Building Concrete Bases

[MichaelCa]

All the Mats i'm looking at are in 2-3 story woodframe (crawlspace below) type bldgs., with a thin (3-4 in.) conc. slab for Toploads.

In order to install Hardmount FrontLoaders (or more of them), i'll have to either augment the slab thickness, or build new 6-8" slabs in extra space.

The question is: what exactly is the nitty-gritty involved in adding slabs?

Does it consist of:
Cutting thru the joists, digging a trench in the soil (2 ft. below), pouring a footing, pouring a perimeter wall 2ft high (to reach the level of the floor), THEN laying an 8" rebar-filled slab ??

If so, i assume i'll have to have a fully engineered foundation just for that slab, since the remnant joists would have to be 'married' to it.

This is not cheap.
Not to mention having to close the store for a week +

Am i missing something here (other than a lot of money) ?

[mike]

No, you've got it !
I hired an engineer to plan mine (wood frame building over 8 foot basement)
the engineer was $1500. bucks
The contractor was about $10,000. (ya, I got fleeced !)
He said to me after looking at the engineering plans "you know you could support an elevated highway with those columns eh ?"
basically excavated 2 feet under the existing concrete floor in the basement,
compacted the ground, formed & rebar & poured 4 columns: 1 foot by 3 feet by 9 feet high, to support a row of 12 wasco triple loaders (w124's)

My wife jokes that after the final world war, and complete devastation, archaeologists will be able to see the new stonehenge with wascomats !

They have given me no problems.

I did this because previously, I had a guy do columns with 8" sonotubes under another w124, and they cracked, and have been standing there ever since !

[pete f]

If you can ge an installer to look at the situation it may help. You have about a 2' crawl space. You could frame up a base for a bank of machines and pour the crawl space plus 8". I am not sure about rebar. I had a building I put a mat in, with tile floors. When they drilled thru the tile, they hit dirt, there was no real floor. The installer cut out a bunch of tile, dug down about 2' , and framed it and poured concrete, setting the bolts on a light frame in the cement. I questioned him, he said it happens in the area, no floor. The 2'plus cement base will not rock with the 40# washers hooked on it. I am not sure why you would dig 2' below to start the base unless a frost situation. Ask an installer, not an engineer.

[vohraajay]

a word of caution about concrete bases - if you decide to go in that direction - price out the steal bases instead. they are more sturdy and their holes don't bigger. concrete has to be built right or you'll be mounting your machine again and again...

ajay

[Rondo]

TWO WORDS: fibered cement. You don't need rebar. I would far rather use cement than steel. With modern epoxy and 5/8 all- thread it's had to mesh the mounting up.

[MichaelCa]

Ajay, that sounds VERY promising !

Please tell me more-
Do you mean that i can simply bolt them to standard floors ?? (wood joist over crawl space)

That almost sounds too easy :)
I wonder why it isn't used more - is it a newer solution?
Also, is there a noticeable amount of vibration transmitted to the structure? (Most Mats here have apts. over them)

It would sure be a far faster install, it seems. Not to mention not having to apply for structural/bldg permits. And less labor involved=less $

Do you know/have any mfr. /dist. names for them?



Mike: thanks, i was afraid i was right.
Pete: Yes, these are 2' crawlspaces.

[vohraajay]

I think your best bet would be to talk to a builder or two. I don't have too much experience in this personally with the exception of knowing the problem a laundromat owner had when they build concrete bases instead of steal - simply to save money. They didn't save money!!!.

[Rondo]

Michael, your heading in the wrong direction. Don't try to mount large frontloaders on wood floors! you are goning to have to bring cement up to and above the floor plus dig into the ground for a footer. Find a good concrete man and talk to him. I've mounted over 40 fronts on cement & steel bases. Do yourself a favor and do it all in fibered or reinforced(rebar) concrete. It is a one step solution. If you use steel over concrete it still(steel base) has to be mounted to the concrete. The bolt tend to loosen over time with steel bases and the a very hard to get too to retightnen. One step solution is pour the cement, drill it out , use high strength expoxy to install 10 or 12" 5\8' all thread, set the machine and tightnen the bolts and it's done. If you need anymore specifics, ask me.

[Rondo]

Voohraajay, the owner that had all the trouble with a concrete base simply didn't do it right. You can't just pour concrete over a existing floor. It has to be jack hammered out and angled underneath to hold every thing together. Believe me I was in constuction for over 25 years and the guy just didn't do it right.

[pete f]

Mike, a 2' crawl space, a 1' footer and an 8 : base is a big chunk of concreate, but not really a big deal. I do not see it as an engineer situation. There are soft mount large machines but thye are very costly and are limited in size. For distributor info try CLA web site, and look under member/supplier area.
www.coinlaundry.org

[anonymous]

I am in a strip mall with no basement. I need to add couple of 18 pounders next to existing washers. Can I just extend the concrete platform on existing floor ?

[vohraajay]

just use steal bases there...that's what i have...if you leave you can take it w/you.

ajay

[anonymous]

What are steel bases? Where do you buy them?

[vohraajay]

check out superiorwasherstands.com...saw them advertise in the journal, never bought anything from them.

ajay

[anonymous]

I just bought 2 steel bases from SWS (superior washing stands). They did a good job, heavy I frames weighing 220 lbs. apiece. Only problem was 4 holes were not where I wanted them, had to redrill them. They're in operation right now.

[Jes]

For what machines? And how much did they cost with shipping?

Thanks,
-Jes

[pete f]

my installer's dad started making steel bases many years ago. If you need a quote, or info let me know I;ll dig up his number.
A local welding shop could fabricate them also, and with shipping, likely much cheaper. They are basicaly "I" beams welded.

[anonymous]

They cost $250 apiece including shipping

[Lar Hylobates]

I've never paid more than 170.00, sometimes bought from manufacturer, sometimes built by installer.