I have an old metal bed frame 54 inches wide by 74 inches long. I am making at mattress platform (no box spring). Planning on using 8 - 2 X 6’s across the width. Total weight that needs support about 300lbs, two bodies not one. Will this provide enough support?
That’s a 2 X 6 every nine inches.
3/4" plywood on top, and not tacked together with tiny nails?
I think you’ve got plenty of overkill there.
It’s going to be heavy.
You could support 300 lbs with one 2x6. You’d be more than fine with 2x4s spaced as 12" or even 18".
½ inch plywood on top.
I am upgrading from ¾ x 4 inch slats. It sagged.
Overkill, I guess, is fine. I’ll hurt my back while moving it not sleeping on it!
If you ran a 2x6 lengthwise down the middle to act as a support beam and the put the slats on top of that, you’d have plenty of support and get rid of the sag.
That’s the best solution, just make sure you get a “clear” (no knots) 2X6.
Thank you…will do and sleep better tonight.
Let’s be clear about something …
In house constuction, 2x6s are used for flooring where the 6" direction is set vertical and the 2" is horizontal.
Bed slats are typcially the other way, 3/4" vertical & 4" horizontal.
Which orientation are you planning for this frame? Big difference in the results. It smells to me like you’re thinking one way & the advice-givers are thnking the other.
Whatever material you use to support a rigid platform, make the long dimension of the material vertical like a joist, not horizontal like a typical bed slat.
Here’s another approach which I know works.
I have a store-bought platform/frame which is 3/4" x 10" particle board. There are four sides 10" tall , 3/4" thick that form a 10"-tall topless/bottomless box ~12" smaller in each direction than size of the mattress. It screws together at the corners. This sits on the floor.
Two more 3/4" x 10 PB pieces are arranged in a + configuration inside the box; they’re notched to cross each other in the center of the box & they also sit directly on the floor. They’re a couple inches shorter than the inside dimensions of the box; they don’t actually touch the box at any point.
Two 3/4" PB sheets are laid flat on top of this frame & screwed down with drywall screws every 12" or so. Their surface is a little larger than the mattress. It’s set flush with the box edge at the head end & overhangs on each side about 6" and about 9" on the foot end.
Nicely finished real wood (or veneer or …) boards 3/4" x 6" are cut to the length of the edges of the platform for the two sides & the foot. They’re set with the 6" direction vertical & are notched lengthwise so they slip over the edge of the platform. They’re screwed together at the corners. They provide about 2" above the platform to capture the mattress & about 4" below the platform to hide the unfinished base.
The heaviest peices are the two platform sheets & they’re about 4ft x 6ft for a queen bed. Maaaybe 20 lbs each. The rest of the parts don’t weigh enough individually to matter. It’s easy to assemble & disassemble.
If I wanted to build a platform from scratch, this design is what I’d copy.
Ahh…yes,
The old style bed frame is very tall, that is why I am not using a box spring. 6 inch or 4 inch vertical make the mattress to high off the frame. So to clarify, yes I’m trying to slat the frame with 2x6’s. 2 inch tall by 6 inch wide.
The top of the frame is 16 inches from the floor. The mattress is another 10 inches tall. I do not have a lot of extra height to work with unless I plan on a bunk bed.
So back to the original question, will 8-2x6’s (2 inch vertical 6 inch wide) support 300lbs across a 54 inch wide frame or will I get uncomfortable sag?
Yes, but it sounds like unnecessary expense and overkill. Can you post a pic of the inside of the platform?
Don’t forget that it not only has to hold your static weight, but some bouncing around!
Yes some bounce testing must be done.
If the 1by slats held, but bowed too much, the easiest fix is to install a support down the center of the length of the platform box, this will support the center of the slates and a “clear” 2X4 should be adequate. The easiest way to do this would be using a pair of joist hangers: http://images.orgill.com/200x200/6513808.jpg
