FAQ Friday: Granite Countertop Over a Washer & Dryer in the Laundry?

This question comes from Angie in Nevada...
"I'm an avid reader of your blog and with all of your design ideas that you post I now want to re-do my whole house!  :)  I am just about to start redecorating my laundry room though.  I have a front loading washer and dryer and I think it's such a waste of space to not have anything on top of them.  I'd like to put a granite or marble slab countertop across the top of them to give me some counter space in there, I currently don't have any.  My question is, is this possible?  What do you use to support the countertop?
Thanks in advance for your help!"

Thanks for the question Angie.
Yes, it's a great idea to put a countertop over your front loading washer & dryer!  Not only is it beautiful, it's very functional.  The extra counter space is nice, plus it helps prevent all that lint and garbage from accumulating in between them.

Photo: Life in Grace

There are a few different way these can be built.  Some people do have cabinets and then just run the countertop straight across the cabinets and the washer & dryer.
Most commonly, a contractor will build support on the wall and then we usually integrate a steel bar into the stone for extra support.
I also like the idea in the photo above where they added a set of drawers between the machines.  I'm assuming they have supports on the back wall as well.
Another way to build these is to build a box out of wood (you'll notice a couple of the pictures below have done this) and then top the wood with your stone countertop.

Photo: Houzz

traditional laundry room design by orange county design-build Spinnaker Development

contemporary laundry room design by other metros general contractor Weaver Custom Homes

Be sure to give your washer and dryer plenty of room away from the countertop.  Those front loaders can move and shake a lot when in use and you don't want them continually hitting your stone countertop.
This also means do not put the stone countertop directly on the washer and dryer. 

Photo: Casa de Valentina

Photo: Houzz

Photo: A Thoughtful Place

Thanks again for the question Angie.  Hopefully these photos inspire your laundry renovation!

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