When using a standard metal frame with a foundation under the mattress, I notice some of them have a center metal rail running head to foot, and others have a center metal rail running side to side. Which one is better (for queen size)? Does it matter?
Examples:
head to foot: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L5MF02U
side to side: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D4BD47F
You can tell by looking at the headboard attachments.
Hi Carla68 and New MUGster. Welcome to the MattressUnderGround and thank you for this interesting question.
Let’s make the assumption that the bed frame material and build are of equal quality and gauge/thickness. This way we can remove that as a variable. The both have 9 support legs, again all of equal quality and weight baring ability.
Now you are left with just a frame. A couple things to consider.
Are you using a semiflex, slatted or solid foundation?
Will this be a one piece foundation or a split foundation?
If we put all of that aside for the moment, let’s just think of the construction. With only one rail running down the middle head to foot, that leaves room for potential warping as each sleeper is sleeping head to foot with the frame offering no support under the sleeper’s mid range where most carry their weight. This is likely to be offset, though, as if you were to use a slatted foundation, you would want to use slats lying side to side, rather than head to foot. If you ran head to foot with this foundation, you can almost guarantee those long boards with no support will warp. With boards running side to side they will have a shorter distance without support under each board and the shorter board distance will be harder to warp.
Let’s consider the frame with the 3 side to side support bars. First you have the sleeper’s body’s lying at least 2 cross support bars and possibly three… You would naturally need slats going head to foot. We would hope that despite the slightly longer distance of those slats with no support under them other than the side to side beams, it would be enough to support each sleepers weight. I would probably opt for thicker slats in this setup.
In the end it will depend on the foundation that is used to sit on the bed rails of the frame. I would say with a split foundation, you would want side to side bed frame rails supporting them, the same would be true with a solid foundation atop of the side to side frame rails. When it comes to slats, Having a lot of short slats side to middle and middle to side, since there will be more of them you will need head to foot, that may prove to be a sturdier situation than longer full lenght slats running the length of the head to foot supported by 3 side to side cross beams.
I can image folks just buying a frame based on price, not paying attention to the beam direction, and having their shiny new mattress fail because they used the wrong foundation of their bed frame.
Excellent observation,
Maverick
Thank you for the detailed and thoughtful reply! It did seem like the more premium frames tend to be side-to-side support, and now I have a better understanding of why. I appreciate your explanation!