Bed slats: what they are, types, sizes, which ones are better. Bed with slats and its features

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Traditional beds with mesh bases are practically not used today. They do not provide proper support to the spine, which leads to the development of musculoskeletal diseases. Modern sleeping places are equipped with an orthopedic base, the springing ability of which is the key to a comfortable sleep. The metal frame of the base is filled with slats for the bed, which can be of different widths and lengths. The plates have a curved shape, are elastic and durable.

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.

The slats are made from high quality wood. The most commonly used wood is birch, maple, ash or beech. They are cut from solid wood, after which they are processed and given a curved shape.

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.

What are bed slats for?

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

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.
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.
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.

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:

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.
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.
Long-term operation. Slats may break if used for more than ten years.

Advantages and disadvantages

It is worth giving preference to the slatted bottom of the bed simply because such a base is considered orthopedic. There are other advantages that distinguish this design from similar devices.

A mattress placed on a base with slats will “breathe.” The holes between the bottom elements allow air to pass through, providing the product with long-term preservation of its hygienic properties.
The rack and pinion frame is not very expensive. In addition, it can be built into the bed. In this case, the bottom with lamellas will not need to be selected separately, and you will not have to assemble the entire structure with your own hands.
The most common version of a slatted base is a product with elements made of natural wood. This is an environmentally friendly material that does not emit toxic substances and does not cause allergies.
The bottom with slats can be easily disassembled by yourself. If repairs are necessary, replacement of slats is available to any user.
Some slatted bottom models provide the ability to adjust the position of the slats. They can be slightly raised or lowered, choosing the most convenient option for yourself.

There are also disadvantages to a slatted bed base. They can be considered using the example of the most common and inexpensive design with birch or pine crossbars.

There are gaps between the slats into which the mattress will fall. Over time, its underside will deform and become wavy.
If you use a mattress without springs for sleeping, under the influence of constant loads, concave areas will form in it after a short period of time. Sleeping on such a bed will be harmful to the spine.
A slatted bottom without shock-absorbing devices is not designed for heavy loads. This design is not suitable for a person with a large body weight.
Individually, each of the lamellas is a rather fragile element. Thin bars are easily damaged and require frequent replacement, which leads to unnecessary costs.
The maximum service life of the slatted base is ten years. In other varieties of bottom this figure is much higher.

Characteristics of slats for beds, manufacturing materials
When choosing a base for a bed, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of each design, so that in the future the product does not cause trouble during operation and ensures a comfortable sleep.

Natural material

Low cost

Easy replacement of elements

Possibility of adjusting the position of the slats

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:

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.
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:

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

A bed with or without slats: which is better?

The choice of slats material depends on the preferences, as well as the financial situation of the buyer.

It will be more difficult and expensive to manufacture a slatted bottom; a solid bottom is cheaper, but it provides worse orthopedic properties of mattresses. Most mattresses reveal their properties precisely in tandem with slats.

For comparison, let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of the bases.

Solid bed bottom

Pros:

Ease of manufacture and versatility.
Suitable for people with spinal problems who need a flat and hard surface.

Minuses:

poor ventilation;
does not have springing properties;
provides worse orthopedic properties of the mattress.

Lamellar base

Advantages of lamellas:

Excellent ventilation.
The orthopedic properties of the mattress increase.
The slatted bottom type is more suitable for those who do not have too much weight.
If the slats break, they can always be replaced, but if the bottom of the bed breaks, it can only be taken to a landfill.
One lamella can withstand a load of 12 kg and in case of breakdown you will not have to change all the lamella fastenings.
The bed is easier to move and transport.
Plastic lat holders do not creak.
Flexibility and resilience.
Affordable price.
Quick replacement.
Easy to disassemble and assemble.
Suitable for beds with a lifting mechanism.
Has springy properties.

Minuses:

may break;
the cheapest models may squeak;
Sometimes the slats pop out of the plastic tips.

To summarize, we can conclude that the base with slats wins on many counts. In the vast majority of cases, this is what is best for the bed.

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.

Number of slats per bed

The number of slats depends on the material from which they are made. You will need less metal ones than wooden ones.

If we talk about wooden ones, then usually 25-30 pieces of bent-glued plates are used for a double bed. There are at least 15 slats per single bed. For comparison: you will need only 8-10 metal slats for a single bed.

The more slats are used, the better they will be able to withstand the load and provide flexibility to the base and cushioning of the mattress. But the fewer there are, the more it is ventilated.

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.

Types of bases by type of lamellas and lath holders

The configuration of the lamellas can be straight or convex, and their width varies from 3 to 9 cm. When choosing a suitable base, you need to focus on the purchased mattress, which can consist of independent spring blocks, dependent Bonnel spring blocks, a monolithic or multilayer slab (“ springless").

Wide slats

The width of such slats is 6–9 cm, less often up to 12 cm. They can be mortise or overhead.
The distance between the slats is 5–7 cm. Plus - affordable cost.

The downside is the gradual deformation of the mattress covering layers at the points of contact between the lamellas and the frame.

Wide slats are suitable for:

springless mattresses;
products with a dependent spring block;
spring models with a low spring density (210–300 pieces per sq. m.) and a layer of hard filler like coconut coir.

Narrow slats

Slats of this type are 3–5 cm wide with a distance between them of 3–4 cm.
Plus, elastic narrow slats allow the base to be more flexible and provide optimal adaptation to loads.

The downside is that such lattice structures belong to the more expensive segment of orthopedic bases.

Narrow slats are used to support all types of mattresses, including:

products with high spring density;
soft “springless”;
mattresses for orthopedic cribs.

Types of lath holders

Holders for slats are divided into 3 types (see photo):

Mortise. Usually made of plastic, the slats are fixed directly into the body of the metal frame. Can only be used with wide slats. The disadvantages of mortise models include the rapid appearance of squeaking.
Plastic overhead. They are located on top of the frame in grooves. The most common option.
Rubber patches. They are fixed in the same way as plastic ones, and are equipped with an additional platform that reduces the load on the slats and extends their service life. Rubber allows you to withstand more weight and almost completely eliminates squeaking.

Mortise Lat Holders

Plastic overhead holders

Rubber holders USEFUL INFORMATION: Mattress for a stroller: for a stroller, for newborns

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.

Tips and tricks

To properly repair broken slats, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommendations and tips for carrying out repair work:

the surface on which repair work will be carried out must be covered with film in advance to protect it from debris;
to get to the installed slats, you will have to get rid of the armrests, back and side panels in advance;
when disassembling the structure, the fasteners are folded into a separate container;
Having disassembled the bed, the boards are carefully inspected for damage;
All damaged strips are carefully unscrewed with a screwdriver; tearing them out by hand is contraindicated.

Manufacturers and models

Popular brands of orthopedic grilles presented on the Russian market:

Ormatek grille. It has a metal all-welded frame, wide slats made of birch veneer with mortise plastic holders. Suitable for springless mattresses. Height – 3.5 cm, maximum load – 160 kg.
"PRIME-2 STANDARD". Metal frame, narrow double birch battens with two degrees of freedom, elastic lamella holders. Height – 7 cm.
"PRIME-2 MiddleZone". Modification of the previous model with adjustable stiffness in the lumbar area.
"PRIME-2 Toris". Another variation of the product with adjustable stiffness along the entire length.
Avalon Premium. Grate with a steel frame and narrow paired lamellas 3.5 cm wide, overhead plastic holders. Increased number of battens: there are 26 crossbars in a row. The manufacturer recommends using such a grid for mattresses made on the basis of a block of independent springs, as well as multi-pack and micro-pack blocks.
"Galaxy Standard". A collapsible lattice base with a metal frame, wide birch slats and rubber lath holders. Height – 3 cm.
Promtex-Orient A1. Collapsible base made of chipboard with wide battens and overhead plastic holders.
"Ormatek Multilamel". A wooden collapsible base with narrow slats, overhead plastic holders and stiffness regulators along the entire length. Height – 8 cm. Maximum load is higher than other gratings – 200 kg.
DreamLine Dream. Steel frame with wide mortise slats 2.5 cm high, there is a collapsible version.
Base with a lifting mechanism from Ormatek. Metal grille with wide MDF slats, overhead plastic lattices and gas shock absorbers.