Want To Build Your Own Bunk Beds?
Author: Don VanPelt

Are you handy with a hammer? Skilled with a saw? Maybe you're
looking for a way to get more space into your children's bedroom
without spending a lot of money. Bunk beds are your answer.
Children love them, and, today there are just so many options
available to keep everybody happy.

And if you would like to take a chance and do it yourself,
you're in luck because bunk beds are somewhat simple to make.
When the right materials are chosen, bunk beds can also bring a
warmth and style to the bedroom that will fit in with the design
scheme of the rest of the house.

And although children love their bunk beds for obvious reasons,
there are additional precautions a parent must take to ensure
their child's bed is safe and secure. Every reputable bunk bed
has been tested and safety certified by the ASTM (American
Society for Testing Materials). This means that the bunk bed is
purchased from a company that follows the ASTM's stringent
guidelines, including precise placement of the guard rails to
keep little heads, feet and hands from getting caught between
them. The guard rails will also be securely fastened to the bed,
to keep your little ones safe for years to come. The safety
aspect of guard rails cannot be stressed enough; sometimes, a
child may tell his parents that he's too big for guard rails and
will ask the parent to remove them. Please never tamper with the
guard rails. They are a proven, tested way to keep your child
safe.

If you want to make your children's bunk beds, please
familiarize yourself with the many specifications for the beds,
and for safety's sake, don't take any shortcuts. The main
mistake people make when they make a bed from scratch, is that
they then purchase the wrong-size mattress. It should fit very
snug, with no greater give than three inches in any direction.
Any more, and your child could be in danger of getting trapped
between the mattress and frame.

Make sure you have your proportions right, in particular, make
sure the child in the bottom bunk has enough head room. Make
sure the lower bunk can hold your own weight without compromise.
Making your own bunk beds is truly not difficult, but as they
say, please read all the directions before you begin your
project.

However, if you choose to purchase bunk beds that are already
built, buy from a reputable online dealer who sells high-quality
furniture. The dealer wants to make sure your child is safe, so
they will sell a product that is well constructed and should
last your child from preschool through college. The guard rails
and the ladder are two places where the manufacturer should
especially focus on good workmanship to ensure that the bed is
safe for your child. When you get your new purchase home, please
follow the directions to the letter; we cannot stress enough how
important it is to follow the manufacturer's precise directions
for assembly. And if you can, allow your child to participate,
even if it's only with the unpacking, your child could possibly
remember the experience for the rest of their life.


About The Author: Don VanPelt is a writer for Bunk Beds
Central, who has published many articles about bunk beds. You
can read his comments and get his recommendations on the best
places to purchase bunk beds at http://bunkbedscentral.com