Building a wall-mounted bunk bed


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Old 03-10-17, 02:10 AM
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Building a wall-mounted bunk bed

I am building a wall-mounted bunk bed to be occupied by a 165-lb adult. Can I please get tips?

Here are a couple of ideas so far. Please feel free to correct or supplement these:
1. I plan to use 2x5 plus L-brackets to support the bed frame. Will this suffice?
2. To keep the bed light, I will just use planks about an inch or two apart instead of a whole plywood. Is this alright?

Thanks in advance!
 
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Old 03-10-17, 02:59 AM
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Welcome to the forums!

I don't believe an L bracket will hold the bed up, even without a 165 lb occupant. Why not use legs? If legs are out of the question I'd want more substantial brackets in a triangle shape.
 
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Old 03-10-17, 03:03 AM
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Welcome to the forums! Small brackets will help hold the bed to the wall if they are secured with long screws (not the ones that come with the bracket) into studs. I would prefer to install a 2x4 laterally along the wall where it will be installed, the length of the bed to sit the frame on and secure it to the 2x4. It will be secured with 3" decking screws into the studs. Why do you want to keep the bed "light". It won't move, so the weight won't matter much. How do you plan on supporting the outer part? Legs? The cleat, nor the brackets will support the weight of the bed on the outside.
 
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Old 03-10-17, 03:06 AM
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Not much different than my garage shelving, bolt 2x10 and 2x4's inside to wall studs on two walls (corner) and a vertical support on the free corner. A SOLID sheet of 3/4 plywood inside sitting on the 2x4 and it will hold hundreds of lbs.
 
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Old 03-10-17, 07:49 PM
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Thank you for the replies.

I was planning on at least one leg (the free corner); a ladder to be exact to help get on the bed. I'll be using the space underneath it to stash boxes to maximize space as it is a small room.

So I'm looking at 2 sides supported by cleats and 1 corner supported by the ladder. Will that suffice?
 
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Old 03-11-17, 03:32 AM
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For some reason I was picturing a bed totally supported by the wall
Your plan should be fine, just make sure the brackets are decent size and screws are long enough to secure it to the studs [no drywall screws]
 
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Old 03-11-17, 03:39 AM
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2 sides supported by cleats
Cleats/brackets, or lag bolts right into the wall studs should work as long as heafty enough to support the weight, something like 3-4 1/4" x 6 long on the two wall sides.
 
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Old 03-24-17, 07:41 PM
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lol @marksr

Thank you marksr and Marq1!
 
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Old 03-25-17, 06:44 AM
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To keep the whole thing light consider making the platform in a torsion box design. With support from 2 walls and the free corner it should hold a lot of weight. Plus the torsion box will be neater looking.
 
 

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