The slats in the bed are broken, what should I do? Types of bed slats, design features and purpose. What it is

If you need to buy or make a new bed with your own hands, you should formulate for yourself a number of main requirements that it must meet.

• Orthopedic properties always come first. After all, such furniture should provide an opportunity to fully relax and restore strength after a hard day.
• In second place is the build quality of the product and the materials used. Having spent effort, time, money, you must be sure that the purchase will be reliable, safe, and will last a long time.
• And only in the third, fourth, etc. position - appearance, design, etc.

The orthopedic quality of beds is determined by the presence of a special base for the mattress. Thanks to its elasticity and the ability to bend smoothly, a physiologically correct position of the spine is achieved during sleep, the body is relaxed and can fully restore strength.

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 lamellas

The products differ due to the following characteristics. 1. By type of base (wooden and metal bases). 2. The presence of legs (either present or not). 3. Availability of fastenings (plastic, rubber, polypropylene). 4. By size (wide and narrow slats). 5. Transformers (you can choose any comfortable position). 6. Different characteristics (straight and spring slats). 7. Availability of a hardness regulator. 8. Length. 9. By color.

Oak slats are a favorite among many bed manufacturers.

Do-it-yourself bedroom repair

If all assembly rules are followed, the only thing that can cause a sleeping place to become unusable is a breakdown of the lamella or lath holder. Even an inexperienced craftsman can repair a bed with his own hands.

New low-quality holders have the appearance and quality of rubber, but over time they lose elasticity and break. As a result, you can hear the bottom creaking, and the slats often fall out of the fastenings. In this case, repairs are necessary. Replacing damaged base elements will have a short-lived effect, since they will be followed by other, equally low-quality parts breaking. The best way out is to improve the method of attaching the slats with your own hands.

DIY bed slats

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.

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.

The reduced dimensions of the parts are shown in the diagram below. In accordance with them, make the cutting yourself or order it from the place where you purchase lumber.

Description of work

1. Try on the prepared parts in advance. Make a partition from chipboard (20 cm high), which will be installed in the center of the structure. Attach a timber cut to size to it.
2. Place the bars at a height of 20 cm from the bottom of the side panels. Secure with self-tapping screws. The base for the mattress will be located on them and the middle partition.
3. Assemble the bed frame with screws: a beam that is located along the headboard, side frame beams, and a footboard. Check the connection angle of the parts is 90 degrees.
4. Measure and mark the middle of the headboard and footboard beams. Using the marks as a guide, install the middle partition block.
5. Additionally, secure all corner joints inside using metal corners.
6. In the middle of each of the two sleeping places, install 1 additional block with self-tapping screws. They should be on the same level as the side ones.
7. Lay the headboard on the foam rubber, outline the outline. Cut a piece 15-20 cm larger for hems on the sides and top. Lubricate the surface with glue. Then lay the foam rubber on the headboard blank, using a furniture stapler, secure the foam rubber in several places on the front part. Having slightly pulled, you need to do the same on the wrong side of the part.
8. Open and trim the front of the headboard with chenille. Attach the fabric to the back side only.
9. Design the bed frame in the same way.
10. Assemble the outer casing with self-tapping screws, strengthen the connections with corners.
11. Install the bottom of the box, carefully placing the structure on its side.
12. To prevent the cross beam of the frame from rubbing against the partition during operation of the lifting mechanism, a recess must be made in it.
13. Adjust the position of the parts, then attach the lifting mechanism to the frame and sides.
14. Immediately below it, install horizontal support and vertical support bars on the sidewalls using self-tapping screws.
15. Adjust the plywood slats to the required length - they should lie freely on the bars. Then sand down the cut areas so that the sharp edges do not damage the mattress fabric.
16. Screw the slats onto the bars. This installation method will ensure long service life of the slats and reliable support and ventilation of the mattress. The slats must be securely fixed, since the sleeping place will be raised/lowered.
17. Cover the back side of the headboard with non-woven material, hiding the places where the decorative material is attached, as well as the inside of the sides.

What to do if one of the slats breaks?

The plates can be ordered individually, there is any size and material you need, the cost of the products is reasonable.

The buyer can independently choose the material from which the lamellas will be made.

Prices for 1 piece vary from 80 rubles. up to 100 rub. The total price of lamellas is from 8,000 to 20,000 thousand rubles.

The better and stronger the material for the lamellas, the higher the price tag will be set for them.

And if you want to repair the slats, the cost will depend on the number of broken plates, for example, if 8 are broken, pay up to 800 rubles.

Plastic fasteners for lamellas are not inferior in reliability to metal ones.

How to adjust the hardness?

This is very easy and simple to do - you need to move or move the cursors along the bar, this way you can reduce or increase the rigidity in a certain area.

The more often the slats are installed, the harder the base of your bed will be.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Orthopedic bed slats or plywood base – which is better, let’s look at the details.

A solid plywood base is made, like latoflex, from laminated birch veneer. The main difference is that for the production of bed slats, first and second grade veneers are selected, and both third and fourth grades are also used for plywood; the material is characterized by environmental friendliness, a high level of strength and durability.

Typically, a solid base is part of the bed frame. Due to this, it cannot be partially replaced, which cannot be said about orthopedic bed slats. The obvious disadvantages of this kind of surfaces include the lack of holes in them for ventilation of the mattress. For this reason, mattresses placed on a solid base often harbor dust mites and various types of bacteria. These factors can cause allergies in sleepers. Also, in such a base there is no orthopedic effect, i.e. it is not able to gently spring under the back and allow the body to completely relax during sleep. Therefore, experts do not recommend using this type of base and consider it to be obsolete.

And to the question “which base for an orthopedic mattress is better?” There is only one answer - the base on which the orthopedic armor is installed. And that's why.

Bent-laminated slats are made from several layers of birch veneer. This type of wood is a soft variety and has a high level of elasticity. Lamel bases for orthopedic mattresses characterized by elasticity and flexibility. They do not lose their properties throughout their entire service life. Their advantage is maintaining the distance between the elements, which promotes continuous ventilation of the mattress.

Are you still wondering whether you need an orthopedic base for an orthopedic mattress?

The answer to it is obvious - it is simply necessary. The presence of a lamella base helps to increase the orthopedic effect and anatomical properties of the mattress. And so, the quality of sleep becomes much better.

Lamella production

The production of plates takes place on Austrian equipment.

Option for assembling an orthopedic base from slats for a single bed.

Edged boards of different grades A-B are purchased. Using a planed board, the dissolution is made.

At any time, you can replace the slats yourself if one of them suddenly breaks.

After these operations, the board is processed on a machine. The last step is cutting the board.

Orthopedic base for a crib with built-in slats.

Two types of equipment are used for processing: 1. band dividing machine; 2. frame-saw device.

Plastic fastening for wooden slats is most suitable in appearance.

The second method is most often used

The speed of the sawing process depends on the type of wood and proper sharpening of the saws.

Double ortho bed base. Each half can be adjusted as needed.

Production can be divided into the following stages. 1. Material selection and quality control. 2. Preparation and drying of workpieces. 3. Sorting by length, width and thickness. 4. Manufacturing of lamellas.

Double bed with wide slats at the base.

Why is it preferable to buy a bed with slats?

Sometimes only one or two slats can creak, but it seems like the whole bed. So isn't it better to buy furniture with a solid bottom rather than with slats? In fact, slats were invented to improve the orthopedic properties of beds and cots. Advantages of a bed with slats:

1. The space between them provides air access to the mattress, as a result of which it dries better and does not emit an unpleasant odor.
2. Air circulation reduces the likelihood of mold and mildew forming inside the mattress.
3. Curved slats bend under the weight of the mattress and the people lying on it, thereby improving the performance and orthopedic properties of the mattress.

A creaking lamella can be replaced with a new one if the methods suggested below for eliminating squeaking do not work.

What are lamellas

Healthy sleep is the key to a fulfilling life. The quality of a night's rest is influenced by many factors - the arrangement of furniture in the bedroom, the place where we sleep and even the density of the curtains. A surface that is too soft or hard creates additional stress on the spine, disrupts blood circulation, which prevents proper rest. Therefore, when choosing a place to sleep, you should pay attention not only to the quality of the mattress, but also to what is underneath it.