We want to build a very solid frame for a 10" King size latex mattress. We were thinking of using flat 24’s 2" apart for air circulation and two beams 1/3 and 2/3 across perpendicular to the slats for support ( flat 24’s with 4*4 supports to the floor).
I have two questions:
How important is it to have flex in the slats? Should we be using one centre beam instead of two beams for flexibilty sake?
Is 2" separation between slats sufficient for air flow or should we have 2 1/2" or 3"?
Hi denlor2,
You’d want to check with the preference of the manufacturer of any latex mattress you’re considering, but most prefer a flat surface that does not flex, so the two head to toe beams should certainly provide a very strong support structure.
3" or less is usually recommended by most latex mattress manufacturers, and you should still have adequate air flow with 2" gaps using 2" x 4" boards. Having a 2" gap also allows you the flexibility if you keep this bed set for a long time and change to something using a pocketed spring unit, as some manufacturers of a latex mattress using a pocketed spring unit for the support core recommend 2" gaps between slats.
I hope that helps. Feel free to post back photos of your finished bed set. I’d be interested to see how it turns out.
Phoenix