t build a drawer into such a podium, but the washing machine will stand steadily on it and work properly.

Important! It is best to make such a podium from larch, since this tree is not afraid of moisture and is not affected by water.

You can refine the podium using waterproof plasterboard, decorative plastic or laminated chipboard. Another podium design involves the use of brick. In this case, you can choose any height of the podium.

• We lay out two brick walls, standing parallel to each other, 1 brick wide (the distance between the walls is equal to the width of the machine).
• On top of the walls we place a suitable sized concrete or polycarbonate slab on cement.
• We sew two small metal corners onto the plate at the front.

There is enough space under the brick podium to place many small items. In addition, a box with wheels made of laminated chipboard can be built into the niche under the podium. I pulled the drawer by the handle, and it rolled out from under the machine, and it contains washing powder and fabric softener, and you can also put dirty laundry in it. In general, a very convenient thing.

A podium of a similar design could be made in a small toilet in a Khrushchev apartment , but there would be nowhere to put the box. The essence of the idea is as follows.

1. Cover the drain pipe lying on the floor with bricks (it is advisable to first replace it with a plastic one).
2. We build two high, narrow, parallel walls behind the toilet with our own hands.
3. Cover the walls from above with a slab.

Once finalized and tiled, it will look like a ledge over the toilet where the washing machine sits.

Some people don’t like this option for placing the washing machine, but see for yourself how much usable space is saved and how convenient it is to use the household appliance. Another good option involves making a podium from polycarbonate slabs and blocks. Currently, there are many companies that sell similar materials; you just need to select blocks and slabs of the required sizes and they will provide them to you as soon as possible.

In this case, you don’t even have to do anything special. We build a podium of the required size from the blocks, twist the slabs and blocks with self-tapping screws, and use them. Monolithic polycarbonate and similar materials are very durable and resistant to moisture, and they are also very difficult to destroy through mechanical stress. Ideal for our purposes. The only downside is the price, but that doesn’t stop everyone. We roll a box on wheels from laminated chipboard under the podium and install the washing machine on it.

Whether you need a box for the podium or not, decide for yourself. A box is a convenient thing, but you can do without it. In particular, factory podiums from Miele have a box, but we make the podium with our own hands for pennies. The experience of using a podium for a washing machine shows that the box is not particularly needed, but we repeat - it’s up to you to decide, perhaps you want to make not a podium, but a cabinet for a washing machine - it’s a matter of taste!

Features of installation and operation of the machine on the podium

Now let's talk about the features of installing and operating a washing machine installed on a podium. At first glance, it seems, what are the features here, they raised the machine a little above the floor, and that’s all, we didn’t change anything in its design! Not so. Some craftsmen, having placed the machine on a branded or home-made podium, are then horrified to discover that their home assistant refuses to wash or cannot be connected at all.

Let's start with something simple - the location of the outlet. This may sound trivial, but some people, when installing a machine on a podium with their own hands, do not calculate the length of the network cable at all, because before the machine stood without a podium and was connected normally. And then it turns out that the wire does not reach the socket. Therefore, experts recommend immediately paying attention to this point and taking into account the location of the outlet and the distance from the machine to it.

With the outlet for water supply, everything is simpler; the inlet hose usually comes with a reserve in length, but you can purchase and install a longer hose. The main thing is that the pedestal does not block the terminals, otherwise the inlet hose cannot be screwed to them , therefore the machine will not connect to the water supply, and the podium will have to be moved or removed.

If you buy a new inlet hose for a washing machine, take a double one with the Aquastop system - it has protection against leaks.

When installing the washing machine on a podium, it is also important to lift the sewer pipe. This is necessary so that a “siphon effect” does not occur and water does not flow out of the washing machine tank on its own. The sewer pipe must be raised so that it is 40 cm above the podium cover. To do this you can:

• install an elbow on the old pipe;
• connect another piece of pipe of the required length to it;
• Insert the drain hose into the sewer pipe and use the machine safely.

Now about the operation. Some people are afraid that the machine, during intensive work and therefore intense vibration, will jump off the podium with all the ensuing consequences. Experts note that this can happen, so when making any podium you need to provide sides. At a minimum, the side should be on the front so that the machine does not fall forward and break.

Some opponents of washing machine podiums are intimidated by the prospect of reaching for the powder dispenser. Especially when it comes to installing the machine on a high pedestal in the toilet behind the toilet. Indeed, this is associated with some inconveniences, but putting dirty things in the hatch is much more convenient, in general, it’s a “double-edged sword”, we win somewhere, lose somewhere, but there are more advantages!

To summarize, we note that podiums for washing machines are an excellent option not only to save space by placing the machine more successfully. This is a good option to compensate for some of the shortcomings of washing machines. In particular, a properly made podium somewhat dampens the vibration and noise of a working machine, which will only benefit the user. Therefore, don’t be lazy and make the podium with your own hands, because you can’t shell out hundreds of dollars for branded furniture.

Interesting:

• Features of installing a washing machine in the toilet
• Furniture for the washing machine in the bathroom
• How to place a washing machine in the bathroom
• How to install a washing machine in the kitchen and bathroom
• Bathroom in Khrushchev with washing machine
• Is it possible to place a sink above a washing machine?

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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 able to 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 desired section of pipe to it and insert the washing machine drain hose into it.

Results

A stand under a refrigerator is sometimes the only option for comfortable use of this household appliance. It is possible to buy a ready-made cabinet or make it yourself from available materials. Often such a structure is made in order to raise the unit relative to the floor to the level of human height. Also, a similar trick, specifically a refrigerator under the cabinet, is used to maintain the overall interior design of the kitchen. This is often used in cases where the only option for harmonious placement of the unit is to integrate it into a piece of furniture and decorate it to match the overall style of the room.

Video: How to install a regular refrigerator in a closet

How to install a regular refrigerator in a closet

Video: How to install a non-built-in refrigerator. Detailed description

How to install a non-built-in refrigerator. Detailed description

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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.