Washing machine died last Friday so we have been on the hunt and reading lots of reviews since then. After 2 trips with my pickup and still did not find "the right one" today we headed east and checked out Home depot. As much as I hate that place they had a deal on a washer that she liked. It is a floor model front loader with steam cycle and a bunch of other crap she likes. Could not get them to budge beyond 10% on the dryer price but when she threw in 20% less on the washer we ended up buying both. Of course it started to rain so I have to wait to go get the washer. They did not have the dryer but will deliver it Friday. NOW I have to build a platform to raise them up 18". I plan to stack a 2X8 on edge on top of a 2X10 and top with 3/4 finish grade poplar plywood. Will have lots of cross bracing and may also do a diagonal brace across each machines area. I had built one at the old farm house to enable me to run the plumbing but it was only 6" tall. I plan on 2X4 corner cats as well as at each cross brace. Will use a combo of 3" screws and 16D nails to put it together. She wants to just paint it with a good exterior paint so I will roll the edge of the plywood with a belt sander or else take the router to it. Will take pics as I go. Can't justify $500 for the metal pedestals with a drawer they sell.