DIY Bunk Beds
Are you looking to build a bunk bed for your children’s room (or your own room because that would be awesome?!) but don’t know where to start?
Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Simplified Building, we can provide you with a step-by-step guide and all the materials you’ll need to build your new bunk beds. Except for the mattresses, you’ll want to get those somewhere else.
Designing a Bunk Bed
Now when it comes to designing a bunk bed there are some obvious first steps you need to take before you start buying materials.
You’ll want to measure the room entirely. Accurate length, width, and height will make the process much easier when you map out the size of the bunk bed.
Now that you’ve got the whole room measured it’s time to measure how large you want your bunk bed to be and the shape of it. Most bunk beds are made from twin mattresses which are 38 inches wide by 75 inches long. So, your frame will need to be a little larger like half or a full inch wider and longer than that or whatever size mattress you use. This will allow for easy placement of the mattress while still being secure.
How about the height? Well, for that we’re going to have to do a little research.
Requirements for Bunk Beds
It’s a bunk bed, what kind of regulations can it have? Well, not so much regulations so much as best practices and safety guidelines that you should follow when planning and designing your new bunk bed.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they recommend at least 30 inches of clearance from the top of the mattress to the ceiling. This will give enough space for your child (or you, hey we don’t judge) to safely get in and out of the top bunk.
Other blogs and DIYers have stated that 33 to 36 inches is a good rule of thumb for mattress to ceiling space. So, if you have the availability, the more space the better for someone to climb in and out of the top bunk. This also applies to the space between the top bunk and bottom bunk.
I apologize, I’ve thrown a bunch of numbers at you, but I promise it’s all important, so here’s one more. According to the National Building Code, the standard height for a ceiling is 96 inches or 8-feet. This should give you plenty of room to design and build a bunk bed for your room. But if you have lower ceilings like in an older house or an attic living space, your space may be limited so remember to measure accurately!
Custom Industrial Bunk Beds
So, you’ve got all your measurements and plans finalized, what do you do next?
Well, you’ve come to the right place. You can order everything you’ll need right here at Simplified Building!
Our unique Kee Klamp fittings and gator tubing are the perfect materials to build your own custom industrial bunk bed.
Adjustable Bunk Bed Frame
Kee Klamp fittings secure in place using a set screw system. This makes the fittings easier to use and get into position. It also allows some areas of the bed frame to be adjustable.
For example, if you have a ladder on your bunk bed (which you probably will) a ladder rung can be adjusted up or down in height by loosening the fittings, repositioning the rung, and then securing the fitting back in place.
Strong and Sturdy Bed Frame
Kee Klamp fittings and gator tubing are made from galvanized steel. They have been used in all kinds of larger structures like parkour gyms, tables, and outdoor railings. They’re designed to be durable and support continued use.
Take Your Bunk Bed with You
Now I’m not saying you can fold it up and take it with you on the go, that technology doesn’t exist yet. But with our modular system, there’s no welding. You can take a part and move your bunk bed around the room or to a different house if you decide to move with relative ease.
And even when your kids grow up, or you decide you don’t want a bunk bed anymore. The pipe and fittings can be reused in another fun project like a table, desk, railing, clothing rack, you name it!
Purchase Your Bunk Bed Today
Specs:
- Customizable
Assembly:
- Hex Key
What's included:
What's not:
You can purchase all the pipes and fittings you’ll need or a new bed frame right here on our website, but you don’t have to do this alone.
Our team of project specialists are here to help. We’ve assisted hundreds of customers with all types of projects including bunk beds. We can assist with your plans to ensure everything will fit properly, getting you the right pipe and fittings you need, and even order them for you. Whatever you need, our team is here to help!
How to Assemble an Industrial Bed Frame
Now that you’ve planned it all out and ordered all the parts that you need. How do you start assembling the bunk bed?
Well, as I mentioned, our pipe and fittings are put together with a simple set screw system. So, at the very least you need a hex key to lock all the pieces together. Some other tools you may want for this project are:
- Leveler
- Drill (if anything is being mounted)
- Gloves
- Boots
The last two are more just forms of PPE so that you stay safe while working with the product. The pipe and fittings can be heavy so you’ll want to protect your feet, and gloves will help with gripping the pieces and prevent blisters.
When building a bunk bed, it’s best to work from the ground up. That sounds obvious but sometimes people will want to build the top bunk and the bottom bunk and then place them on top of each other, which is just not practical or safe.
While setting each screw, it is important to tighten them down, but don’t tighten all the way until you are completely satisfied with the placement and level of each piece. This will allow for easy adjustments as needed.
Finally, tighten down each screw and take it for a test drive before you let your kids on it. This way you can see if the bunk feels sturdy and ready for kids to climb on it.
If you do find you need additional support, don’t worry. This again is the beauty of the pipe and fittings system. You can easily add another support pipe without having to completely take apart the whole bed.
In Review
And that’s it, you’ve successfully built your custom bunk bed! While simple in theory, there’s a lot that goes into planning and assembling a bunk bed. If you need any assistance, please feel free to reach out to our team for any help you need. And check out this list of bunk bed ideas to help inspire you while you plan your next project!
