Have you wondered how to build a triple bunk bed? Thought possibly you may want to do it? Safety is of utmost importance when considering a triple bunk bed because of the added weight and many times added height. Most that are built at home, and even at some bunk bed manufacturers, are not up to par with the legal standards of safety not only required by the government, but required to keep the sleeping patrons safe.
Safety regulations such as the width of the ladder rung, weight support, and the like are all changed drastically when moving from a double bunk bed to a triple bunk bed or loft bed. You can read about the safety standards for bunk beds here.
Safety Rails For Beds
Most who are handy at home may think that building a bunk bed is less expensive than purchasing a one, but may find after research that certain manufacturers who abide by all of the safety standards, and sell direct from the factory, may be the best overall value since they produce in volume.
After buying quality lumber, tools, hardware, and finishing stain to build triple bunk beds, you may find that you have spent close to 0 or more, not including your time. If you were to make a slight mistake, it could be detrimental to the integrity of the structure, and you may find yourself spending more to fix it as well. Do the research on the amount of wood, tools, hardware, and finish you will need and you will see the costs can add up quick.
When setting up three beds, one on top of another, the bed usually provides little head room for the top, middle, and bottom bunk, making the bed very uncomfortable and not allowing anyone to sit up in bed. Making the bed taller if you have tall enough ceilings can also make the structure less stable and top heavy.
If you do decide to build a set of your own, you may want to consider putting the third bed in the unit as a pull out bed, or trundle bed. A trundle bed slides in and out from the bottom bunk, hiding itself during the day, and only jets out from the side of the loft bed structure when in use at night. This configuration is safer and provides more head room for the person on the middle and top bunk.
Installing slide tracks and rails for the third trundle bed, can be a task in itself. You must ensure they support enough weight to hold the trundle bed. Additionally, after the bed has been slid out, there needs to be enough support under the bed so that it does not break the tracks, bed frame, or other parts of the bottom bunk or trundle bed when someone lays on it.
One option to consider is to simply purchase a triple bunk bed rather than build one. If you purchase direct from a factory, you can save a considerable amount of money and ensure the safety and stability of the structure is at the highest possible standards. Because some manufacturers ship directly from the factory, the low overhead with no middle man mark-ups allows them to maintain the lowest prices online.
Regardless, choosing a triple bunk bed is a great choice, whether you build it or buy it, for sleepovers, or families that have children that need to share a small space. A solid wood bed will last you forever, and create memories for years to come for the kids!