Child Item

How to firm a mattress?

Lynda2021

Trying to firm up a queen mattress. Slat base bed. Looking to use a solid timber, probably plywood on slats under mattress. Is waterproof the same as marine? How thick should it be? Slats are 2cm. I measured 185x145cm and allowing for ease of fit, I’m maybe looking around 165 x 125cm. Cutting in half to fit in car = 800mm x 600mm.

appreciate advice thank you.

Find more posts tagged with

Furniture

Repairing

Accepted answers

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Lynda2021

You can use ply as thin as 6mm as the weight of the matteress will be distributed over a broad area. But make sure a slate supports any joining 5 mm ply sections for proper support.

Marine ply used in wet environs

A cheap product I used is yellow tounge flooring per sheet is inexpensive and then you can use your bed as a dance floor as it is thick but down side it is heavy. Measure your bed frame maybe have bunnings cut it to size to get it home. flooring sheets are also water resistant

Cut sections of flooring or ply to fit across the beds neatly like rungs on a ladder but pushed together . You have the dimentions

the last piece may need to be trimmed to fit across the bed and a bit cut of at the base .Cut like this and it will fit in car easy.

Place the Flooring on top of the slates and a few screws or nails will hold every thing nicly in place.

All comments

Jason

Sorry for the slow reply @Lynda2021. One of our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. experts Mitch has had to take some unexpected leave. His partner-in-crime @EricL will be back on the site later today and would be happy to assist. Let me also tag some other helpful members in @prettyliving, @Tara86 and @TedBear for their thoughts in the meantime.

Thanks for your patience.

Jason

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Lynda2021

You can use ply as thin as 6mm as the weight of the matteress will be distributed over a broad area. But make sure a slate supports any joining 5 mm ply sections for proper support.

Marine ply used in wet environs

Cut sections of flooring or ply to fit across the beds neatly like rungs on a ladder but pushed together . You have the dimentions

the last piece may need to be trimmed to fit across the bed and a bit cut of at the base .Cut like this and it will fit in car easy.

Place the Flooring on top of the slates and a few screws or nails will hold every thing nicly in place.

Lynda2021

Thank you so much. I might pass on the flooring as it is heavy. I’m 72 and have steps to climb! I was thinking 1 piece cut in half length ways but that puts my body more or less over the middle, ie, where the sheet is cut. Would you recommend I connect those 2 pieces with a flat kinda join? Would it be better to cut the sheet in 2 pieces width ways rather than length ways. Sorry if I’m asking too many questions.
thank you.

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Lynda2021

Please feel free to ask as many questions as you want thats why the workshop is here to help all people of all skill levels as long as you need assistance and advice.

Because you are going to place 6 mm ply on top of slats the weight will be evenly distributed regardless of ply cuts if you cut the ply length ways it will work well as all the ply edges supported on top of the slats you will not have to join the ply in any way just sit them side by side and put small nails or screws it to the under slats to lock it in position just in case you need to flip the matress or move it so the ply dosnt move too. If you want tape over the join too give it a finished feel. Any tape will work. All I ask is to make sure a slat is under /supporting the top and lower edge of the ply top and bottom.

If the join is under you you will never know as the join is 1mm gap not wide like slats. the matress and you will always be supported.

Side note : Yes changing from slats to flat really does increase matress performance a worth while project I also have done this and it was a noticable firming matress support change.

To save off cut waste you can put a dozen off cut sections length ways on top of the slats and the matress and ply will be fully supported as cut to the bed width and length.

Lynda2021

Thank you so much for all your help. I’m comfortable about going forward now. Cheers.

TedBear

Thanks @Lynda2021 for the putting the question and @Jewelleryrescue for suggestions.... I had never thought of doing this, but I will now that you've drawn my attention to the benefits. I have always thought that my mattress could be supporting me better.

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Lynda2021

I hope you dont mind I was doing some more product research as how to beest cover your bed slats.

Now I am working off your original full measurments 1850x 1450 and have reduced timber panel sizes down slightly for easy fitting.

The goal is to get an flat base under all the mattress so there is no uneven spots.

Now I now recommend a change from ply to MDF as it will serve same purpose and cost a lot less and the finish is smoother so the mattress dosnt have any threads pull moving it around like on rougher ply. I hope you have not shopped yet.

Buy 1 x 6mm MDF Panel Standard 2440 x 1220mm I/N: 0590055 $32

WE will cut this up into 4 panels that will cover the bed See the rough diagram below. The diagram shows the full bed size with the slats over the top lightly nail screw the panels on. I showed the small panels in the middle they can be on the outside edge it wont make a difference.

Bed boards 2.jpg

The next diagram is a cutting guide for Bunnings staff of the 2440 x 1220 panel above.

Raw material Cutting list

EricL

Hello @Lynda2021

It's wonderful that you've received excellent advice from @Jewelleryrescue. Using MDF Panel Standard 2400mm x 1200mm x 6mm should provide you with adequate support.

Please note that if panels don't fit in your vehicle, there is a delivery service available, or you can hire a trailer if your car has a tow bar.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Child Item