Building a mattress platform: advice?

[MarcusBrody]

I'm moving to an upstairs room where my queen box spring can't follow. Rather than buy a split box spring, I'm just going to build a platform to go on top of my existing bed frame. My limitations are that I can't bring large sheets of plywood up the stairs either, so I can't just plop one down and be done with it. Ideally I'd like to either have it in two pieces or able to be disassembled so I'm not doing this the next time I move, but if it's more work to make it in two pieces than to build it twice, then I'll just assemble it upstairs.

Other than that, I'm pretty open to ideas. It doesn't seem like very difficult a project, but I'd like to do it as cheaply and efficiently as possible. I tend to build as if I were expecting the apocalypse do to my lack of fair in my own skills.

Anyone done the same? Any advice? What thickness/type wood would you want running across the bed? This is where I feel that I'll overbuild...

[Garth Bimble]

A wood "build-up" platform is a common type of mattress support (boxspring substitute) type of product. Basically all it is are 2 X 4's cut to the desired length for whatever height you want. But them on edge and nail them to some 1 x 3 or 1 x 4's that run the length and width of the frame around the perimeter (top and bottom) and then put some 1 x 2 cross slats across the top. Some might put a center rail that runs the length of the platform on it as well and support it with blocks, but on a split queen that's probably overkill.

Where are you located? If you're in the Denver area I could probably help you out, at least until Friday because I'm quitting the bedding business and that's my last day.

[MarcusBrody]

Unfortunately the move was to DC. Thanks a bunch for the advice and the offer though!

[wolfelot]

I managed to get a full size queen up some very narrow, steep stairs with a 90 degree turn.

1. Take the cover off to put back on later. (Be careful not to rip it.)
2. I had to cut the wooden frame both width-wise and length-wise.
3. Then I bent the whole frame over on itself length-wise. You will need someone to help with this and also a bungee to hold it down once it is bent over.
4. While taking it up the steps we also had to bend it width-wise to get around the corner.
5. Once upstairs I unbent it, beating things into place as needed and replacing some staples holding the metal springs to the wood that came loose. You wont' get the springs 100% back to where they were, but you will not feel this through the mattress.
6. I then used some 1x4s to screw on and support the frame.
7. Finally I stapled the cover on and it functions like new! There are no squeaks or uneven spots. It is 1/2 inch higher and 15 lbs heavier.

It took some time but it was worth it. I think this is a more comfortable option and probably costs less in materials than building the frame as described previously.

[userA]

fuck yeah that is the way to go for price and efficiency
great solution

[MarcusBrody]

I managed to get a full size queen up some very narrow, steep stairs with a 90 degree turn.

1. Take the cover off to put back on later. (Be careful not to rip it.)
2. I had to cut the wooden frame both width-wise and length-wise.
3. Then I bent the whole frame over on itself length-wise. You will need someone to help with this and also a bungee to hold it down once it is bent over.
4. While taking it up the steps we also had to bend it width-wise to get around the corner.
5. Once upstairs I unbent it, beating things into place as needed and replacing some staples holding the metal springs to the wood that came loose. You wont' get the springs 100% back to where they were, but you will not feel this through the mattress.
6. I then used some 1x4s to screw on and support the frame.
7. Finally I stapled the cover on and it functions like new! There are no squeaks or uneven spots. It is 1/2 inch higher and 15 lbs heavier.

It took some time but it was worth it. I think this is a more comfortable option and probably costs less in materials than building the frame as described previously.

Nice work. It certainly probably cost less in materials. I was thinking that I'd do something like this, but my wife is wildly paranoid about bed bugs. When she first got the mattress, someone in another room in the house had bed bugs. There was no evidence that this bed had them, but she immediately put a bed bug proof cover over the mattress and box spring and has never take them off. She didn't want me taking it off, disassembling everything, then dragging the innards into our new place before putting it back together. The danger seemed pretty minimal, but oh well. I try to keep her happy. Otherwise, I would have at a minimum harvested the old box springs materials.

[userA]

start fresh with a discounted aftermarket bs and i make wife happy as well as McGyvering a new bs

[MarcusBrody]

start fresh with a discounted aftermarket bs and i make wife happy as well as McGyvering a new bs

I've already built the new split platform. It's working well and cost less in materials than buy an aftermarket box spring. I might imagine the difference, but I like the slight added firmness of the more solid over the original, spring-containing box spring.