# What can I put on a slat bed to make it less slat-y? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762 "2017-09-19T21:30:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/1 "2017-09-19T21:30:54Z")
I recently replaced the mattress in my bedroom because I noticed its predecessor was growing mold on the underside. :eek: The bedframe is a vintage item, and the mattress support consists of 6 wooden slats, spaced about a foot apart. I am worried that this does not provide sufficient support for the mattress; I picked a fairly squishy and non-rigid variety, and I suspect that over time it will try to wriggle itself between the slats, to its eventual detriment. So I want to find something I can place over them to add more support. The slats fit into separate notches carved into the sideboards, so adding more would be nontrivial. The previous setup (not my design) had sheets of plywood over the slats, but since this seems to have been a major contributor to the mold issue I would prefer not to go down that route. Solid bunkie boards in general seem like they would have the same issue. My initial plan was to use a folding mini-boxspring thing like [this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HIR5FHU/), but it turns out the bedframe has nonstandard dimensions and the space between the headboard and footboard is a bit too short to accommodate any version I’ve found. So whatever I use would have to be able to be trimmed to fit, or able to be scrunched up a couple of inches. Currently the best ideas I can think of are: 1. Putting a set of roll slats (where the boards are all connected by cloth or webbing like [this](https://www.amazon.com/Custom-Width-Slats-White-Canvas/dp/B06X9K3VQD/)) on top of the existing slats. But I suspect they’d shift around and I can’t think of a way to anchor them in place without putting screws into the bedframe or something (which I don’t want to do because I rented the apartment furnished and the frame belongs to my landlady, who is persnickety about modifications). 2. Putting a sheet of some kind of heavy plastic mesh over the slats; a trip to the nearest large hardware store didn’t turn up anything suitable, but there’s a big Home Depot a bit further away that I’m planning to check out. So I’m hoping for suggestions from the Dope; has anyone dealt with a similar problem? Brainstorming / WAGs also accepted. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/2 "2017-09-19T21:32:59Z")
A few 1x3 perpendicular to the slats? Should provide support, but also allow air flow to the parts of the mattress not directly supported. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/3 "2017-09-19T21:36:48Z")
Chicken wire stapled down? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/4 "2017-09-19T21:46:45Z")
I’m a little surprised about the mold. Did the mattress get wet or something? I have always used plywood for this purpose, but I don’t see any reason you couldn’t use 1/4" pegboard. With the slats spaced at 12 inches, you should have enough support with a simple sheet of pegboard. The holes would obviously improve the ventilation and (presumably) reduce the likelihood of mold. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/5 "2017-09-19T22:22:37Z")
Cardboard. Seriously just put down regular cardboard over the slats- as in unfolded Amazon boxes. We’ve done it for years with no problems. Cardboard is still breathable and will wick any water away too. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/6 "2017-09-19T22:26:25Z")
I’ve never had trouble with plywood and mold. But if you’re hesitant to try it again, I think your option 1 would be fine. Once you get the mattress down, you shouldn’t have to worry about movement of the slats. **Disheavel’s** suggestion of cardboard also sounds good, but if ventilation was an issue for you with plywood, you might have the same issue with cardboard. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/7 "2017-09-20T08:35:39Z")
You could try a sheet of ply and drill a load of 50mm holes in it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/8 "2017-09-20T09:28:12Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > You could try a sheet of ply and drill a load of 50mm holes in it. I was going to suggest just that. Pre-drilled (or pierced) ply may be available. Alternatively, pulled metal mesh can be pretty rigid if it’s installed so the slots are at 90 degrees to the slats. ---
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/9 "2017-09-20T14:17:47Z")
Thanks guys. 🙂 I will check out what they’ve got at Home Depot re pegboard / hole-y plywood and/or mesh. > [@ZonexandScout](#): > > I’m a little surprised about the mold. Did the mattress get wet or something? > [@TroutMan](#): > > I’ve never had trouble with plywood and mold. I was surprised too… The mattress never got so wet it would soak through, and I’m a bit at a loss about how it got wet enough to support mold. It does get very humid here in the summer…? But poking around on the web I found other people with plywood and mold issues, so I’m assuming there is a connection. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/10 "2017-09-20T14:40:47Z")
Yes, I was also going to suggest another set of slats perpendicular to the original and more closely spaced. use double-sided tape or something less permanent, more easily separated than glue to stop them from moving - or make a “solid board” by gluing /screwing crosspieces underneath the head-to-toe slats parallel to the current slates so you end up with something like a 6-foot section of picket fence that fits neatly over the slats on your bed. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/11 "2017-09-20T15:02:43Z")
I’ve used “bunky board” type things for low profile support over slats for bunk beds. Could work. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/12 "2017-09-20T19:15:57Z")
I have had issues with plywood and mold. I lived in Boulder Creek at the time, which is very wet. I just don’t think it allows for good air circulation or evaporation. I think the peg board is a good suggestion, as is the cardboard. Metal mesh might rip the mattress or the sheets. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/13 "2017-09-20T22:45:19Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I have had issues with plywood and mold. I lived in Boulder Creek at the time, which is very wet. I just don’t think it allows for good air circulation or evaporation. > > I think the peg board is a good suggestion, as is the cardboard. Metal mesh might rip the mattress or the sheets. As long as the problem is not due to wet spots… ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-put-on-a-slat-bed-to-make-it-less-slat-y/796762/14 "2017-09-21T16:36:56Z")
And if it were, why just imagine the sheer quantity of sex that must be happening. Enough to make the less fortunate cringe.