i'm planning on lofting my bed, but i'm not sure if the materials i have will be strong enough to support it. i have 3/4" plywood sitting in a metal frame. the frame has 4 short legs on it. i have 2.5' 4x4" posts that i plan on supporting the bed with, and have braces to drill into the wall for 3-4 legs (so the bed will be sturdy). the problem i am running ito is where to put the 4x4s. i can either put them A. on the plywood inside of the frame or B. somehow rest them under the short legs on the metal frame. the plywood boards are also broken into 3 sections.
how should i mount the 4x4" posts?
2007-02-21 07:26:27 · 5 answers · asked by centsless_sc 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
this is directed towards 6kids:
i think you have the best concept for how i should assemble my loft, but i do have one question: you said to put the 4x4 in the corner of the frame but still touching the frame - should i also attach the plywood to the post or no? thanks for your help too!
2007-02-21 08:24:54 · update #1
well my father and I built two beds up like a loft. what we did was put the bed in the corner and built a wooden frame for the mattress. We anchored and drilled two sides to the wall once it was in the corner and braced the "free corner" with one 4x4 post just using the weight of the bed holding it down on the floor. We just made the frame and put in enough bars to support the plywood like you are doing, I believe it was only 4 or 5 cross bars and all we had up there was the mattress not the box springs.
hope that helps. good luck
2007-02-21 07:35:57 · answer #1 · answered by shonb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My suggestion would be to have the 4X4 post right in the corner of the frame but touching the frame. Drill a hole through the frame and screw the post to the frame through the metal and into the post with (at least) 2" lag bolts. You should also think about supporting the posts horizontally with a 2X4 joining each post to each other on at least 3 sides. This will keep the legs from spreading outwards and the bed collapsing in the centre of the posts and crashing to the floor. If you want to keep the front side open, you can get away with putting the horizontal brace across the front of the bed up high, right under the frame at the top of the posts or right on the floor at the foot of the posts.
2007-02-21 07:37:55 · answer #2 · answered by 6kidsANDalwaysFIXINGsomething 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure if this will help. I would put them under the short legs. I have made 4 lofts over the years. If you have a dresser, and want to save room use it to support the metal frame and build a box frame around it. You could also, use a chest of drawers on end and brace to the wall on all other sides. Bulid a frame and paint. Plywood can support the mattress as lond as a good frame is built. You don't have to use the metal frame. I never had one.
2007-02-21 07:46:26 · answer #3 · answered by floatnfun 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you just go to Ikea and pick one up they are pretty cheap. Or go to craiglist.com and look for one there. I got a twin loft bed there for $100. I got my whole bedroom set off of craigs list and 2 different sellers locations, but it only cost me 1/2 a tank of gas, 2 hours of driving back and forth, and $150. For that I got a full size wood bedframe ($50), T.V. stand ($50), and 6 drawer dresser and night stand ($50). I would not go so far as to buy anything that is fabric where critters can hide. But instead of wasting all the time and money, you can just pick a semi used one up for about the same cost.
2007-02-21 10:44:07 · answer #4 · answered by Sarah R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cut the 4x4's to equal lengths, use a router to make a hole in the center of each one that is slightly bigger in diameter than the bed leg and about 1" deep. If you are going so high that the bed feels unstable in this configuration: bracket the three 4x4's that are close to the wall with metal L-brackets fastened to the wall with anchors and screws.
2007-02-21 08:53:35 · answer #5 · answered by toothacres 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋