Slatted platforms provide the best support for the mattress. However, this style is not without its drawbacks. Your bed slats can sag or lose strength over time. That’s why we suggest step-by-step instructions on how to make bed slats stronger.
In this article, you’ll also learn what types of bed frames exist, how to reinforce the slats with plywood, new strong bed slats, and support beam. Let’s dive in.
How To Make Bed Slats Stronger: Step-by-Step
A noisy bed frame, or even unstable, can make your life miserable. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a new bed frame. Instead, you can save time and make your bed more stable by strengthening it. You’re making your bed frame more stable, sturdy, and quieter. Here are some ways to make your bed frame look almost as good as new.
There are several ways to approach your problem, depending on the issue and the type of bed frame that you have.
Recommended Materials:
- A drill
- 1-inch screws
- second-hand mattress frame
Step 1. Tighten Your Bed Frame Screws
First, double-check all of your bed’s individual pieces (if any) and the screws. Make sure that everything is tightened up. A wobbly or squeaky bed is often caused by loose screws and bolts. It’s easy to fix! All you need is a screwdriver and a wrench.
Step 2. Reconnect joints
Connect any joints that have become loose or damaged over time if you are using a wooden bed frame. Separated bed frame joints can cause it to wobble, and may result in instability. To prevent any damage to the joint, place a cloth on each side. Ask a family member or friend to hold it. Gently hammer the joint together with a mallet. Repeat for other joints.
You can use a cloth to cover any frames that have been previously glued. After it dries, gently hammer it together using a clamp. You can do the same for all other joints that are not connected.
Add bed slats. If your bed frame is basic and has a perimeter and a support beam at the center, slats can be added to make it more solid and sturdy. This will reduce mattress sagging and allow your bed frame to support more weight.
- To determine the length of your new slats, measure the inner width of the bed frame.
- Mark the length of a 1×4 foot wooden board with a pencil. Then use a handsaw to trim the wood.
- You can repeat steps 1 and 2 to make another wood slat. Or, if your handyman skills aren’t up to the mark, you can take your measurements to your local hardware store, such as Home Depot, where they will cut the wood for you.
- Place one board to the right of the middle beam, and the other to the left, approximately 2 or 2 1/2 feet from the frame’s center bar.
- You can use a power drill for attaching the new wooden planks to your bed frame’s inner lip.
Step 3. Replacing the Supportive Center Beam
If the center beam is a problem, you can remove it and replace it with something more supportive.
The support beam should be at least 2 feet from each plank.
- Remove the center beam from your bed frame.
- Measure the width from one side of the inner frame to determine the length of the new center beam.
- To determine the length of your support leg, measure the distance between the floor and the bottom beam.
- Mark your center beam measurements on a 1×4 wood board with a pencil. You can either use a saw to make the cut yourself or take your measurements to a hardware shop to have it cut by a professional.
- Step four is the same for your support leg. You will need a 4×4 wood block.
- Place your wood block under the plywood center beam to secure the blocks together. Drill 2 wood screws through the block’s top.
- Use a power drill to attach each end of the new center beam to the bed frame.
Also, you can fix a broken bed frame. We will tell you about this in our future articles.
Other Ways How To Make Bed Slats Stronger
1. Secure The Bed Slats
If you’re content with the condition of your Plywood looks like a thin piece of wood that you can put on top of the bed slats. Its thickness is dependent on your personal preferences. The mattress’ weight and how many people are sleeping on it.
Take measurements of the new bed frame to ensure the plywood fits perfectly. You should also consider the wood’s quality.
2. Fewer Gaps Between The Bed Slats And the Mattress
Sometimes, a thing can become weaker if it receives less support. To reduce gaps, you can add more bed slats (or more frames) to your frame. This will give the mattress more support for the weight it can withstand.
Measure the space between the slats to ensure that they are not displaced. Next, purchase the wood according to your preference and attach it to the bed frame.
3. You Can Top The Bed Slats By Adding Plywood
Plywood looks like a thin piece of wood that you can put on top of the bed slats. Its thickness is dependent on your personal preferences. The mattress’ weight and how many people are sleeping on it.
Take measurements of the bed frame to ensure the plywood fits perfectly. You should also consider the quality of the wood you will be buying. Plastering plywood over all the slats will provide extra support and comfort. This can lead to a peaceful night’s sleep.
4. Enhance The Wood Quality In The Bed Slats
You have many options when it comes to wood for your bed. Perhaps your bed was made a long time ago, making it less durable. Or, the bed manufacturer designed the bed based on the basic needs of the person.
You can improve the quality of wood. Just replace wood slats with thicker lumber at a higher rate or with thicker wood. You can research the most suitable type of wood to use in this situation or look for hardware stores that stock the highest-reviewed wood.
You can also ask for the opinions of experts and those who sell wood.
5. Add a Support Beam
The support beam is similar to the bed slats but it’s thicker and has support legs. Take out the mattress and any other items such as pillows.
Next, place the bed frame on the side and allow it to lean against the wall. This will allow you to access the bottom of the bed. Start measuring with your tape measure from the head to feet perpendicularly to the slats of the wood beam.
Next, measure the height of your support legs. Measure from the bottom edge of the slats to that of the bed frame. Once you have all the materials and equipment you need, it is time to assemble and construct the support beam for your bed.
6. Wood Slats Can Be Replaced With Metal
Metal bed slats can be stronger than wood and more durable than wood. It can also last longer. This is only an option for box spring mattresses.
This method is more labor-intensive and will result in higher costs. Metal will cause a gap between the slats which is why a foam mattress won’t fit. This is because this type of mattress cannot be placed on slats that have more than 3 inches between them.
Find out the length and thickness you need for your bed slats’ metal tubes and then buy them from a local hardware shop. Some hardware stores won’t be able to cut metal tubes according to your preferred length. It’s better if you have your own metal saw or grinder.
7. Purchase a Box Spring
This is the most popular method of solving the problem. Before purchasing a box spring, identify the type and size you have. This is the base of your bed and where the mattress will be placed.
Because they serve the same purpose, it somehow looks like plywood. It is thicker and looks more like a mattress. A boxspring will make your bed so soft and comfortable. So exciting!
A box spring is expensive. You need to make sure your mattress is of the highest quality, regardless of how expensive it may be.
The Types Of Bed Frame Platforms You Can Buy
You’ll be surprised at how many frames are basic rectangles with legs. These basic designs can often be upgraded with footboards or headboards. These elements are expected in higher-end price ranges. However, manufacturers leave the decision of which mattress platform to use up to the consumers.
They might only provide the platform’s inner rails. The type of mattress you choose will determine the support you require. Let’s talk briefly about the most popular types of platforms.
Solid Platform
Solid platforms are often just simple MDF boards that fit into the bed frame to provide support for the mattress. It’s not necessary to use a box spring to have a solid, supportive bed frame. You can still achieve the same height with other styles of support, such as the following style of bed frame.
A Basic Frame With a Center Beam
Your bed frame may not be providing enough support if it has a box spring underneath your mattress. A box spring distributes the weight of your mattress over a larger area, so it functions in the same way as a solid platform or slats. This means you don’t need to support the platform at all.
These bed styles typically have one support beam connecting one side to the other. This basically holds the box spring up and prevents it from sagging. Manufacturers might also include additional legs when making larger beds.
Many manufacturers add two additional beams to these types of frames. Slats will be said if you have more. A bed frame must have at least five planks that are evenly spaced to be considered a slatted platform.
Solid or Sprung Slats
The width of your planks will determine how many slats are in a platform. should leave at most three inches between each slat. The closer the slats are to one another, the more robust the platform. If you are looking to create a slatted platform, you will need to consider this.
You should also consider how much support you want. These types of platforms are compatible with or without a Box Spring. You could also use them to make a low-profile bed by simply placing a mattress over the slats. You might want to consider getting sprung slats in this case.
Solid slats are flat planks made from pine and give more support than sprung slats. Solid slats gradually run over the long sides of the bed but sprung slats hook into a central beam. Springs are great but they can cause some problems.
For example, they may lift the middle of your mattress because of how the springs run. Watch this video to understand how you can manage this with different kinds of slats.
Notably, solid slats may also be placed lengthwise to connect the headboard and footboard by connecting the two. They must be supported from below by center beams. It’s still good to know this option exists. Let’s now talk about ways to strengthen your bed slats.
FAQ
How do I make my bed support more weight?
Add bed slats If your bed frame is basic and has a perimeter and a support beam at the center, slats can be added to make it more solid and sturdy. This will reduce mattress sagging and allow your bed frame to support more weight.
Do bed slats break easily?
Broken: bed slabs are simply made of wood planks and therefore more fragile than other bed foundations. In most cases, you will need to assemble the bed slats. It is very easy and shouldn’t pose a problem for most people.
How can I make my wooden bed frame more sturdy?
A replacement of certain parts with thicker lumber is another way to make a wooden frame more sturdy. To reinforce the structure, readers could replace the support beam in the center, the slats, or the legs. A layer of plywood could be added under the mattress to reinforce the support.
Conclusions
The bed is our place of rest and strength and it is important that it be as comfortable as possible, without falling down or creaking. So you have learned that you can easily solve the problem of poor slates and strengthen them.
Which way to make bed slats stronger did you choose for yourself? Share in the comments, your experience is important to us.
