How to add a laundry benchtop?

jeffl_au

Need a bench top that spans both washing machine and dryer.

hoping to avoid a support panel in between, but worried about whether the span is too long without the support.  

can I get away with this? Would stone with a substrate be better or 33mm hard wood?

or do I have to stick a panel between washing machine and dryer?  Is there low profile metal bars that I can use for support?

thanks!

MitchellMc

Hi @jeffl_au,

A 33 mm hardwood bench top will most likely be strong enough to span the gap between your washing machine and dryer without sagging. That said, it’s always best practice to provide some support at the ends and along the rear. Running a strip of timber along the back wall, screwed securely into the studs, gives the bench top a solid rear anchor and helps prevent sag or movement over time. This way, even if the bench is only supported at the ends and by the wall strip, it will stay level and stable. If you wanted to be extra cautious, low-profile metal bars or angle brackets can also be fixed underneath to provide additional reinforcement without needing a full panel between the machines.

For stone or engineered stone, a substrate or ply backing would be essential, as these materials are less forgiving over a long unsupported span.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell