The Basics
Frame. Our 1.5” steel tubing frames provide strength to allow for our Patented design to function for you. Water and electric are on each side, and a removable Walking Platform is over your drain system.
Width. We’ve built and installed units that are 24” wide, and 30” wide, and done single and double-sided washers with both widths. We’re testing now even narrower units for times when they’re needed.
Length. We can fabricate them to whatever length your laundry calls for. We’ve made single units just over 16 feet long, and combined units more than 70 feet long (single-sided in that instance).
Height. Our typical height has been 50” , which is 1” under a 20# Dexter on an 8” base. We need to know the dimensions of your washers and bases to keep the total height below your shortest washer. We can make them taller, if you prefer.
Helping Your Drain System Succeed. Our Patented design allows us to put a low profile bottom cross member, only 1/4” off the ground, to allow your drain system to be as low to the floor as possible!
Walking Platform Supports. Our Patented design has removable cross members for the walking platform on selected sections. We normally put them on the center pole, which means when the day comes to service or change out your train system, you have no overhead obstructions between the two ends of your bulkhead to remove or install new troughs, etc.
Bulkhead Covers.
Maybe you look at this picture and say, “But, Paul, I can’t see the bulkhead in this picture?” My response: “Exactly! The bulkhead is doing its job with excellence, tucked in behind this shiny row of fantastic washers, the top of the bulkhead just lower than the shortest washer, so that the Washers are the star of the show, not your bulkhead! Oh, but fear not, you can get to all the hoses and electrical whips easier than ever with our patented removable walking platform design!”
We’re proud to debut in the industry a fantastic product, a beautiful Brushed Aluminium bonded to a light and durable polyethylene. There are a few other color options, including brushed stainless, brushed bronze, and brushed copper And while this product combines durability, affordability, and beauty, the best part is it’s tucked away behind your washers!
The typical application is for Top Covers, and One or Both End Covers. We can fabricate Side Covers if you have a Single-Sided unit that is not backed up to a wall.
Getting Started & Questions.
We’re in the business, so we should be familiar to help you with all your questions and such. There’s a contact form here, and my email and phone number are everywhere, 337-794-9891 (text and call), paul@freedombulkheads.com. Sending me a store layout and pictures and more is always helpful.
Utilities
Water. Currently, we use Pex for the water supply, Uponor Type-A Pex, to be exact. Uponor was first in the world to manufacture Pex, and is considered an industry leader. Pex-A is an expansion-style fitting, meaning the pipe and expansion ring are stretched with a tool and slid onto your fitting while elongated. The material is always trying to get back to its original shape, so even fittings that are moved after install (e.g. rotated) are always trying to get back to their original, tight fitting on your application, reducing the likelihood of leaks. Pipe sizing will depend on the layout, and is typically 1” or 1.25”. Since you have water and electricity on each side (for double-sided units), your single pipe is not carrying the entire load. Drops are made from ¼ turn ball valves.
As another example of customization to fit your need, on a recent longer bulkhead install, we ran a second line for hot and cold to make a “loop,” providing additional supply volume to the other end of a long bulkhead.
Electricity. Currently, we are using Square-D Homline breaker panels, with a Main Breaker, and individual runs of Metal Clad (MC), Solid Copper Cable, typically 12/2, rather than running wire in conduit. Running individual MC usually means a simpler install and lower electrician bill since there will typically not be any junction boxes when you need to link multiple bulkheads together.
Drain Systems. We are not building troughs at this time, but will coordinate with ordering them from one of the quality manufacturers out there.
Options.
Different Positions for Breaker Boxes.
The breaker boxes can be mounted on one end of the unit, or offset from the end, or on the side, at either end or in the center.
Mounting additional 120v outlets for your use on the bulkhead.
End Covers or Doors.
Total customization of length, height, or width.
Delivery.
We can bring or ship them to wherever.
We may be able to deliver and help you install, like we did with Joe Dan in Lexington, KY, if it all works out.
Lead Time.
We are a hard-working bunch and will do our best to meet your timeline!
Our current lead-time (October 2023) is 2-4 weeks before delivery, subject to change.
Models
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Double Spaced Washer
Pictured above are actually a pair of Double Sided Washer Bulkheads on their way to Joe Dan Reed’s laundry plant in Kentucky. We built for him two, 16’ long double-sided bulkheads. Joe Dan was expecting to use a pipe drain system, so we put 1.5” box tubing as the bottom cross- bracing. We’ve changed to a sturdy piece of flat-bar on the bottom now, so your drains can be as low as you like.
If the water pipes on each section will need to be connected on-site by your plumber, as well as the connections to the incoming water supply. We can supply the likely fittings necessary to speed things along for you.
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Single Spaced Washer
Single-sided ones are needed for a shotgun-style store, or for an island application where the backside doesn’t have washers yet, which is what is pictured above in a store we just built. These are covered with our lightweight, brushed-aluminum covered material. If you look closely, you’ll see the electrical panel placed on the back side near the blue pole.
We can make bulkheads longer or shorter. The 16’ ones for Joe Dan are on the longer side. When an application calls for multiple units, the water pipes on each section will need to be connected together from bulkhead to bulkhead on-site, as well as the connections to the incoming water supply. We can supply the likely fittings necessary to speed things along for you.
Double sided bulkhead- half of the washers installed
Covers on the back of a 1-Sided Washer Island
Center Mounted Electric Panel, and 1 Sided Bulkhead Covers
Offset Mount Electrical Panel
I see the washers, but where are the bulkheads...
Washers 27 inches from the wall, Platform access to the whole washer row, no problem
Paul, this isn't a bulkhead pic, I can't see them behind those gorgeous washers...Exactly
Our Covers on an older, existing bulkheads