How to remove slats from bed base

How to choose the right type and number of slats for a bed

In the article I will look at the features of bed slats, what pros and cons they have. And also, what types of these products are found, what they are made of and how many of them are needed for a frame for a sleeping place. From the material you will also learn which fasteners are best for attaching slats to the base, and how to make them yourself.

Spring mattresses are relics of the past. Modern furniture production offers beds with orthopedic bases. The peculiarity of their design is the presence of a wooden box, a metal frame and one or two curved panels, which are called lamellas. They are the ones who give the sleeping place an orthopedic effect.

Main features of bed slats

They are a plate or panel made of wood. They are included in the main part of each bed, assembled using modern technologies.

The main feature is the “C” shape

They can also support quite a large mass (the weight of a person and a mattress).

The slats are made from:

1. The most affordable and very plastic material is birch.
2. An analogue of birch in terms of characteristics is linden.
3. Beech.
4. Ash.
5. Maple.

Beech and ash slats are expensive and are included in the design of beds that are made only from wood, or rather solid wood.

The cheapest option is birch slats, the most expensive is beech

Lamels have the following positive qualities:

• Increased elasticity.
• Lightness of the plates.
• Extend the life of the bed as a whole.
• They have a springing effect.
• Thanks to them, air circulates more actively.
• Correctly support the spine during sleep.
• Not difficult to repair and maintain.

There is always a conflict between the slats and the springy base of the mattress. Such a bed base is quite expensive, and there are also certain sizes. This is the main disadvantage of lamellas.

Get a double bed

A double bed is a necessary and desirable piece of furniture for every family. Its purchase is always associated with a long choice, as well as the expenditure of considerable funds. But you can make comfortable furniture for sleeping with your own hands, and you’ll still have money left over for a mattress and beautiful linen.

The bed that we will make is not just comfortable. It is beautiful, has a sleeping area of ​​1800x2000 cm, is equipped with a lifting mechanism and, accordingly, provides ample storage space.

Prepare everything you need

Materials and tools will be used in the work:

• sheets of sanded chipboard 16x1750x3500 mm for the frame;
• a sheet of 8 mm birch plywood FC 1525x1525 mm, from which we will cut lamellas;
• 2 sheets of fiberboard 2.5x1220x1440 mm will go to the bottom drawer;
• 18 m of 50x40 mm timber will strengthen the bed structure;
• sheets of foam rubber 30x1000x3000 mm for finishing the headboard, 10x1000x3000 mm for finishing the frame;
• non-woven fabric 1.6 m wide - 5 m;
• chenille 1.5 m wide - 5 m for front finishing;
• lifting mechanism equipped with gas shock absorbers;
• electric drill, drill bits;
• metal corners;
• sanding machine with attachments or sandpaper;
• glue;
• self-tapping screws;
• 8 mm bolts with washers, nuts, self-tapping screws;
• furniture stapler with paper clips.

Types of lamellas

Lamellas are divided into two main types: narrow and wide.

Narrow

They are usually located in two rows. In other words, there is one row for every sleeping position.

This type is best installed if the mattress is filled with independent springs.

Narrow slats are suitable for placement on the frame of a spring mattress

Wide

This type is arranged in a single row on the grille. They are most often used in single and semi-double beds.

Basically, springless mattresses or mattresses equipped with Bonnell springs are suitable for such a base.

Wide slats are suitable for springless mattress options

For a bed with two beds, the number of slats is considered to be 25 - 30 pieces. For one sleeping place there must be at least 15 slats.

You also need to take into account that the slats differ from each other:

• thick;
• length;
• width;
• distance between slats.

It is believed that the best lamella thickness is from 0.08 to 0.1 centimeters, a width from 5 to 7 centimeters, and the length will be the width of the bed or half of it.

The optimal distance between the yards can vary from 4 to 7 centimeters

There are also additional characteristics that help distribute lamellas by type.

1. Type of base. It can be either wooden or metal.
2. There are legs or they are missing.
3. How are they attached?
4. By size, that is, narrow or wide yards.
5. Transformers, that is, is it possible to take any comfortable position while resting.
6. Which options are used, straight or with a spring effect?
7. Is it possible to adjust the hardness?
8. By size.
9. According to the color palette.

How to remove slats from a bed frame

A high-quality bed has a long service life, but sooner or later it may fail. Fastenings, legs, and connecting parts of the bed break.

Sometimes it happens that the parts remain intact, but an unpleasant creaking appears, which interferes with sleep and which needs to be eliminated.

It’s very easy to avoid all this - make the slats for the bed with your own hands and repair the furniture yourself.

Required Tools

To successfully repair furniture, you will need the following tools:

Important! If you don’t have a screwdriver, you can replace it with a screwdriver.

The set of work operations depends on the type of repair. Let's take a closer look at all types of bed repairs.

Do-it-yourself bed repair - base

This is one of the most labor-intensive and voluminous types of repairs. The bed will have to be disassembled almost entirely:

1. Start your work by dismantling the mattress and removing everything that was in the bedding drawers.
2. Disassemble the frame, unscrew all fasteners - brackets, nuts, etc.
3. Carefully separate the parts.
4. Now all that remains is to find the broken components and replace them with undamaged ones.

How to fix a bed more thoroughly? If necessary, you can make the base yourself from boards and 7x4 cm timber. The consumables you will need are glue and screws.

Important! The thickness of the boards must be at least 20 mm with a width of 180 mm.

After the material is completely prepared:

1. Secure the beams with self-tapping screws to the walls of the frame.
2. Lay the boards on them at certain intervals, also securing them with self-tapping screws.
3. Strengthen the boards that make up the base by covering them with PVA glue.

Important! In this case, the product can be used only after the glue has completely dried and after the smell has completely disappeared. The whole process will take more than 24 hours, but the base will be strong and not creaking.

Repairing a bunk bed is carried out according to the same principle, only the volume of installation and dismantling work will be greater.

Regardless of which of the sleeping places has become unusable, the upper tier must be dismantled and then reinstalled. The work is quite labor-intensive, but it cannot be called difficult. The effect is quite good.

The only drawback of this repair is the lack of an orthopedic effect on the bed. But this problem can be solved by choosing a good mattress.

How to repair slats?

Slats are called slats attached to the base of the bed. In the above description, the slats are boards fixed at a certain distance from one another. Real lamellas are bent-glued wooden plates. At the same time, the type of wood can be almost any.

Important! The peculiarity of the lamellas is their flexibility and elasticity. They provide the orthopedic effect of the product and make sleep as comfortable as possible. Due to the fact that the plates are located at a certain distance from one another, ventilation of the mattress is ensured.

If you notice that 1-2 boards in the center of the bed are broken, the easiest option is to swap them with the whole boards at the head or foot of the bed.

The load there is less, and the orthopedic effect is not so important. But, of course, it will not be possible to do such a manipulation all the time. If only because the number of lamellas is not infinite.

In addition, the functionality of the furniture will suffer significantly.

It is much more rational to buy lamellas separately. The standard length of such a product is 0.9 m, with a width of 53 or 68 mm. In this case, the repair procedure is as follows:

1. Cut a piece of the desired length from the finished product.
2. Place a piece of lath holder on both ends.
3. Insert the prepared section into the grooves of the frame.

A few tips for a novice master

If you are not renovating, but making a bed yourself, you need to remember the following basic rules on how to make slats for a bed with your own hands:

• The minimum number of slats in a single bed is 15 pieces. In a double design, respectively, - 30.
• The distance between the slats should not exceed the width of the slats.
• The lamellas can be secured using special tips or frame stands.

Types of holders

Additionally, lamellas can be classified according to the types of holders. They are:

1. Plastic.
2. Rubber.
3. Polypropylene.

If necessary, any type of fasteners can be easily replaced

Yards, regardless of how they are located, using tape or on a metal frame are a thing of the past. More practical and lightweight fastenings are now used. They are easily replaced and repaired in case of breakdown.

Dimensions and parameters

Currently, all beds have differences in the size of the beds. Accordingly, there are different options for their length:

• Double bed, measuring 1.8 by 2.0 meters. The ideal dimensions for it would be the width of the lamellas, which vary from 8.8 to 8.85 centimeters.
• Single bed. The width is about 9 - 9.9 centimeters (if the slats are single-row), and 5 centimeters for double-row slats.

If you need to replace a broken part, then you should also take into account the bending angle and, before purchasing a part, measure both the length and width of even those components that are already installed.

Latoflexes vary in width - 0.4, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.8 centimeters. The thickness is constant and amounts to 8 mm.

Size and quality of lamellas

So, experts agree that the greater the number of lamellas, the better it will be.
However, we immediately note that for a double bed 30 slats will be enough. For a single bed, their number is halved. Quite often you can encounter a situation where there are only 20-25 slats on a double bed; this saves the manufacturer on consumables. A design with lower lamellas becomes less durable and not flexible enough.

The distance between the slats should not exceed the width of one strip; as for thickness, the standard size is 8 mm. The length of the slats depends on the width of the bed.

It is important to consider and know these points not only when choosing a bed, but also if during its operation there is a need to replace the slats.

What is a lamella

Before you begin, you need to familiarize yourself with the description of the features of the lamellas in more detail. Lamels are wooden structures that have a curved shape. Their characteristic features include a high level of elasticity and elasticity. It is thanks to these features that the mattress can be securely fixed.

Such wood products are laid out at a distance of 2-5 centimeters. This allows slatted beds to be used by both thin and overweight people. The thickness of one plank reaches ten millimeters, and the width does not exceed thirty. However, cheap beds can use boards 4-5 millimeters thick.

Main causes of breakdowns

Sometimes people find that the board in their bed is broken. There are several main reasons why a wooden plank can break:

1. Exceeding permissible loads. Wooden slats have certain load limits that should not be exceeded. However, some people still overload them, which later leads to breakdowns. Therefore, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the permissible loads of the slatted bed in advance.
2. Marriage. Sometimes manufacturers install low-quality products made from defective wood. This often happens when using overdried wood, which quickly breaks even under light loads.
3. Long-term operation. Slats may break if used for more than ten years.

How to choose new ones

Sometimes it is not possible to repair old products and you have to replace them with new ones. Before purchasing new boards, you will have to understand the specifics of the purchase.

Size

When making sofa grilles, lamellas are used, which may differ in size. Therefore, before purchasing, you should familiarize yourself with the main types of such products:

1. Wide. These designs are purchased if you need to replace the slats on large sofas where bonnells with springs are installed. The width of such boards does not exceed seven centimeters.
2. Narrow. They are considered a universal material, as they are suitable for any mattress. Experts advise buying narrow slats for beds that have spring mattresses. This will increase the strength of the structure. The width of narrow lamella materials is 4-5 millimeters. The thickness of such planks is small and reaches only three millimeters.

Quantity

Having decided on the dimensions, you need to figure out the optimal number of slats. Some people don't know how many boards they need to buy to strengthen the base of the bed.

Experts recommend buying a lot of lamellas, since the strength of the product depends on this.

To determine the required number of slats, take into account the dimensions of the bed. For example, for double structures, at least thirty planks are purchased. For single beds, 15-20 pieces are enough. However, some manufacturers install more than thirty slats to make the sofa more elastic and resistant to stress.

Material

Most often, slats for sofas are made of wood. It is used to make adhesive plywood, which is laid in several layers to create a more durable surface. Products made from plywood are characterized by good elasticity and elasticity. The lamellas can also be made from the following materials:

1. Birch. Budget products are made from young birch trees. Such structures are not very durable and therefore are not recommended to be used.
2. Beech. To make more reliable bed bases, beech is often used. This wood is flexible and highly durable.

Mounting methods

They are fixed with tip holders, which are made of the following materials:

1. Rubber.
2. Plastic.
3. Polypropylene.

Any mount is suitable for attaching lamellas, but manufacturers usually use plastic ones. They are simple, but last a long time. Rubber is more expensive and is used less often. Polypropylene is generally found in extreme cases, although it is quite reliable.

You need to choose a convenient holder and secure it with brackets. You can secure it in special pockets at the base of the frame.

How to repair and replace slats

At the initial stage of repair, it is necessary to get rid of damaged planks. They are carefully removed from the groove, moved to the side and removed from the structure. Some types of lamellas are attached using special holders. In this case, you will have to use pliers or a screwdriver.

Some people use a hammer, but it is not recommended to use it so as not to accidentally damage the structure.

If the slats are broken in the central part of the bed, you can swap them with the outer slats. This is done when one or two planks are broken. If more lamellas are broken, you will have to buy new ones. In this case, it is recommended to buy the same products as before. The purchased products are carefully attached to the bed using clamps. After installation, you need to check the reliability of the fastening and make sure that the slats are not loose.

What if repairs were needed? How to change them

To dismantle the strip, it is bent towards the bend until it comes out of the groove, after which it moves to the side. This may be necessary if the bed frame needs to be repaired. If the lamella is broken, it is not recommended to glue it; it would be correct to replace it with a new one.

To dismantle the lamella, which is fixed with special holders, you will need a hammer, pliers, and a screwdriver. It is easier to remove the holder if you first remove the damaged lamella. Dismantling is carried out based on the type of holder and the method of its fixation. It may be necessary to remove the fixing pins, remove the brackets, and unscrew the screws.

It is recommended to buy new slats in specialized stores. On our company’s website, these elements are offered in a large assortment; their main advantage is high quality and affordable cost.

Contact us, we will advise you and help you decide on the choice of slats, taking into account all the requirements to restore the comfort and convenience of your sleeping place.

How to repair a lifting mechanism with your own hands

Sometimes the bed lifting mechanism, which is responsible for transforming the structure, breaks along with the slats. The following signs indicate a breakdown:

• spontaneous lowering of the orthopedic base;
• jamming of the mechanism when lifting or lowering the structure;
• creaking and other extraneous sounds that occur during operation.

If one of the listed symptoms appears, it is necessary to disassemble the lifting mechanism. To do this, the mattress is removed from the bed, after which its base is unscrewed. Then the fasteners are unscrewed, with the help of which the mechanism is screwed to the structure. It is difficult to repair such a product yourself and therefore it is better to take it to a specialist who professionally repairs furniture.

Methods for restoring an old bed

If the bed is too old, you can restore it and make it look like new furniture. During the restoration process, it is necessary to carefully inspect the structure and identify parts that require replacement. Most often, the springs and mattress are changed during restoration. Sometimes people decide to replace worn side panels. To do this, you will have to purchase new panels that are suitable for the restored sofa. If the side parts are not very worn, you can sand them and varnish them. It is recommended to use varnish mixtures that have a mahogany tint.

Do-it-yourself double bed - it's possible!

A double bed is the main purchase for a young family. And its acquisition is a long time choice and a significant waste of money. So why not make a bed yourself, at home, while saving money and getting the size that fits perfectly into your interior. We will tell you how to make a beautiful and comfortable bed for two at home, with the most common size for a bed being 1.80 x 2.0 meters. It will be equipped with an “atamanka” with a lifting mechanism and a cavity for storing bed linen.

What are bed slats?

When buying furniture, you should initially find out what slats for a bed are. They are thin transverse plates, strips of elastic material that replace the bottom of the box. The mattress is placed on them. Lamels are also called armor or latoflexes. They replaced springs, nets, solid boards and solid bases. All comfortable slats have an arched elastic profile that provides a springy effect.

How to make lamellas with your own hands

To make lamellas you will need:

• birch plywood or mounting slats having a thickness of 1.5-2 mm;
• cutting tools;
• fastenings for lamellas, preferably polypropylene or rubber.

Note! You should choose smooth birch plywood without roughness or knots to avoid the need for additional processing.

Before you make slats for a bed with your own hands, you need to create a drawing and cut out parts of the same size. Afterwards, a fastening cap is put on them, together with which the slats go into the base of the bed.

To make the job as simple as possible, choose smooth 100% birch plywood without knots or roughness so that you don’t have to further process it.

The base with slats is a comfortable orthopedic design that provides complete rest. By choosing the right number of slats, you can significantly improve the quality of sleep and recovery of the body.

What are bed slats for?

When wondering whether slats are needed for a bed, it is worth knowing their advantages:

1. These cross slats have a curved shape, due to which the surface of the sleeping bed is slightly springy. This allows the mattress to repeatedly enhance its orthopedic effect. It provides improved support for the spine in the desired position.
2. The elasticity of the lamellas constantly acts as a counterweight to the applied pressure, which significantly reduces the load on the mattress and increases its service life.
3. The lattice structure of the bed base ensures good air circulation; free air exchange in all layers of the mattress completely eliminates the greenhouse effect.

Slat base for mattress

Special slats and lamellas are installed on the bed frame, which in combination with the mattress create conditions for “quality” sleep. Moreover, the effectiveness of the slats is maintained not only with orthopedic, but also with conventional products. What are lamellas used for:

1. They reduce the load on the mattress, enhance its quality, and extend its service life.
2. They have springy qualities and elasticity, in which the load is distributed correctly.
3. The spine takes the correct position during sleep.
4. Special holders are used as fasteners, which is why the bed does not make noise or squeak when moving.
5. Their location ensures natural ventilation of the mattress.

Professionally made lamellas, or latoflex, are wooden elastic strips made of bent-glued multilayer plywood. The thickness of each part is 0.8 cm, and the width can range from 5.3 to 6.8 cm. As a rule, their shape is slightly curved. Install Latoflex across the base of the bed at a distance of 2 to 6 cm, but not greater than the width of the bar used.

A single bed requires 15 slats, and a double bed requires 2 times more. Moreover, in the latter case, an additional middle support bar must be installed, and the slats are attached in two rows. Thus, one bed provides two orthopedic beds.

What can slats be made from? Traditionally, latoflex is made from the following types of wood:

The slats are attached to the bed frame using lath holders, which can be made of plastic, polypropylene or rubber, tape or metal stands.

To make orthopedic base slats with your own hands, you can use boards of the desired size after appropriate processing. Craftsmen who make their own beds offer different ways to attach them to the frame:

• The generally accepted option is with self-tapping screws.
• An original shock-absorbing method of attaching slats using thick edge tape.

• Install the slats into the grooves created by attaching specially prepared bars to the frame.

Types of bed slats

When deciding which slats are best for a bed, it is important to know that the main requirements for them are strength and flexibility. They are made from wood, plastic or metal. The latter type of slats practically does not bend under the mattress, which reduces its anatomical properties. Reinforced bed slats are equipped with attachments in the area of ​​heavy load on the base. By moving or pushing the cursors along the rail, you can adjust the rigidity of the latoflexes in the right places. Orthopedic frames can be additionally equipped with their own legs or rest on the base of the bed.