It’s time to get a new bed, and I’m starting from the bottom and trying to do everything right. We have a king size bed with a split box spring. The center support is a wood 1x8. Each side of the 1x8 has three 1x3 supports going to the sides of the bed. Obviously, this is not enough, as the 1x3 supports are bowed, as are the box springs.
What is a good way to reinforce the bed frame?
One option I can think of is to put in a twin-sized metal frame on each size of the bed, in place of the wooden slats and continue to use box springs. Another option might be to put t-slats in which fit at the top of the 1x8 supports, effectively creating a platform bed. Thoughts?
After looking into this further, I wonder if it would make sense to just remove the center rail completely, and replace it with a metal support system. Something like this:
If your 1" x 8" center support is in good shape, then you could use the t-slats (5-7) on each side to provide enough support for your foundations, If you created enough t-slats, you could provide a substantial enough deck to change your product over to a platform bed design without using foundations. And lastly, you could scrap the center beam as you mentioned and use a retroactive metal support kit (as you linked) and still use your foundations. All of these things would work, and it might come down to what is the easiest for you to pursue.
Thanks for the welcome and the advice, Phoenix. I think I will do some more research into mattresses I’m interested in, get an opinion on the aesthetics from my wive, and choose a path from there.
I finally got this finished. I decided on the t-slats. I bought ten 1x4x6 pine boards from the local store. Screwed and glued the t-slats together, let the glue cure a day, and installed them today. With 4" boards, 5 on each side should be more than enough. It’s a worth upgrade to the bed and it only cost me $40 and a couple of hours’ time. I should be able to put any box spring and mattress I want on the bed frame now.
The only downside is that the t-slats have cut down on the storage space under the bed, so I have to find another place to store a couple of boxes.
After sleeping for a night on the bed, I’m really happy I did this. The sagging of our mattress was actually partially due to the bad support of the bed itself. With no support the box frames sagged and the mattress followed. With the t-slats, the indentation in the mattress is noticeably smaller.
I wonder how many people have a sagging mattress which is partially due to improper support in bed frame, itself. If I hadn’t checked the bed, I would have likely ruined a new mattress due to this issue.
You raise a very good point. When someone complains about “roll together” or sag in a mattress, especially with a newer mattress, it is advisable to start “from the ground up” and evaluate your bed frame/support structure, then your foundations, and finally the mattress. A mattress has no choice but to conform to what it is placed upon.
