How to Build a Loft Bed
Measure for the desired height., Attach the headboard to the wall., Attach the sideboard., Attach the foot board., Create the support post., Level the post., Attach the support post., Prepare the outer board., Attach the outer board., Position and...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Measure for the desired height.
Decide on the clearance you want underneath the bed.
Measure with a measuring tape and write this figure down.
Make sure to take into account any furniture that would be going under the bed. -
Step 2: Attach the headboard to the wall.
With a stud finder, locate the studs in the wall and mark the locations with painter's tape.
Drill pilot holes slightly smaller than the diameter of the lag bolts you are using into the wall studs and headboard.
Then, attach headboard to the wall using four 4" lag bolts and washers.
Secure with a ratchet or wrench.
Use a level to make sure that the headboard is straight. , Drill pilot holes into the wall studs and sideboard piece and then attach the sideboard to the wall using eight 4" lag bolts and washers.
Secure with a ratchet or wrench.
Use a level to make sure that the sideboard is straight. , Drill pilot holes into the end of the sideboard and face of the footboard.
Attach the footboard to the sideboard using two 4" lag bolts and washers. , Cut a support post to the height of clearance plus 4" and attach both 2x4s face to face with ten 2 ½" screws.
Alternate the screws on both sides of the 2x4s. , Place a level on top of the footboard.
Place the support post in position against footboard and adjust the footboard until it is level.
Clamp the footboard and post together or get a helper to hold the footboard and post in place. , Drill pilot holes into the face of the footboard and support post.
Attach the footboard to the support post with two 4" lag bolts and washers. , Clamp the outer board to the support post at the proper height or get a helper to hold it in place.
A level can come in handy here. , Drill pilot holes through the face of the outer board and into the ends of the headboard, footboard, and the support post.
Attach the outer board to the support post, headboard and footboard using six 4" lag bolts and washers (two lag bolts each into the headboard, footboard, and support post). , Position the slat support on the inside of the outer board so that the top of slat support is even with the top of the support post.
Check for level and secure the slat support in place with seven 2 ½" screws. , Position the second slat support on the inside of the sideboard so that the top is even with the top of the support post.
Check for level and secure the slat support in place with seven 2 ½" screws. , Position the end support on the inside of the headboard so that the top of the end support is even with the top of the side slat supports.
Secure it in place with four 2 ½" screws. , Position the end support on the inside of the footboard so that the top of the end support is even with the top of slat support and the support post.
Secure it in place with four 2 ½" screws. , Measure and mark the locations of the fourteen slats, creating even spacing along the slat support.
Attach each of the 14 slats by drilling a pilot hole at each end into the side slat supports and securing them with two 1 ½" screws. , Cut the 2x6s for both ladder risers to about 6" longer than the total height of the bed so far. , Cut one of the ends of one riser to a 15 degree angle, using the miter or radial arm saw.
Lean this piece, the 15 degree cut, on the ground against the outer board in its proper final position and then make a mark even with the top of the outer board.
Cut this at 15 degrees also. , Lean the risers back against the outer board and mark a 1 ½" deep notch on the riser.
This will allow the risers to fit securely to the outer board.
Cut the notch as far as possible with a rotary saw and finish the cuts with a hand or hacksaw.
Use this riser as a template for the other riser and make them match. , Measure and mark the spaces between the steps of the ladder, making sure each step is level.
Drill countersunk pilot holes through the face of the risers and into each step.
Secure each step with four 2 ½" screws. , From the inside of the outer board, drill pilot holes through outer board and into each riser of the finished ladder.
Secure it in place with four 2 ½" lag bolts and washers. , Attach two riser supports to the ladder.
Drill countersunk pilot holes through the riser supports and into the riser using four 2 ½" screws.
Ensure that the top of the riser supports line up with the top of the side rail. , Attach two raiser supports to the bottom of the ladder by drilling countersunk pilot holes through riser supports and into the ladder using four 2 ½" screws.
Ensure that the bottom of the riser supports line up with the bottom of the ladder. , Drill pilot holes through risers and into the outer board.
Secure the entire ladder assembly to the outer board using two 4" lag bolts and washers. , Buy a twin mattress and enjoy your new bed! -
Step 3: Attach the sideboard.
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Step 4: Attach the foot board.
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Step 5: Create the support post.
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Step 6: Level the post.
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Step 7: Attach the support post.
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Step 8: Prepare the outer board.
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Step 9: Attach the outer board.
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Step 10: Position and attach the first slat support.
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Step 11: Position and attach the second slat support.
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Step 12: Add the first end support.
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Step 13: Add the second end support.
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Step 14: Add in the slats.
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Step 15: Cut the main ladder boards.
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Step 16: Angle the risers.
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Step 17: Cut the joining notches.
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Step 18: Add the ladder steps.
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Step 19: Attach the main ladder.
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Step 20: Attach the riser supports.
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Step 21: Attach the lower riser supports.
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Step 22: Secure the ladder.
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Step 23: Finished.
Detailed Guide
Decide on the clearance you want underneath the bed.
Measure with a measuring tape and write this figure down.
Make sure to take into account any furniture that would be going under the bed.
With a stud finder, locate the studs in the wall and mark the locations with painter's tape.
Drill pilot holes slightly smaller than the diameter of the lag bolts you are using into the wall studs and headboard.
Then, attach headboard to the wall using four 4" lag bolts and washers.
Secure with a ratchet or wrench.
Use a level to make sure that the headboard is straight. , Drill pilot holes into the wall studs and sideboard piece and then attach the sideboard to the wall using eight 4" lag bolts and washers.
Secure with a ratchet or wrench.
Use a level to make sure that the sideboard is straight. , Drill pilot holes into the end of the sideboard and face of the footboard.
Attach the footboard to the sideboard using two 4" lag bolts and washers. , Cut a support post to the height of clearance plus 4" and attach both 2x4s face to face with ten 2 ½" screws.
Alternate the screws on both sides of the 2x4s. , Place a level on top of the footboard.
Place the support post in position against footboard and adjust the footboard until it is level.
Clamp the footboard and post together or get a helper to hold the footboard and post in place. , Drill pilot holes into the face of the footboard and support post.
Attach the footboard to the support post with two 4" lag bolts and washers. , Clamp the outer board to the support post at the proper height or get a helper to hold it in place.
A level can come in handy here. , Drill pilot holes through the face of the outer board and into the ends of the headboard, footboard, and the support post.
Attach the outer board to the support post, headboard and footboard using six 4" lag bolts and washers (two lag bolts each into the headboard, footboard, and support post). , Position the slat support on the inside of the outer board so that the top of slat support is even with the top of the support post.
Check for level and secure the slat support in place with seven 2 ½" screws. , Position the second slat support on the inside of the sideboard so that the top is even with the top of the support post.
Check for level and secure the slat support in place with seven 2 ½" screws. , Position the end support on the inside of the headboard so that the top of the end support is even with the top of the side slat supports.
Secure it in place with four 2 ½" screws. , Position the end support on the inside of the footboard so that the top of the end support is even with the top of slat support and the support post.
Secure it in place with four 2 ½" screws. , Measure and mark the locations of the fourteen slats, creating even spacing along the slat support.
Attach each of the 14 slats by drilling a pilot hole at each end into the side slat supports and securing them with two 1 ½" screws. , Cut the 2x6s for both ladder risers to about 6" longer than the total height of the bed so far. , Cut one of the ends of one riser to a 15 degree angle, using the miter or radial arm saw.
Lean this piece, the 15 degree cut, on the ground against the outer board in its proper final position and then make a mark even with the top of the outer board.
Cut this at 15 degrees also. , Lean the risers back against the outer board and mark a 1 ½" deep notch on the riser.
This will allow the risers to fit securely to the outer board.
Cut the notch as far as possible with a rotary saw and finish the cuts with a hand or hacksaw.
Use this riser as a template for the other riser and make them match. , Measure and mark the spaces between the steps of the ladder, making sure each step is level.
Drill countersunk pilot holes through the face of the risers and into each step.
Secure each step with four 2 ½" screws. , From the inside of the outer board, drill pilot holes through outer board and into each riser of the finished ladder.
Secure it in place with four 2 ½" lag bolts and washers. , Attach two riser supports to the ladder.
Drill countersunk pilot holes through the riser supports and into the riser using four 2 ½" screws.
Ensure that the top of the riser supports line up with the top of the side rail. , Attach two raiser supports to the bottom of the ladder by drilling countersunk pilot holes through riser supports and into the ladder using four 2 ½" screws.
Ensure that the bottom of the riser supports line up with the bottom of the ladder. , Drill pilot holes through risers and into the outer board.
Secure the entire ladder assembly to the outer board using two 4" lag bolts and washers. , Buy a twin mattress and enjoy your new bed!
About the Author
Lisa Hill
Enthusiastic about teaching organization techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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