Washing machine on suspended wooden floor

[Raz316]

We've recently moved in to a new house which has a wooden floor in the kitchen. We've put the washing machine where the previous owner had his.

When the washing machine spins up (especially during spin dry) most of, if not all of the kitchen vibrates. Things begin falling off the unit above the worktop the washing machine sits under and it's really, really loud as well.

I've made sure the washing machine is sitting flat.
We bought some anti vibration feet/pads for the machine and while they work to an extent, they don't work well enough.
The washing machine doesn't move from its starting position (and was fine in our last place on a concrete floor).
There isn't really anywhere else the washing machine can go without having the same problem.

Anyone here managed to resolve a similar scenario?

Ta!

[Rob_B]

Cut outs below the four feet and some sort of support/dampener going down to the concrete foundation?

[smargh]

What, specifically, were the anti-vibration pads?

The best material available for absorbing vibration is called Sorbothane, and it's fairly expensive. It relies upon specific properties when under a certain amount of pressure, so consider the number of feet and the amount of weight placed upon each piece. I think you can get sheets of it, but one big sheet won't be compressed much, so often smaller strategically placed pieces will probably be more effective.

[Raz316]

We've bought these on a recommendation from a friend - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-Feet-.../dp/B00328BNI0 - which appears to use the Sorbothane material

[smargh]

I'm a complete amateur with noise/vibration dampening, but perhaps flexible wood isn't a good platform. Are you able to perhaps find a solid platform? Maybe a slab of concrete or steel? You could then have another set of feet under the platform.

[Raz316]

As in, is there somewhere in the kitchen which isn't floor boards? Nopes!

I'm thinking something like Rob's suggestion might be the only way, unless I can some how strengthen the wooden floor? I've seen adjustable support columns used on DIY tv shows, maybe I can use that in some way.

[smargh]

I think the problem would be that the wooden floor flexes too much, and will in turn absorb more of the vibration. So, I'm thinking...

,------,
|      |
|      |
|      |
|      |
|      |
`------`  <-- washing machine base
^------^  <-- concrete or steel slab
^======^  <-- floor


(Note: ^ is Sorbothane feet)

Perhaps also with another concrete slab resting on the floor, maybe on top of some rubber purely to prevent scratching.

Or maybe not. I have some silly ideas sometimes.

[Raz316]

I guess if I have a slab of something or other spread out over as big a surface area as possible, it might help. I suspect I'm going to have to get someone in to have a proper look though! Thanks for your input Smargh

[jackcktang]

We've bought these on a recommendation from a friend - - which appears to use the Sorbothane material

did you have any luck with the silent feet anti vibration pads?

Thanks!

[scaryjim]

... Are you able to perhaps find a solid platform? Maybe a slab of concrete or steel? You could then have another set of feet under the platform.

As much as I like the idea here, if the washing machine's in a kitchen it's likely to be under a worktop, so I doubt there'd be space to fit a stabilising base beneath the washing machine.

In my parents old house the washing machine sat on floorboards, and the kitchen did vibrate, but not to the extent that yours seems to. I can only assume that was down to the floor being more rigid for some reason. Would it be possible to lift those floorboards and add some extra bracing between the joists? That might make the floor in that area more rigid and reduce the vibration to a more acceptable level. I don't think you're going to be able to stop the vibration compeltely without a drastic restructure though - that's just the nature of proper boarded floors...

EDIT: Gah, necro'd thread! OTOH, I'm fascinated to know how you solved this (as presumably is jackcktang) - any chance of an update?