Don’t Toss That Bed Frame Yet! Our Guide to Reinforcing It Like New

Nothing can be more frustrating than having an unstable bed frame, especially after bringing in a new mattress (check 10 great mattresses on the market). Those squeaky sounds and wiggles with sudden movements can seem disturbing.

But buying a new bed frame can be financially tough, especially if you have just forked out something from your budget for your new mattress. So the best move you can make here is to reinforce your current bed frame (also check the top rated sturdy bed frames for active couple).

In other words, you will have to make it more supportive, sturdy, and much quieter. And in this post, we will jot down some key points to do that.

Reinforcing Your Wooden Bed Frame

An unstable bed frame that makes noise can feel worse to sleep on. It wiggles and squeaks with every move. But going for a new bed frame is not always the only option you have. With just a little bit of effort, you can reinforce your current bed frame and make it as good as new.

Of course, you will have to make these adjustments more and more over time. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the steps involved here so you can do this on your own without any issues.

What Equipment is Required?

The good thing is that you don’t need a range of equipment to accomplish your reinforcement project.

You will only need a drill, some 1-inch screws, and of course, your bed frame, or you can go for a 2nd hand bed frame too. What you will be doing with all these things to reinforce your bed frame is explained in the following text,

Tighten Bed Frame Screws

You need to tighten those screws that are already there in your bed frame. Double-check all the individual slats in your bed frame, if there are any.

Also, check the screws and ensure that nothing remains loose from top to bottom. In most cases, loose bolts and screws are common culprits behind the wobbly and squeaky bed frames. Then, you can conveniently tighten them using your wrench or screwdriver.

Improve Fastening of Bed Frame Screws

You can also improve the fastening of the bed frame screws wherever you think it is necessary. Replace the screws or bolts on the frame or add new screw plates to make them function properly again.

To make the overall construction more stable, add more screws or bolts using your drill or a screwdriver if you want. As a result, you will be adding more stability to your bed frame.

Replace the Center Beam

The center beam of your bed frame must be fixed. If you think that the center beam is creating the issue, get rid of it and go for better support.

You will have to unscrew the beam from your bed frame. After that, you will have to measure its dimensions and find out the dimensions for your new beam. You should also measure the distance of the beam from the floor and find out how long the legs need to be.

Use a pencil to make your measurement on a wooden board and a saw to cut the peace out. You can also take your measurements to a hardware store and professionally cut a wood piece.

The same can be done to get your new bed frame support leg. And palace these pieces where they are needed in the bed frame. Use your power drill to secure each of these pieces on the bed frame.

Check the Joints

You might also have to check the joints on your bed frame if they might have shifted over time. Joints that have been separated can destabilize any bed frame and make it sway or wobble. You can lay a cloth on both sides to prevent damage.

Just ask for help from your friend or family member to hold the frame in place, use a mallet, start hammering the joint gently, and do the same for any other joints.

If you have a frame that has been glued, you can repaint the glue where needed and use a clamp to hold the tool pieces together tightly after hammering gently.

Add or Strengthen Bed Slats

If you have a standard frame on your hands that only features a parameter and a center beam, you can add slats to make the frame more supportive and sturdy. It will help prevent mattress sagging (also check 10 amazing toppers for sagging mattress), and your frame can hold more weight too.

You will have to measure the inside width of the frame and find out how long the salts have to be. Use a pencil to make the measures on the wooden board and a saw to cut off the piece.

You can also have it done professionally and then palace the cut-out piece on the right side of the center beam and another on the left side. You can also use a power drill to secure the planks on the inner lip of your bed frame.

What If My Bed Frame Is Broken?

You might end up with a broken bed frame if you were slightly late with your reinforcements. As a result, you might be dealing with a cracked bed frame. But don’t give up on it just yet! Here are some steps that you need to follow to fix it:

• Remove the mattress from your bed frame, leaving the slats in their place. Then, open the split from the inside using a screwdriver. And as you split it open, get rid of any wood chips or excess splinters.
• Apply wood glue and spread it around your crack with the help of a flat head knife, or you can use a putty knife.
• Use a bar to force the two ends of the split back together and hold it together to ensure that the glue sticks and holds the crack.
• Make sure that the joints remain sturdy, measure the length of the split on the inside, and add about 6 inches to it. Also, measure the width of the entire bed frame.
• Using a saw, cut a piece from scrap wood or plywood along with the measurements you have just taken.
• Now, drill holes with the drill in the scrap wood but keep these holes staggered (not in a straight line).
• Just apply wood glue on one side of the scrap wood and place it inside the split. Then, you can drill a few pilot holes, allow the frame to dry overnight, and apply the mattress back on it.

How can I reinforce a metal bed frame?

To reinforce a metal bed frame, you can add support bars or wooden slats across the frame to provide more stability. Check for any loose screws or bolts and tighten them. You can also use L-brackets or angle irons on the corners to reinforce the joints. Adding rubber or felt pads under the legs can help reduce noise and slipping.

What are some temporary ways to reinforce a bed frame?

If you need a quick, temporary fix, you can place the mattress and box spring directly on the floor and skip the bed frame altogether. You can also try placing plywood between the mattress and bed frame to add support. Cinder blocks under the legs can add stability too. But these are just short-term solutions.

Conclusion

You don’t need much DIY experience to get through this project. But you can make your bed frame significantly more durable and reliable (also check the best selling bed frames for overweight people). You can make it less wobbly and squeaky and can save a few bucks by doing so.