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Need small laundry room ideas

This is my super tiny laundry room with just a washer and no dryer.

Bought a stainless steel cloth hanging rack. Could only find 1 stud along this wall, concern that I will nail into pipes or wires, what size nail should I use?

Also welcome any ideas I could add on top of the steel shelf. Don't think I need a full cabinet as I don't have much stuff.

Thanks!

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EricL

Hello @aton5

My first suggestion is to have a look at this guide - How to use a stud finder. The stud finder used in the guide is the Ryobi Stud Finder with AC Detection RYSF5003. It detects metal, timber and live electrical wires which makes it perfect for your D.I.Y toolbox. Once you've determined a safe space to anchor the stainless-steel rack, I suggest using Ramset 8 x 50mm Universal Anchor - 4 Pack to screw it in place.

In regards to more storage, it is possible to install a shelf above the rack using the same method. I recommend looking at the Flexi Storage Decorative Shelving 200mm Black Matte Shelf End Brackets. This allows you to build a custom length shelf in your laundry.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Nailbag

Hi @aton5

The image below is roughly where the timber frame will be and how thick the pieces are behind the plasterboard wall. A stud finder @EricL has suggested will confirm these more accurately, depending on the quality of the tool. That Ryobi one is quite good for the money. If you're fastening in to the timber frame, you will only need screws. Those universal anchors will be idea for fastening directly in to the plasterboard. Ideally you want to have more fastening points in to the wood as it will be stronger.

Nailbag

Screenshot 2025-01-16 at 9.49.52 pm.png

Dave-1

Good Evening @aton5

Could you show us the stainless steel clothing rack you have bought? If its the one like I have in my mind I can understanding the issue of trying to find a couple of studs to fit.

@Nailbag 's picture shows well roughly where tand how far the studs are apart, the stud finder @EricL mentions will narrow it right down.

If its on the rear wall you want to mount the clothes hanger or the sides for that matter, I would suggest purchasing a longer piece of timber that spans across two of the studs at least if not the whole rear wall (Longer then your stainless dryer rack), this is what you can screw your new stainless drying rack to I would suggest at least 70mm timber screws Zenith 10 - 8 x 75mm Treated Pine Countersunk Head Screws - 50 Pack (was looking for stainless ones, they could be 60mm). That way you wont need to worry so much about supporting it off plaster.

For the timber strip that you screw your new stainless dryer rack to 89 x 19mm 1.8m DAR Pine Premium - 1.8m is what I would suggest. This will distribute the weight of the dryer plus wet clothes over the three studs. The Dryer probarly came with some screws? If not then I will wait until you tell us what type of rack you have bought.

Dave

Jason

Hi @aton5,

Just thought I'd add that you might get some inspiration from the series of articles How to renovate a European laundry by @Adam_W which show how you can have a really practical laundry in a very small space.

Jason

redcamper

For the Flexi Storage Decorative Shelving 200mm Black Matte Shelf End Brackets, what's the recommended maximum length of the shelf before it starts to sag?

MitchellMc

Hi @redcamper,

For the 200mm wide shelf, it would be 900mm long and the Flexi Storage Home Solutions 900 x 16 x 200mm Oak/White Shelf. However, for the 300mm wide shelves, you can go to 1200mm long with the Flexi Storage Home Solutions 1200 x 16 x 300mm White Matte Shelf.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

aton5

Hi Nailbag,

Thanks for your reply. I used a Ryobi stud finder over the laundry room wall several times and found that the position of the studs are very different from your picture. Not sure if my builder has done a shonky job, it is a fairly new house. Just concern that I would hit a pipe if I were to nail directly to the plasterboard. Are these studs position normal? (Attached the picture, the arrows are where I found studs).

EricL

Hello @aton5

I suspect that the three lines near the tub are the copper pipes to your laundry tub that the stud finder detected. I propose scanning the wall again to confirm the stud positions.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How to use a stud finder

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

aton5

I have went over this wall so many times and it kept showing up the same results. Why would the stud finder flash green when it detects copper pipes? Shouldn't it be red.

Dave-1

Good Afternoon @aton5

I would say it sees the pipes as something solid so it reports it as a solid item.

Dave

aton5

Okay, didn't realise the stud finder could do that. Thanks!

MitchellMc

Hi @aton5,

If it's this Ryobi Stud Finder With AC Detection RYSF5003, it appears to use a green LED to indicate a solid object. It uses the red LED to indicate AC wires.

I would suggest taking a pencil and following any pipes or timber studs and marking out their locations. You're pointing to quite a large area with the three black arrows. A pipe would be only 19mm wide, and you might have the hot and cold lines running next to each other.

Mitchell

Nailbag

Hi @aton5

Just note that one of the biggest differences between price-points of stud-finders is how deep they can scan through various sub-straights. This specification is often overlooked as most people looking to buy one simply aren't aware of this. That Ryobi model states a depth of 38mm through plasterboard which, will be taken from the surface.

When mounting the rack you will want to use a screw into the stud and something like this into the plasterboard. Just ensure the hole you make is not bigger than specified. Alternatively if possible, if you can off-set the rack, you can pickup a stud tight into either corner of the rear wall. Just drive the screws on a slight angle to maximise how much of the stud is picked up.

Nailbag

Hi @aton5

The image of the studs I supplied was simply a common layout, so don't be worried about your builder being shonky. To have studs in different locations or to have multiple is not uncommon either for various reasons. One being in order to support/fix walls on the other side, support internal pipes and wiring. Plumbers might also add and modify studs and noggins in order to secure internal plumbing fittings.

Stud finders may not always differenciate between pipes and studs and instead see them as both just solid objects. Even expensive models can get it wrong.

Nailbag

aton5

Hi @Nailbag

Yes my Ryobi stud finder can only pick up depth up to 38mm.

So I am trying to hang the Ikea GRUNDTAL drying rack, weights 2.99kg; max load 20kg.

I have some Ramset Wallmate with screws up to 24kg thought of getting something which can cater for the weight of the rack plus clothes if I can't find the stud and had to screw into dry wall.

But I am now concern that the length of the nail at 40mm and wall anchor 42mm may be too long given that my device can only pick up a depth of only 38mm. Just don't want it to hit any of the pipes or ac wires.

Not going to hold you to it, in your personal opinion do you reckon the 'Ramset 8 x 12mm Plastic Toggle With Screw' will be able to handle the rack and max load weight? As dry wall thickness is around 10mm - 13mm, will the screws in the Ramset 8x 12mm be sufficient?

Thank you.

Nailbag

Hi @aton5

Those screw-in anchors are probably the last type I would use. They are ok for fastening static objects where nothing moves. Because even though they are heavy rated, your application requires items to be taken on/off which overtime loosens the fastener within the plasterboard. These can’t be retighten.

You need something that will pull in hard and tight against the plasterboard from the backside like these. I have used them countless times for similar applications.

But again it’s vital the hole you make is exactly the right size or they will spin when trying to tighten them

And as far as finding a fail safe depth I often fall back to using a long thin nail. Draw a line across where the shelf will be so when you patch the tiny nail holes they are hit seen. Tap the nail in until through the plasterboard as required. Use your fingers to push it in and around to check obstructions. Never fails 👍

Nailbag

aton5

Hi @Nailbag

Have finished installing the shelf, thanks again for the advice. Using the thin nail method has helped to assure me that I am not hitting into any wires or pipes.

On the back of the wallmates box it says to allow for 100mm between wallmates to avoid weakening of the plasterboard. I only have 3 wallmates

anchor on one side of the shelf, 2 of them are within 40mm apart, does that matter? Laundry room.jpeg

JacobZ

Hi @aton5,

As a general rule, you shouldn't install them within 100mm of each other because it can cause the plasterboard between them to fracture.

If you've installed them and they are within that distance of each other and there is no cracking or fracturing, I wouldn't worry about it.

You've done a great job. Thank you for sharing the update.

Jacob

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