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Purchasing a Bunk Bed
Home » Beds » Bunk Beds » Purchasing a Bunk BedThe first decision you will need to make is whether you want to purchase a bunk bed at all. While they can help families with multiple children, remember that you are making a multi-year commitment to have your children sleep in bunk beds. With that fact in mind, consider stackable bunk beds, so that you can separate the bunks in later years.
Next, think about whether you want to make the bunk bed yourself. If you have moderate carpentry skills, you can build your own bunk bed. Contact the American Society of Testing Materials for safety information and purchase lumber, bolts, and screws, along with plans for the bunk bed.
If you decide to purchase a manufactured bunk bed, make safety your primary concern. Shake the bunk bed to see if the ladder and guardrails are strong or if they wobble. Ask about the weight limit on the ladder and the beds themselves. Make sure there are secure slats or crossties to support the mattresses. Finally, examine the bunk beds for any gaps where an arm or a head could become trapped. The gaps between the guardrails and the bed frame should be less than three and a half inches.
Ask the salesman if the manufacturer adds any extras to the bunk beds. Will they install the bunk bed for you? Is there a warranty included in the purchase price, and if so, what does the warranty cover? Will they give you instruction on how to inspect the bunk bed for dangerous wear and tear?
There is a wide range in the price of bunk beds. You can find a very basic unassembled frame for two hundred to three hundred dollars, or you could pay more than a thousand dollars for a durable and decorative frame. The price of a bunk bed will rise or fall depending on what is included in the price (mattresses are often not included) and on the quality of the frame’s construction. Bunk bed frames are available in both wood and metal, and metal frames are often, but not always, the cheaper option. Many wooden frames will feel more secure and natural than will tubular metal frames.
Finally, don’t forget to purchase a bunk bed you like. Sit on the bottom bunk and make sure that your head does not hit the top bunk. If you don’t like the color of a bunk bed, ask if you can stain the wood. Do you want a ladder that is at the side of the bunk or one that is at the foot and/or head of the bed? Fortunately, it is possible to purchase a safe, affordable, quality bunk bed that you also like.
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