How Far Apart Do Bed Slats Need To Be: Proper Procedure Of Slat Spacing
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Modified on 5/18/2020
Proper Procedure For The Slat Spacing
A bed frame having the slats is a platform bed, that is opposed to a panel bed. A platform bed will support the mattress with the help of a series of evenly spaced slats, that are usually made of wood. If building a platform bed or having an old platform bed that needs new slats, then in order to determine the number of slats the user needs a slat width. Generally, the slat spacing is standard.
Standard Slat Spacing
The slats on the standard platform bed having no box spring must be spaced not more than 2 1/2 Inches from apart. This space will allow for adequate air circulation right underneath the mattress and will also provide sufficient support for most of the types of mattresses. However, some of the mattress warranties specify that design requirement for the platform beds, which also include slat spacing, so it is a good option to check the manufacturer for the specific rules that will apply to the mattress model. Some of the mattresses may need to require spaces smaller than even 2 1/2 inches.
Calculate The Slats
For calculating the number of slats the user needs to know the width of the slats as well as the standard spacing. Slats are typically made from 1 x 3 or 1 x 4 lumber, 1 x 3s or 2 1/2 inches wide, and 1 x 4s or 3 1/2 inches wide both of them are about 3/4 inch thick. For instance, a queen mattress is 80 inches long. If the user spaces the slats not more than 2 1/2 inches apart, then they need the following number of slats 1 x 3: 17 and 1 x 4: 14 slats. In both cases, the spaces between the slats will be about 2 3/8 inches. This will assume that the user has a slat, not space, at each end of the mattress. Therefore, if there are 17 slats, then will be 16 spaces or if there are 14 slats, then there will be 13 spaces.
Better Wood For Slats
Most of the bed manufacturers make the slats from a variety of wood species, like beech, birch, poplar, and oak, as well as many others. The properties which make the good slats for a platform bed are the one having good bending strength as well as the stiffness.