Lamella: how to insert into a bed, how much you need and how to make it yourself

A well-organized sleeping place ensures healthy, full sleep and good health while awake. It is not enough to simply buy a mattress with an orthopedic effect; you must choose the right base for it. An orthopedic bed base is a sleeping accessory that ensures the anatomically correct position of the sleeping person’s body.

What is a lamella

Otherwise, the slats are called battens or slats and look like a set of slightly curved planks. This design forms an elastic lattice with a springing effect, on which an orthopedic mattress is placed. Parts can have various fastenings, although most often rigid fastening elements or slats on tape are used.

The design of the bed with plates is divided into individual slats, they are very durable and each can withstand a weight of up to 40 kg.

Note! The orthopedic bed base, which has a rigid structure, significantly extends the life of the mattress.

The thickness of the plates varies from 1 to 10 mm, width - from 25 to 120 mm. During installation, their distance can reach from 2 to 6 cm. The designs of double beds provide two rows of slats designed for each of the sleepers.

The use of frequent installation ensures maximum reliability of the structure, so that the bed can be used even by people with significant weight. The greatest distance left between the slats is selected in case of light loads on the mattress. The standard design for a double bed frame with dimensions of 160x200 cm is a design with 30 crossbars. With fewer quantities, the required strength is often not achieved. The minimum number is 22 slats in the case of a double base.

Very often slats are used for orthopedic beds.

When choosing a bed or a base for it, you need to explore the possibility of purchasing accessories in case of damage or breakage of any elements. The fittings consist not only of lamellas, but also of lath holders, transformation mechanisms and gas lifts. If the orthopedic base is used incorrectly, it may become damaged, and then the lamellas can be replaced with your own hands.

To ensure that the plates bring health benefits and not harm, you should choose the right mattress.

Note! Often, breakage of lamellas occurs in the case of dry air indoors, which leads to drying out of the wood. To avoid this, you can regularly treat the surface of the slats with a damp cloth.

Methods for restoring an old bed

If the bed is too old, you can restore it and make it look like new furniture. During the restoration process, it is necessary to carefully inspect the structure and identify parts that require replacement. Most often, the springs and mattress are changed during restoration. Sometimes people decide to replace worn side panels. To do this, you will have to purchase new panels that are suitable for the restored sofa. If the side parts are not very worn, you can sand them and varnish them. It is recommended to use varnish mixtures that have a mahogany tint.

What are lamellas made of?

For the manufacture of lamellas, only well-dried, high-quality wood is used. During production, solid wood is sawn into separate layers, which are impregnated with glue at a specific temperature, which gives them a slightly curved shape. A significant characteristic of products is their elasticity, which is ensured by the uniform placement of wood fibers.

Oak slats are a favorite among many bed manufacturers.

For this reason, not any wood is used for production, but only:

Birch. It has white wood with a slight red or yellow tint. For production, an array of 15-40 years is used. Fibers with high uniform density are arranged in a confused manner, which ensures a highly decorative texture. Products made from birch have high strength, are easily bent and are subject to various treatments.
Beech. This is quite expensive material. Its massif is white with a yellow or red tint, and the annual layers are clearly visible. Wood is distinguished by its high resistance to deformation and the ability to firmly hold fittings. Due to its natural elasticity, it is often used in the production of bent elements. Beech is resistant to changes in temperature and humidity, and is moderately resistant to rotting.
Ash.
It is distinguished by durable and elastic wood, products from which are difficult to split. The color of the massif is light, the heart-shaped rays are not visible. Provided that it is properly dried, the material is almost unaffected by external factors and is easy to process. It has low thermal conductivity, which makes it possible to place it next to heating devices. Products made from ash are quite expensive, and solid wood is mainly used in exclusive products. Note! Additional decorations are often made from ash, such as carved headboards or bedside lamps.
Poplar and linden. They have similar characteristics. Wood of both species has low cost, average strength and softness. The dried massif is well suited to various treatments and staining. Products made from linden and poplar are impregnated with special protective agents, ensuring the possibility of operation at high humidity.
Maple. This is a noble variety, actively used in furniture production. It is used to make bed headboards, frames and slatted bases. The density and strength of the material are determined by the type of maple. Wood has elasticity and viscosity, which allows products to be processed in various ways. Thanks to the significant hardness of maple, the fittings and fasteners are held extremely securely.

At any time, you can replace the slats yourself if one of them suddenly breaks.
To further protect the products from changes in humidity, they are opened with varnish.

There is an alternative to wooden slats - metal slats. They retain rigidity throughout the entire period of operation, but have significant weight. Metal slats almost do not bend under the weight of the mattress, which reduces its orthopedic properties.

The slats should only be attached to the metal bed frame using metal fasteners.

Note! When using a metal base, the problem of slat creaking is completely eliminated.

If the steel has an anti-corrosion coating, then the base can be used at different temperatures and humidity. Fewer metal crossbars are required than wooden ones: for a single bed, 8-10 pieces are enough, compared to 14-15 for wood. Metal armor is almost never used for beds equipped with a lifting mechanism, which is explained by their significant weight.

The plates can be ordered individually, there is any size and material you need, the cost of the products is reasonable.

Pros and cons of slats

The following advantages of lamellas can be highlighted:

enhancing the orthopedic and anatomical effect of the mattress due to the elastic base;
ensuring natural air exchange thanks to the gaps between the slats;
increasing the service life of the mattress due to the lamellas taking up a significant part of the load;
possibility of easy replacement of strips;
long period of use of furniture;
noiseless design, ensured by special holders used to fix the plates;
low cost of slats, which has little effect on the final price of the bed;
ease of cleaning achieved due to the high base.

There are also a number of disadvantages:

the possibility of conflict with mattresses that are equipped with thin covering protection and springs of small diameter, since in this case the springs can be pressed into the gaps between the slats;
small selection of models;
lack of protection of the mattress from below from the smell of things from the pencil case, moisture and dust accumulating under the furniture.

The buyer can independently choose the material from which the lamellas will be made.

What are lamellas for?

The main functions of the rack base are the following:

Ensuring high-quality ventilation of the mattress. Due to the entry of a large amount of air into the spaces between the armor, it is possible to constantly maintain the optimal temperature in the areas of contact between the mattress and the body.
Ensuring the most physiological position of the mattress. This is achieved thanks to the elasticity and flexibility of the slats, as a result of which a person is guaranteed sound sleep and quality rest.
Uniform distribution and reduction of load on the mattress. This allows you to significantly extend its service life.

The better and stronger the material for the lamellas, the higher the price tag will be set for them.
Note! The use of a slatted frame reduces the likelihood of the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms that may appear inside the mattress.

How to choose the right one

When choosing a bed with a slatted bottom, you should consider the number of slats. The wider the bed, the greater the number of slats that should lie at the base. The optimal number of slats for a bed with a length of 190-200 cm is 20-22 pieces. If there are more slats, the bed will become more flexible, softer and more functional, and will be able to withstand more weight of the mattress.

Their feature is a curved C-shape and the ability to withstand the large weight of a mattress + a person.

It is important to choose the material of the slats. The most affordable option is birch, which is as strong as harder wood. Birch slats are installed in economy class products, less often in the middle segment.

The more slats there are at the base, the longer the bed will last you.

Note! When purchasing a double bed with a width of 140 cm or more, you should choose a model with a slatted bottom divided into two halves. This will allow you to create your own base for each bed. In this case, shorter strips will be used.

The bed slats are secured using a tip holder, which can be made of plastic, rubber or polypropylene. The holder is secured using rivets and staples. In some cases, fixation is provided in special pockets, which are located at the base of the frame.

The fastening of wooden slats is carried out using various methods, none of which is inferior in reliability and quality.

Take off

If it is necessary to repair the bed frame, then to dismantle the bar it should be bent towards the bend until it comes out of the groove, and then moved to the side.

Note! If the rail is broken, it should be replaced rather than trying to glue it together.

Don’t forget to pay attention to the cost of the products, the material from which they are made, and most importantly, the name of the manufacturer.

To dismantle the lamella fixed by the holders, you will need pliers, a hammer or a screwdriver. To make it easier to remove the holder, you should first remove the damaged rail. Dismantling is carried out depending on the type of holder and the method of fixation: you may need to remove the brackets, remove the pins or unscrew the screws.

Change

New slats should be purchased from specialized stores. It is important that these strips are the same size and material as all the others. Installation of new parts is carried out in the same way as installation.

There should be more than 30 of them in a double bed, and more than 15 for a single bed.

Manufacturing process

After purchasing the required materials and preparing the tools, you should begin marking and further cutting them. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules in this process.

The ideal method for attaching slats is with metal fasteners.

Make a detailed drawing of the future bed, indicating all the exact parameters.
Write a list of all the parts needed for the product. Indicate how much material is needed for each of them.
It is recommended to make markings in places for future cuts using a cutter or pencil and always a ruler.
When making parts with identical parameters in several copies, you should make one and leave it as a template. This will make the process easier and faster.
The cut areas must be cleaned with sandpaper.

Ortho frame for baby crib

After making the marks, you can begin building the frame.

It is recommended to begin assembly by measuring the parameters of the mattress that will be used on this bed. It fits freely into the frame frame.

Slats are increasingly being used to provide an ideal and durable base for beds.

Using the taken parameters, saw off 2 end and long boards, which will become the sidewalls.

Reinforced block of slats for a high-quality bed base with a high degree of load.

Gather the resulting pieces into a rectangle. To fasten them together, you can use wooden spikes or eyes. Cut holes with a jigsaw. Can be hollowed out with a chisel.

Orthopedic base with adjustable positions

The resulting eyes are lubricated with glue and connected. Align everything at a 90 degree angle and, using clamps, secure until completely dry.

Choose the type of lamella fastening that will be the most durable and reliable.

The frame is ready. It is quite reliable and strong. To make assembling the base of a wooden bed an easy process, you should connect the parts using self-tapping screws that have additional fastenings and metal corners.

Orthopedic double bed frame made of slats.

After the frame, they begin to install the legs. Cut several bars of identical length. They are mounted in the corners of the product. They can be inserted into the frame or secured from the outside, from the inside.

Lifting bed base

To insert the legs directly into the base, use tenons to secure them. This is the most reliable option. If the width of the bed exceeds 220 cm, the 5th leg should be installed in the middle of the product. To do this, a longitudinal board is mounted, to which it is attached.

Bed base mounted on five legs

Which lamellas are better – narrow or wide?

All lamellas can be divided into:

Wide planks (from 50 to 70 mm). They are optimal for mattresses equipped with spring blocks or latex springless products. They are mounted at a distance of 4 to 6 cm from each other. Wide lamellas are convenient to use on tape, since if the length of the frame changes, they can be moved closer or further away.
Narrow crossbars (from 30 to 40 mm). They are used for mattresses that have independent springs with high density. A grid of frequent narrow slats is used for folding beds, cribs and transformable beds.

By moving or moving the cursors along the bar, you can decrease or increase the stiffness in a specific area.
Important! The distance between narrow slats should not exceed their width.

Types of material

Typically, battens are attached to a frame made of durable metal. Most often, a square-shaped pipe is used for such structures.

The slats themselves are made of wood. This material is distinguished by its environmental friendliness and durability.

Expert opinion Ksenia Petrovna Romanova Expert in the field of interior design, as well as the head of a fabric sales salon

The most inexpensive are the bases in which the slats are made of birch or pine. Expensive specimens are equipped with armor made of more noble types of wood.

How to make lamellas with your own hands

To make lamellas you will need:

birch plywood or mounting slats having a thickness of 1.5-2 mm;
cutting tools;
fastenings for lamellas, preferably polypropylene or rubber.

Note! You should choose smooth birch plywood without roughness or knots to avoid the need for additional processing.

Before you make slats for a bed with your own hands, you need to create a drawing and cut out parts of the same size. Afterwards, a fastening cap is put on them, together with which the slats go into the base of the bed.

To make the job as simple as possible, choose smooth 100% birch plywood without knots or roughness so that you don’t have to further process it.

The base with slats is a comfortable orthopedic design that provides complete rest. By choosing the right number of slats, you can significantly improve the quality of sleep and recovery of the body.

Why do we insist on individual consultation for each client?

We know that information about lamellas (what they are and why they are needed) can be read in the instructions or watched in a video. But theory is one thing and daily communication with customers is quite another. In addition to the ready-made visual solution, our consultants pay attention to the filling and take into account numerous technical aspects that the average person may not know about.

We offer each client the best solution and:

we complete the bed with a metal frame;
we use beech slats for the base;
install the slats at a distance of 25 mm.

But if the client has his own wishes or specific back problems, we will always meet them halfway. For example, with all due respect to orthopedic lamellas, we can equip the frame with a solid plywood base - if such a configuration is chosen as prescribed by a doctor, we will not convince anyone.

Do you have any suggestions or questions? Write or come visit. Your dream will become material. With our help