 |
 |
 |
Building Safe and Secure Bunk Bed Ladders
Do you need to build a new bunk bed ladder for your children’s beds? The problem with many bunk bed ladders is that they tend to wear out long before the beds do, but fortunately building new bunk bed ladders is really not that difficult when done properly. Like any type of ladder, though, the construction and design is crucial from a safety standpoint, and many factors need to be considered to ensure the ladder will be as safe and sturdy as possible. To help you with this, in this article we will discuss some of these safety factors in a bit more detail by highlighting some of the common mistakes you’ll want to avoid during the construction process.
Building Bunk Bed Ladders: Choosing the Wood
Building a bunk bed ladder will typically not require much wood, so for utmost safety, it’s important that you spare no expense. Try to choose from one of the quality hardwoods such as oak, maple or birch and inspect each piece carefully to ensure it is not bowed, warped or has any other defects that may cause the wood to be structurally unsound. A good size wood for a bunk bed ladder is 2” by 4”, as this is more than strong enough to support a person’s body weight, especially when that weight is balanced evenly.
Building Bunk Bed Ladders: Measuring and Spacing
Measuring the wood, along with spacing the rungs, are perhaps the two most crucial steps in building a quality bunk bed ladder. When measuring and cutting, take extra care to ensure that both sides are exactly the same height, and do the same with each rung. Also, the sides of the rungs should all be cleanly squared off so they will fit snugly against the sides. When spacing the rungs, never space them too close together or too far apart, both of which could pose a safety risk. Rungs should be spaced between 10-12 inches apart depending on the size of the child.
Building Bunk Bed Ladders: Hardware
The hardware you use to secure the rungs to the sides is also very important. Never use screws or nails to accomplish this—this can be very dangerous. Instead use very solid lag bolts that are ¼ inch and 4 inches long, and countersink each bolt so the edges will not accidentally cut or injure your child.
Building Bunk Bed Ladders: The Tops and Finish
The top of the bunk bed ladder should never be left squared. This is the area of the ladder that can seriously injure a child if made incorrectly, and a mistake many builders make without perceiving the potential safety hazard. Both sides of the ladder should be rounded off and finely sanded so there are no sharp edges or corners that could injure your child.
A good finish is also very important, because despite how well the wood may have been sanded, it can still produce some fairly nasty splinters. Always use 2-3 coats of a quality finish after the ladder has been sanded thoroughly.
By following these simple steps you can ensure that the bunk bed ladders you build will be safe, sturdy and secure and ready to meet the daily demands of your child or children.