How can I fit a new laundry center through the bathroom doorway?

April 21, 2015 3:34 PM

I currently have an old stacked washer/dryer in my condo bathroom that's 23.87" width, 27" depth, 70" height. It doesn't work well, so I ordered a new stacked washer/dryer with the same dimensions that's being delivered tomorrow. But I just measured the doorway to the bathroom, and even if you remove the door and the door jamb, it's 23.5" wide, measured from the inside. Is there any reasonable way to get the old one out and a new one inside without a big construction job? How did they get it inside?
posted by JohnKarlWilson to Home & Garden (14 answers total)

Is there trim around the door that could be removed and replaced afterwards?
posted by erst at 3:38 PM on April 21, 2015

Can the washer and dryer be partially disassembled? Sometimes the fascia or skirt can be removed to give it a smaller/shallower profile for just this sort of situation. Posting pics and/or the make & model number might reveal something.
posted by mosk at 3:44 PM on April 21, 2015

It is not a major construction project to remove part of the door casing, if that is required. It would be easier to remove part of the machines, if possible.

Perhaps if you post a picture of your door, people could advise you more specifically.
posted by ssg at 3:49 PM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: The washer dryer is a Kenmore machine here. Apart from the door jamb, there is trim around the outside of the door, but I think it's just decorative, because the inside of the door has no trim. Disassembling part of a washer/dryer would void the warranty, I think, and also be very difficult.
posted by JohnKarlWilson at 3:53 PM on April 21, 2015

I'm with ssg: It sucks, but as construction jobs go isn't the end of the world to pull the door frame and replace it afterwards.
posted by straw at 3:55 PM on April 21, 2015

I'd call Sears, and explain the situation. My local appliance store has always been prepared with people who can do minor stuff like that. You might be surprised at how good they are.
posted by lobstah at 4:07 PM on April 21, 2015 [2 favorites]

I am not so sure that removing the fascia would void the warranty -- these typically come off either with a few screws or just some gentle pressure -- the outer skin is removable, and it's how you gain access to the inside of the machine. But as lobstah says above, I'd call the Sear's installation number, The folks they send out to do the install have seen many similar situations and can either do this or advise you on how it should be done. And if worse comes to worse, you can remove the door casing as straw suggests. It's inconvenient but sometimes it's what you have to do to get stuff in or out of a tight space.
posted by mosk at 4:14 PM on April 21, 2015

Response by poster: I just noticed something at the bottom of the doorway (here's a picture). It looks like there's a half-inch wide piece of wood attached to the frame, going up the whole height of the door. So my guess is that I will need to take off the door, the jamb, the trim, and then this extra piece of wood, and that should be enough space for the washer/dryer to get in and out. Is that a major operation to do all (I'm very unskilled)? I assume that the Sears delivery/installation people are not going to do that for me.
posted by JohnKarlWilson at 4:27 PM on April 21, 2015

The door trim is probably 15 minutes of work to pull and replace, maybe 30 if you're being careful, with the right hand tools and technique.
posted by zippy at 4:33 PM on April 21, 2015

After looking at that particular picture you posted, I think it would be helpful if you took a step or two back and tried to take/post a few images that show a larger portion of the door and jamb. What you posted does NOT look like a finished door casing, but instead like a partially finished door casing, with some amount of surface putty or mud. You don't want to mess with that if you can avoid it, as those do require much more skill to repair. There is a big difference between a standard complete door frame and a partial door frame: A finished door casing can be removed and reinstalled without too much drama if the handy-person knows what they are doing, while with a partially finished door casing has less material that can be removed, and the rest of it exposed wall, which will require repair and repainting if you mess it up.
posted by mosk at 4:41 PM on April 21, 2015 [5 favorites]

Do you have a saw, and a small crowbar? Get enough length of 1/2 x 1 inch moulding to go the full length of the door facing, and replacethe goop. Also get some paintable silicone sealant to fill the cracks. Find a pint of latex paint and a small foam brush, you'll be done in no time. Sears charges hourly to do fix up, it used to be $65. I know this because my housemate callwd them because te dryer stopped working. The guy came out, he said that the renter in your apartment had his power turned off. That will be $65.
posted by Oyéah at 4:54 PM on April 21, 2015

It might be $65 an hour, or it might be $65 to come out + ? per hour.
posted by edgeways at 5:09 PM on April 21, 2015

Ask Sears for today's going rate. While you are at it, make the door big enough permanently.
posted by Oyéah at 8:05 PM on April 21, 2015 [3 favorites]

Yeah, that's a good point. In the long run it might be wise to just have someone come and enlarge the actual doorway/new door etc. Otherwise every-time you or someone else replaces the unit the same thing will happen. Plus wider doors are just generally better universal design
posted by edgeways at 6:48 AM on April 23, 2015