Hey everyone! I bought a platform bed frame but the slats are spaced too far apart for my latex mattress, so I had some custom plywood slats made to fill in the gaps. Now, I'm wondering if the 1/2" plywood is strong enough as the extra slats, or if I should get some new slats made from a sturdier material like pine. I've set the plywood slats between the original ones, making a total of 16 slats, and it feels stable, but I'm concerned about flexing. There's a central steel support, but I'd love some opinions on whether I should consider stronger options. Thanks!
2 Answers
What you’ve done is better than nothing, but replacing those plywood slats with something sturdier could be a good idea. 1/2" plywood tends to have quite a bit of flex. Pine would be stronger, but if you can swing it, maple or oak would be even better.
Instead of adding slats, you might consider a sheet of thin material like OSB cut to fit. The existing slats can support it like floor joists. Just make sure your mattress has enough ventilation so it doesn’t get moldy!
Exactly, many mattresses need airflow. Just check with the manufacturer's guidelines first to be safe!
Thanks for the tip! I found a place that cuts oak to order, and I’m thinking of just getting 1/2" hard white maple. Sounds pretty straightforward, right?