How to Install Laundry Chutes
A laundry chute can streamline your life by cutting out the unnecessary steps of gathering up dirty clothes and moving them to the laundry room. You can place a chute near the kitchen or a bathroom, or you can have several of them in different bedrooms throughout the house. Just keep in mind that you'll need unobstructed access to the laundry from the spot you choose. The best way to avoid electrical wires, plumbing and other blockages is to refer to your home's floor plan. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Laundry chute with door
- Pencil
- Reciprocating saw
- Nails
- Hammer
- Paint
- Power drill
- Screws
Instructions
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1
Place the chute in front of the installation site and trace its shape on the wall with a pencil. Make sure you mark all the way down to the floor.
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2
Cut into the wall with a reciprocating saw where you made the marks. Remove a rectangular section of the wall that matches the size of your chute.
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3
Measure the depth of the chute and cut out a hole in the floor that will accommodate it. If the chute is 6 inches deep, make the cut horizontally 6 inches from the wall you cut into. This step will allow access to the laundry room below.
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4
Slide the chute into place in the wall opening. Make sure the holes in the chute and in the floor are flush.
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5
Drive nails through the sides of the chute with a hammer. The nails should enter into joists on either side of the chute.
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6
Cover the chute by repairing the wall you cut into. Paint over the repair so the wall matches the surrounding area.
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7
Attach the door over the opening of the chute to cover it up. Use a power drill and screws to secure it to the wall.
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8
Install the chute frame over the opening in the ceiling of your laundry room, if your chute included one. You can usually install these frames with nails or screws.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to install laundry chutes when your walls are already open, such as during construction or renovation, to limit the amount of mess and clean-up.
Verify that zoning laws allow you to install a laundry chute in your home.
