QR Code Link to This Post Used queen-size low platform bed, brown stained ash veneer, slatted bed base included, mattress NOT included. 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 HEREUser ReviewedHow to Build a Platform Bed A platform bed is one that doesn't use a box spring or metal frame. Instead, it consists of a wooden platform and a mattress, sometimes with side rails, a headboard or drawers. Platform beds have existed throughout history, while box springs have only been available for about the last 150 years.
Platform beds may be simple in design or heavily decorated, novice furniture makers can build a simple platform.Your platform should be 1 inch wider and 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) longer than your mattress, so when you put the mattress on the finished platform bed, there will be 1/2 inch (1 cm) of platform on each side. Subtract 12 inches (30 cm) from the length and width of your mattress to get the measurements for the base of your platform. The base should be smaller than the platform to keep you from stubbing your toes on the base when you get into bed.In addition to the wood for your platform bed, you will need an assortment of tools and supplies, including painting or staining supplies. Build the base of the platform using either 2-by-8- or 2-by-10-foot boards. Consider things such as baseboard heaters, outlets and the thickness of your mattress when deciding how tall to build the platform. Cut the boards to the correct size for the base and arrange them on their edges in a rectangle.
Measure and cut 2 or 3 crosspieces, depending on the size of the base, to fit inside the rectangle. Space the crosspieces at even intervals. Assemble the base using wood screws. Drill pilot holes for the screws in each board and apply carpenter's glue to the cut ends to help seal the joints. Use a carpenter's square to make sure all the boards meet at 90-degree angles. Place short pieces of board in the gaps between cross pieces and screw them in place to help stabilize the base. Stagger the pieces evenly. Allow time for the glue to dry. Cover the screw heads with wood putty, then paint or stain the outside of the base. Assemble the platform in the same manner as the base, remembering that the length and width of the platform will be 12 inches greater than the base. Set the platform on top of the base, center it carefully, and screw it to the base wherever the long boards of the platform meet the long board of the base. Use long deck screws, remembering to drill pilot holes to keep the wood from splitting.
Fit a sheet of medium density fiberboard to the top of the platform. Carefully apply carpenter's glue to the edges of the boards and screw the sheet to the platform, taking care to make sure the screws don't split the fiberboard. Attach edging to the fiberboard sheet to hide the the unfinished edges. Allow time for the glue to dry, cover the screw heads with wood putty, then stain or paint the platform. Show more unanswered questions Buy a mattress that is 6 inches longer than the height of the tallest person who will sleep on it. Because people change positions during sleep, they can often find themselves hanging off a too-small mattress. Ask for finish-quality wood for your platform bed. Softwood is easier to work with and can be stained or painted after proper conditioning. Hardwoods are more attractive, but more difficult to cut and drill. If you're certain of your measurements, consider having your fiberboard sheet cut at the store or lumberyard. Build your platform bed in the room where it will be used.