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We need to find a better foundation for our ca king latex mattress - our current frame doesn't have a center support. Flobeds has a foundation with its own legs that would fit inside our current frame, but we'd like to find something a little less expensive (the mattress itself kind of soaked up the budget). Anybody have any suggestions? Either a slat structure or a flat platform would be fine as long as it supported the weight of the mattress on it's own. I've looked at those metal frame things ('better than a boxspring', etc) sold by Target and Walmart and I don't think those look like a great idea. Linda |
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laredo7mm wrote: I am just going to use standard "2 by" lumber for the perimeter with 1 x 4 firring strips for the slats. Since I have a king sized mattress, I am going to build two seperate foundations and bolt them together. Nothing fancy, nothing pretty, but the bed skirt will cover it so I am not worried about pretty...lol for legs, I am using what Home Depot calls a Waddell Leg. Here is a picture: They come in all different lengths. I am going to use 6 or 9 inch legs. To attach the legs to the foundation, i will use the Waddell Plates: The legs come with the 5/16" screw in the end and that just screws into the above brackets. With the two foundations bolted togeter, I will have one leg in each corner using the triangle shaped bracket. And three legs down the center rail using the square bracket. You could use 2 x 8 lumber, but I want a bit of extra height, so I think I am going to go with the 2 x 10 lumber. I am going to use 14 slats, so on a king sized foundation, they will have about 2.375 inches between them. I have the foundation modeled in 3D. Let me see if I can get a screen shot and I will post the picture. Wow now that is details That sounds like quite a project, and you really have it planned out, must be some great software you have to draw it out. Does HD really have good lumber, and how can you tell if it is untreated? I want safe untreated wood if I ever do this (husband does it I mean Thanks for the details and pics. Should be nice and sturdy. This message was modified May 22, 2010 by Leo3
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Does HD have the wadell plates? I guess you drill holes in the bottom of the frame, attach the waddel plant and then just screw in the legs? Is this a kit or something at HD? I will have to take a look I remember seeing legs at HD, didn't remember those plates though. Cynicaljones could do that on her Sleepeze frame then couldn't she...if she decides to keep the mattress set.
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Leo3 wrote:
Wow now that is details That sounds like quite a project, and you really have it planned out, must be some great software you have to draw it out. Does HD really have good lumber, and how can you tell if it is untreated? I want safe untreated wood if I ever do this (husband does it I mean Thanks for the details and pics. Should be nice and sturdy. It is not a kit from HD, just the parts. They have treated and untreated lumber. It should be clearly marked in the store if it is pressure treated or not. The software I used to design it is called SolidWorks. It is a very powerful and intuitive software package. |
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Here is what I would do if it were me and I wanted to make it pretty and easier on my shins if I ran into the wood when making the bed. I would put quilting layers (at the Joanne's store or wherever) and fabric of my choice and staple gun it to the underside of the wood (lower part) and staple gun it to the top of the side wood (of course away from where the latex/foam will be). You know like reupholstering chairs or footstools I have done. I would also put something like heavy canvas or something substantial to prevent tearing the foam that will lay on the nails or wood. Unless of course you are using a mattress cover like Sleepeze or Flobeds that is pretty heavy fabric. My wool on top mattress pad has a polyester backing that is stiff and it has ripped my latex to shreds. So I had to put the blanket over the latex, then the wool on top mattress and hope it is not ripping it anymore. So that is something to try to prevent rips and tears from using the mattress. Keep us posted on how your project goes. Sounds better than store bought. |
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laredo7mm wrote: It is not a kit from HD, just the parts. They have treated and untreated lumber. It should be clearly marked in the store if it is pressure treated or not. The software I used to design it is called SolidWorks. It is a very powerful and intuitive software package. I am using a Sealy box springs and it's old and I am wondering if it might actually be contributing to the lower back pain I have. I am skeptical that a box spring really even makes much difference but who knows? Might be good to have one (a good one) or it might not be good at all, with latex. I'm going to post a question about this and some other issues. |
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Well, it has been a little over a week of using my home made foundation, and it has not fallen apart yet. Works like a charm. It is plenty sturdy and does not squeek or make any noises. I did have one error in my calculations. It was on the weight of the foundation. I fat fingered the value for the wood denisty in my initial calculations, so the foundation will weigh 50% more than what I posted above (with respect to using untreated pine). Helps when you type in 30 as oppsed to 20...lol...I noticed it because I built the first half downstairs (more room to work) and then had to lug it upstairs to the bedroom. Needless to say, I built the second half in the bedroom. |
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Very impressive and awesome looking, and so glad it's working out for you, laredo7! Thanks for sharing this valuable info with everyone. Do the 1" x 4" slats seem solid and supportive (no sag)? I'm probably going to stick with my Wally World platform (since I've already purchased it) covered with 1" Lux foam skin or 1/8" hardboard. (It's still unopened, though... still waiting for a few of my mattress components to arrive.) Otherwise I'd consider building your foundation. I kinda like that idea, actually... would make my whole project "home brew". Well, I guess I will be assembling the Wally platform myself, so a bit of consolation there! This message was modified Jun 3, 2010 by pianoman
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