A: YES, if they’re well-built and have adequate support systems to support the mattress. How can you as a customer know whether the platform bed you’ve been eyeing is sturdy enough? How sturdy should a platform bed be to support a mattress?If you’ve ever purchased a platform bed from a department store or a discount big box store, you may already have experienced inadequate mattress support. If you’ve ever spent a night on a sagging mattress or one that felt uneven or higher in one area than another, in fact your platform bed frame may have been the issue, rather than your mattress. Can your platform bed frame do its job?A well-built platform bed will support your mattress like a dream. No bowing, sliding, or squeaking. FIND A WELL-BUILT PLATFORM FRAME Our store occasionally gets calls from consumers, concerned because their mattress feels uneven. Our first question is always, “What do you have the mattress on?” “I just recently bought a platform bed from [big box store],” is frequently their answer.
Our follow-up response: “Put the mattress on the floor, lay down on it, and tell me if the mattress feels flat.” The consumer does this, comes back on the line, and tells us (with surprise in their voice), that YES, the mattress does feel flat. Slats should run underneath the mattress within the frame. They’re there to keep the mattress level and supported. But some platform bed slats are poorly designed and never stand a chance of supporting a mattress well. Ever heard of Euro Slats? These slats actually come bowed, which can create 1 of 2 potential problems: lack of strength or a crowning effect. If the slats lack strength, they end up sagging under the weight of a person (or people) and a mattress. If the slats ‘crown’ (bow upward slightly), this is because they’re too strong. Fairly obvious editiorial note here: avoid Euro Slats in a platform bed. If the slats are installed in sections, and only go half way across the frame, they’re susceptible to sagging.
If the slats don’t attach to the side rails, but simply rest on a lip, they’re more likely to sag. Slats should be secured with screws or by some other method. Some platform beds lack adequate center support in the form of a center rail crossing the slats. The center rail helps fight gravity, as anything being pushed down on will eventually sag to some degree. Poor center support often leads to people rolling to the middle of the bed. I’ve seen metal rails and thick wooden rails that sag under the weight of a mattress plus people, and sometimes even when no one is lying on it. If there’s no center rail crossing the slats, the slats will inevitably sag. Center support legs down the middle of the mattress gives you a comfier and more stable night’s sleep. Almost no bed boards, or bunkie boards, are appropriate for use by adults. Usually these are comprised of a few thin pine slats topped with cardboard. These will squeak and sag in numerous ways, making for a very unpleasant night’s sleep.
If a retailer is recommending you use a bed board or bunkie board with a platform bed, then it probably shouldn’t be used as a platform bed at all. A sturdy platform bed should have [see above]: At Bedrooms & More Seattle, we offer lots and lots of attactive, quality-made platform bed choices. We’re sure to have a look and a finish that works with your decor. A sturdy bed frame makes for comfy sleepAt Bedrooms & More in Seattle, it’s easy to find a stylish platform bed frame that suits your decor & supports your mattress to perfection. START SHOPPING PLATFORM BEDS HERE Bed slats help to support your mattress. While some bed frames come with these slats, other frames don’t. These slats can be slightly dipped or arched, or they can be totally flat. Make your own flat bed slats with the help of the right wood, a few tools, and these directions. Step 1 – Deciding the Size and Number of Slats You Need If you already have bed slats that are supporting an existing mattress, you can use an old slat as a template to mark the size and dimensions to make the new ones.
Calculating Without Current Supports However, if your current bed has no wooden slats, you can calculate the number you will need and the width of them easily. First, take the measurement of the length of the bed. Most beds are around 80-inches long, and most slats are 2-by-1 inches. Therefore, in this example, you would divide 80 inches by 2 inches, which equals 40 inches. That means that there is enough space for 40 slats. However, you will need one slat’s worth of space between each slat, so you should divide this number in half. Therefore, you would need approximately 20 slats. Step 2 – Purchasing Wood Calculate how many slats you will need, and then purchase the appropriate amount of wood. While yellow southern pine is one of the sturdiest choices, there are other appropriate woods you can build slats from. Step 3 – Measuring and Cutting Warning: When working with any kind of saw, take the appropriate safety measures and always follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Measure the width of the bed, and subtract approximately 1/2 inch. This width will be the measurement you should cut your slats to. Mark the square edge, so that it cuts at 90 degrees across the wood. Then, use a bench saw or circular saw to make a clean and neat cut where you marked. Use the first slat as a template for the rest of the slats, by using it to mark the dimensions on the uncut wood. Cut all slats you will need. Step 4 – Sanding Once you have cut the slats, you will need to sand them with a high-grit sandpaper or a sanding machine. Smooth the wood and get rid of any splinters. Step 5 – Varnishing and Waxing Finally, wax the wood slats with a fine coat of beeswax. Alternatively, you can varnish the slats. Both options are equally advantageous. Step 6 – Installing the Slats Once you’ve finished making the slats, place the first one on the bottom of the bed frame. Place two more next to the original slat. Then, use wood screws or rubber stoppers to secure the two outside slats out of the three slats you’ve put down.