This is a discussion you have WITH your architect. and whomever is doing the cabinetry and design. You do this with specs for all in hand. and involve the builder. A GOOD drain in a pitched tile floor is far better than any pan, any time. I see no point to the pan. I see ZERO purpose to cabinetry above, unless that is hiding a laundry chute. Otherwise it's expensive overkill.

I'd be REALLY certain I wanted this in my basement, a mile from my bedrooms. Really certain : )

Yeah, I have four kids and although I’m constantly doing laundry, I’m not sure an extra set of w/d would help. The cost of those built-ins and the extra set of w/d could cover the cost of a laundry service for a couple years.

I have no idea why a regular family needs 2 sets of laundry .I have international students and 2 of us and do laundry every day with a Bosch front loading set that can handle huge loads with no problem.

Folks? You clearly haven't been in a YOUNG suburban household. Laundry? You'd think they were being asked to take it to the back forty, and kneel at the stream. Once in a washer? It can take until evening to get it in a dryer. It can take a week to get it out of the laundry and back in a room, at which point nobody can tell clean from dirty as folding has become a major task as well. Any one of these young women, raised with no chores demanded of them.....................could live next door to a laundry SERVICE with fifty machines. Would not matter. They couldn't get it over there. You think i'm making it up......no kids, I am not.

Don't even think of beating on me. Just Don't. : ) I can show you dozens of these.

Like others, I don't understand the functionality of your design plans. Most people are opting to have at least one washer/dryer near the bedrooms so there is no shlepping. Then stacking units are generally done so they can be placed with a relatively small footprint.

What are the specifications? I just had a stacking washer drying installed during my remodel and the units are separate and one then gets the stacking kit if one is not doing it side by side. I opted for one with a pull out shelf between the washer and dryer.

Granted, mine are compact units but I would assume that if a full size unit is stacked, it is not simply placed on top of the other machine.

And I am not an electrician but I had to upgrade my appliances because Code required me to have each major appliance on a separate circuit so I would assume that your washers would each have to each be on their own circuit.

I live in a high rise so any leaks would be catastrophic in terms of damage to lower units. Of course that's also true of leaks in the many private home installations on second floors or even on main floors where leaks would damage flooring and/or cabinets. My Bosch washer/dryers have double water lines and also an alarm system which automatically turns off water if any is sensed outside of the machines - it also does comes with a pan. FWIW, I also installed water alarm systems and pans for my dishwasher and my refrigerator which has an automatic ice maker.

Personally I would rethink your design and place one set of machines near the bedrooms and then the second set downstairs if need be. Do your plans include a laundry chute?

I’m no designer but I have one set of these built in side by side under a counter. Not a pass thru laundry, and when the guy comes to work on this, if he’s not the size of a leprechaun, it’s not a pretty scene. We did not think to ask about the water shut off placement because the counter looked so nice -until we finished building and it’s behind the 100 lb machine....

I would be thinking about what you are going to do when it’s you and the four kids and you have a problem....

Given the width of the room, how about the following?

• Place the appliances side by side either W-W-D-D or W-D-W-D depending on how the water, drain, electrical outlets, and vents are arranged;
• Put a removable countertop over the top of all four appliances;
• Install cabinets over the countertop;
• Place the clothes rod at either end of the row of appliances.

One recommended, reasonably-priced appliance pair by Consumer Reports:

LG WM3700HWA washer + LG DLEX3700W dryer

Also I would call around to local appliance service dealer and ask them about additional cost to service as they would need more than one guy

What do you need in your laundry space. I like many of the ideas that others have posted. I would suspect you need hanging space. Ironing space. Storage space. dirty laundry hampers. storage for brooms, and vacuum possibly. If you go with a built in, I would do generic sizing for machines, so that you can switch out brands. The best idea I think is to have side by side single set in basement and another set near the bedrooms. The side by side allows the water shut off and drain to be above the counter for easy access. You might have to move out the dryer for vent maintenance, unless you go with a ventless model.

You absolutely need access quickly to water valves and dryer vent, and electrical outlets. I don't see that in your plan.

I have a small built in cabinetry and w/d on my main floor. It is perfect for our family of 2.

When I planned for the main floor built in, I did all the design myself. I have an access to one side to get to the water shut off valve, drain pipe, and dryer vent (for clean out). I can reach into the lower cabinet open area to access the electrical outlets. I have about an inch on either side of the built in, and it is not a problem sliding the set out. I do not have a pan under the set, after a lot of thought. My machine pump clean-out is in the front of the washer, so no need to move the machines. When I was moving the machines in and out during the remodel, it was no big deal to slide the machines out. But that is a rare instance. There are several inches at the top of the machines.

This set up is custom to my Miele set which is of a smaller design. The room was a constraint for size. I am not sure if a Bosch set will fit, but that could be an alternative set for me in the future, if needed.

I always shut my water off when we leave for a few days. I also have a double stacked set in the basement of used machines for my DH farm clothes. I always shut the water off after my weekly farm clothes wash up.

The OP is wise to have second thoughts about the design. Since they are almost ready to install cabinets, much of the work may have already been done.

I would put the four appliances in a row so I could get them out for the inevitable servicing, like removing lint from the ductwork once a year. Put some cabinets above with a hanging rod for clean clothes and a smaller rod or towel bar for damp dirty things waiting for the next load.

If this is a new house under design and multi-storied, I would go back to the architect and see about putting one of those pairs upstairs near the bedrooms. Much nicer than hauling all that laundry up and down stairs.

I understand having two machines. Twice done in half the time.

A stacked set like that ( I have an LG pair) is over 6' tall. You won't be able to reach those upper cabinets without a ladder. Yes, I have one.

If this is a basement, I would tile the floor and put in a floor drain to the sump pit. Much simpler. Run the tile up the walls a run or two. No issues with a pan then.

If there is going to be cabinetry, you need to provide access to the water shutoffs through a 'door' of some sort. In my case, the water valves and drain are off to the side. The vent is through the ceiling.

I happened to stack mine on a set of appliance dollies meant for a refrigerator so it is easy to wheel it out from the wall. Relax, after 12 years I've never had an issue with them.

Another thing to consider with building cabinets around appliances: Manufacturers change the dimensions of appliances. When replacement is necessary, the new appliance may not fit if there isn't some extra space. When my refrigerator dies, my choices will be to go a lot smaller or call the cabinet maker to rework the custom cabinets over and next to the refrigerator. Similar units are now taller and wider. Grrr.

@enduring Thank you for posting those photos! I think you might have posted one photo last year with a description of the concealed access inside, and I totally stole your idea! My new Miele machines are installed next to a narrow cabinet with access panels inside. It‘s a very clean look and I love the setup :-)

As for the discussion about pans under washing machines, I‘d certainly prefer a visible floor drain (if I needed one.) If there’s a pan with a drain that is only used in case of a flood, what keeps the trap from drying out and allowing sewer gas into the house? Curious if anyone has experience with that.

Hi Scottie mom, I'm glad the set up worked for you. I'm a Scottie mom too, only mine is human ;)

Personally, I would prefer all four be in a row and on storage pedestals to save bending or stretching to load and unload.

I’d save the money you’re going to spend on a second WD and instead move the single set to where the bedrooms are. If that’s not an option, spend your savings on a housekeeper to help you keep up with laundry. A second set won’t help you keep up....