DickJim-TDA-CasaOne: Laundry Counter

One of our goals since we brought the laundry equipment online was to get the long intended countertop done that was part of our original design.

We had thought we would have Gerardo build it out of metal, but found translating our design into an understandable working drawing just wasn't working.

We wound up heading into Ferreteria Garyba in downtown Parrita to look at lumber options and found the hard true 2x4 lumber - heavy as all get out! Just a few pieces were enough to render our design into a functioning and sturdy countertop. Our design had to allow access of the washing machine hoses to the wall box to afford ready access to the shutoff (we keep the water pressure off when not in use) - and so an access hole needed to be against the wall in the countertop.

Similarly, we needed access for the dryer plug in, and the height of that outlet was about an inch below the finished surface. So we needed a method of access from below that allowed a finished counter to be on top, but still be able to easily unplug the dryer when needed.

All along we intended for a sink to be placed in the center. This to allow for soaking laundry when needed and hand washing with warm water.

As you've seen before, we had to apply plasterbond to the fibrolit surface we applied to the top, in preparation for tile.

We had arranged for Nelson to apply tile to the countertop as well as apply a troweled on texture finish to the walls. This was done in April, well after we left from our January trip. It had been our intention to face the countertop with teak, but unfortunately that was lost in translation. Nonetheless we think the tile facing looks quite nice.

Later on we'll add a door, hopefully teak, below the sink to block off the plumbing between the washer and dryer; and give that space a more finished appearance. We'll decide on paint color and apply it during our next visit.