The slats are falling out of the bed, what should I do?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Characteristics of slats for beds

Design Features

Lamels are a set of pre-slightly curved planks. They have another name - armor. They form a springy frame lattice, on top of which the mattress is laid.

The armor is mounted on a metal frame made of a square pipe.

Orthopedic slats for the bed are made from birch (economical option), poplar or beech (for expensive products). They are given additional protection from moisture by treatment with paints and varnishes.

The wooden lamella has greater elasticity due to the fact that the wood fibers have one direction. This is how they compare favorably with boards, plywood, and chipboard, which are difficult to bend.

Modern sofas can also have orthopedic properties. An orthopedic sofa bed will give you a sound, healthy sleep.

And if you also need a department for storing things, choose models with a chest of drawers. Read this link about the design of a bunk bed dresser.

Quantity and size

According to experts, the more slats, the better. The optimal number for a double bed with a lifting mechanism is 30 slats. A single room, accordingly, should have half as much.

According to some manufacturers, 20 and 22 wooden partitions are sufficient for beds with lengths of 190 cm and 200 cm, respectively. But they also agree that the flexibility of the bed increases with the number of slats.

The gap between the battens should not exceed the width of one strip. This value is 53 mm. In some cases the width is different. The length of the slats depends on the width of the bed. Their usual thickness is 8 mm.

Mounting options

The slats can be attached to the bed frame with a special holder-tip.

It can be made from:

Plastic;
Rubber;
Polypropylene.

The holder is attached to the frame with rivets or furniture staples.

According to another option, a separate lamella is placed directly in a special metal frame-stand.

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.

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.

Attaching wooden slats to the bed frame is often done using special ends made of polypropylene, plastic or rubber. When done well, these fasteners can handle the load and last a long time, but sometimes there are products that become unusable within a few months. Low-grade lathe holders initially look rubbery, but subsequently harden, crack and break. The slatted bottom begins to creak, the slats jump out of their fastening points, and as a result, the bed requires repair.

If 2-3 tips are broken, then the problem is solved by purchasing new holders at a price of 30-50 rubles. If all or most of the fasteners are destroyed, replacing them is quite expensive. A simple upgrade, which consists of changing the way the slats are secured, allows you to avoid costs and repair the bed yourself.

Tools for work:

The length of the staples for the stapler should be less than the thickness of the rail; drills with a diameter of 4–5 mm will be required.

Two strong tapes 20–40 mm wide and 2 m long;
M4 or M5 bolts, nuts, engravers – 4 pcs.;
Four furniture footers - holes for bolts are drilled into them.

Instead of footwear, other suitable sized parts with ribbed side edges are suitable. In extreme cases, the ends of the lamellas are fixed with wire.

Tips for choosing beds

Very important information for those who choose a bed and do not know what to focus on when choosing a bed.

In general, the first thing that most buyers think before starting to choose a bed is “you need to read on the Internet,” but no one even thinks about the fact that advice on the Internet is usually “crazy” in order to increase the ranking of sites and These tips are of no use.

I will try to write and try to explain how it is, based on practice

What material should you choose a bed from?

This question arises for many, but I assure you that most people choose by appearance, by style, and few people think about the material from which the bed is made, everyone is so worried about the appearance, that the bed fits into the interior rooms that are ready to buy from who knows what.

Remember, the most fragile and “environmentally dangerous” beds are made of chipboard, yes, yes!

Made from regular laminated chipboard, why are these beds fragile?

Yes, all because the connections of beds made of chipboard very quickly become loose and the bed becomes “alive”, and it does not matter what kind of base the bed had.

99% of people who had a bed made of chipboard or who use this bed, if the question of buying a new bed arises, will never buy a new bed made of chipboard, they will avoid it like fire.

Think about it, maybe it’s better to learn from the mistakes of others than from your own.

A good, high-quality bed is made only from wood, and it doesn’t matter what type of wood it is, wood is wood, first of all, it is an environmentally friendly material, without chemical resins and phenols that cause health problems.

Many will say that a bed made of pine is not a bed! I would object! This is a common myth.

Of course, pine is a soft type of wood, say, softer than alder or beech, but at the same time, manufacturers take this into account and make special fasteners designed just for such beds, and pine also comes in different varieties, for example, we offer beds made from solid Karelian pine - this is a very hard type of wood.

There was an incident recently when, while unloading beds, one box accidentally fell out of the car. Everyone thought that the bed was “gone”, they unpacked it and were surprised that there was not even a dent at the place of the fall - this is a real case from practice.

It is also important that pine beds are the most affordable.

The most durable types of wood for furniture are: birch, beech, oak

It is not for nothing that in the old days, handles for hand tools were made from birch, because these handles could not be broken.

Repair procedure

1) The damaged tips are dismantled: the plastic elements are pryed off with a chisel, the broken remains of the pins are pushed inside the profile.

2) All screws and threaded connections of the bed frame are tightened.

3) Wooden planks are placed on the profile with a downward bend, focusing on the locations of the old holders.

4) The end of the tape is bent and applied to the first rail, maintaining a distance of 50–70 mm from the edge, then “targeted” with a stapler in two places.

5) The strip is slightly stretched and fixed in the same way on all panels. Next, the tape is secured on the opposite side of the bed using a similar method.

6) The resulting canvas is twisted, turned over and placed in the normal position (bending the slats upward), evenly distributed on the surface of the frame.

7) The position of the outer panel is marked, holes are drilled in both profiles along its edge.

The prepared footings are attached using a bolted connection, not forgetting to install an engraver.

9) Then the plank is moved into place, the slatted bottom is tightened and a mark is placed near the last slat. Holes are made and the remaining clamps are installed to keep the slatted bottom from moving.

The at-home bed repair is complete, all that remains is to remove the debris and vacuum the mattress. As a result of the work done on our own, the problem of breakage of lamella holders was quickly and inexpensively eliminated.

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.

How to make and install slats for an orthopedic bed with your own hands

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:

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

Which lamellas are better – narrow or wide?

All lamellas can be divided into:

Wide planks (from 50 to 70 mm). They are optimal for mattresses equipped with spring blocks or latex springless products. They are mounted at a distance of 4 to 6 cm from each other. Wide lamellas are convenient to use on tape, since if the length of the frame changes, they can be moved closer or further away.
Narrow crossbars (from 30 to 40 mm). They are used for mattresses that have independent springs with high density. A grid of frequent narrow slats is used for folding beds, cribs and transformable beds.

By moving or moving the cursors along the bar, you can decrease or increase the stiffness in a specific area.
Important! The distance between narrow slats should not exceed their width.

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.

Preparatory stage

You will need special tools and materials. Make sure you have:

construction stapler with staples;
screwdrivers;
chisels;
roulette;
electric drills with drills 4-5 mm;
M4/M5 bolts, engravers, nuts – 4 pcs. everyone;
4 furniture footers;
knife;
2 durable edge strips, 20-40 mm wide and 2 m long.

Repair procedure

Remove damaged tips by prying up the plastic parts with a chisel.

Use a screwdriver to adjust the loose connections of the bed frame.
Place the lamellas on the freed frame with the curve down, repeating their previous placement.
Attach the end of the edge tape with two staplers to the first plank, retreating 5-7 cm from its edge.
Pull the edge tape lightly and staple it to the subsequent planks in the same way.
You need to do the same on the other side of the slats, using the second tape.
At the end of the work, roll up the resulting canvas from the slats and turn it over. Then place it back on the frame with the tape facing down.
Mark the locations of the first lamella on the frame. Drill holes on both sides of the frame with an electric drill.
Bolt the fittings together in the prepared holes. They will act as limiters that fix the position of the first bar.
Install the first plank in a fixed position, slightly tension the slats. Place the same marks near the last bar.
Prepare the holes and install the fittings.

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.

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

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.
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.
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.
Measure and mark the middle of the headboard and footboard beams. Using the marks as a guide, install the middle partition block.
Additionally, secure all corner joints inside using metal corners.
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.
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.
Open and trim the front of the headboard with chenille. Attach the fabric to the back side only.
Design the bed frame in the same way.
Assemble the outer casing with self-tapping screws, strengthen the connections with corners.
Install the bottom of the box, carefully placing the structure on its side.
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.
Adjust the position of the parts, then attach the lifting mechanism to the frame and sides.
Immediately below it, install horizontal support and vertical support bars on the sidewalls using self-tapping screws.
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.
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.
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.

All that remains is to place the mattress and enjoy a healthy sleep on your new bed. You can rightfully be proud of the result.

Bed slats - installation

Ready-made orthopedic slats for the bed are attached to the frame very easily. You can buy planks in a store or make them yourself. The holder tip is put on a separate rail, which is then driven into a special socket in the frame or attached to it from above. When assembled, the armor is slightly bent - they can easily withstand this. To remove it, on the contrary, you need to bend the lamella, remove it from the socket and move it to the side. Tips on how to install battens yourself:

Prepare boards from suitable wood.
Cut slats for the frame.
Assemble the frame of the required size using self-tapping screws and sand the slats.
To install the lamellas, adjustable lat holders are used. They are attached to the wooden frame using a staple gun and staples.
Attach plank holders to one side of the frame.
Insert one side of the slats into the fasteners.
On the other side, simply slide the lining onto the slats with the holder facing down. Turn the frame over and shoot the parts to the frame using a stapler. In this case, you need to accurately measure the distance between them with the rest of the block.
Having assembled the frame, you can install it in the bed.