In-Wall Ironing Center
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: August 30, 2010
Ironing is a boring job and with a conventional ironing board it can be a real hassle. Because it’s unstable on carpet or vinyl floors. What’s even more of a hassle is where to store the ironing board and iron after you’re done. Well, we’ve got a solution. We’re going to install an ironing center that’s built into the wall. This will not only solve your storage problems, but with this finished wood door, it will also add a nice decorative touch to a laundry room or closet.
This ironing center will not only look good but it has several features to make your life easier. It comes with a pre-wired work light, a 30-minute timer and a receptacle outlet where you plug in your iron. An added safety feature as well. When the ironing board is raised and the door is closed. A switch automatically shuts off all power to the cabinet greatly reducing the risk of fire if you forget to turn off the iron.
Installation Steps:
1. The ironing center fits snugly between 16" on center studs. We find the studs using a stud finder, and mark the wall with a level to cut our opening in the wall. We trace the area that will hold the unit. The unit requires an opening that’s 14 3/8” wide and 51 3/8” tall. It should be mounted 28" above the floor, that places the ironing board at a comfortable working height for most people.
2. Using a drywall saw, we cut out the opening.
3. Screw a 1x2 cleat to the studs flush with the bottom of the opening you just cut. These cleats (little blocks of wood, use scrap 2X4’s) will help support the weight of the unit.
4. Find an electrical outlet right below or near the unit, and this is where we’re going to get power for our ironing center. If you’re not experienced working with electricity, it’s a good idea to get a licensed electrician to come and run a wire from the outlet to your unit.
5. Once the electrician has provided power, run the electrical cable through the manufacturer’s pre-drilled hole in the top of the unit. Remove the housing holding the timer inside the iron-a-way unit, and you will find the wires you need to join to provide power to the unit. Remember, mate like wires with like wires ( i.e. black to black, white to white and green ) which is ground to the cabinet with the other green wire.
6. Bore three pilot holes through the metal cabinet on each side and run 1 1/2" long screws through the holes and into the studs to hold the cabinet in place.
7. Lift cabinet into wall opening, and screw it in and you are ready to iron those clothes!
Now that the unit is installed, you can see other benefits as well. The ironing board adjusts to two different height levels and swivels 180° for left or right-handed users. It has a metal lined shelf for safely storing an iron that’s still warm after use. The ironing center we used cost about $350, and you’ll spend about $100 more to hire an electrician. But it’s well worth it to get some of the storage and clutter problems out of your life.
This ironing center will not only look good but it has several features to make your life easier. It comes with a pre-wired work light, a 30-minute timer and a receptacle outlet where you plug in your iron. An added safety feature as well. When the ironing board is raised and the door is closed. A switch automatically shuts off all power to the cabinet greatly reducing the risk of fire if you forget to turn off the iron.
Installation Steps:
1. The ironing center fits snugly between 16" on center studs. We find the studs using a stud finder, and mark the wall with a level to cut our opening in the wall. We trace the area that will hold the unit. The unit requires an opening that’s 14 3/8” wide and 51 3/8” tall. It should be mounted 28" above the floor, that places the ironing board at a comfortable working height for most people.
2. Using a drywall saw, we cut out the opening.
3. Screw a 1x2 cleat to the studs flush with the bottom of the opening you just cut. These cleats (little blocks of wood, use scrap 2X4’s) will help support the weight of the unit.
4. Find an electrical outlet right below or near the unit, and this is where we’re going to get power for our ironing center. If you’re not experienced working with electricity, it’s a good idea to get a licensed electrician to come and run a wire from the outlet to your unit.
5. Once the electrician has provided power, run the electrical cable through the manufacturer’s pre-drilled hole in the top of the unit. Remove the housing holding the timer inside the iron-a-way unit, and you will find the wires you need to join to provide power to the unit. Remember, mate like wires with like wires ( i.e. black to black, white to white and green ) which is ground to the cabinet with the other green wire.
6. Bore three pilot holes through the metal cabinet on each side and run 1 1/2" long screws through the holes and into the studs to hold the cabinet in place.
7. Lift cabinet into wall opening, and screw it in and you are ready to iron those clothes!
Now that the unit is installed, you can see other benefits as well. The ironing board adjusts to two different height levels and swivels 180° for left or right-handed users. It has a metal lined shelf for safely storing an iron that’s still warm after use. The ironing center we used cost about $350, and you’ll spend about $100 more to hire an electrician. But it’s well worth it to get some of the storage and clutter problems out of your life.
