One way to maximize your investment in bunk beds is to ensure the construction meets US Safety Standards and conforms to the American Society of Testing & Materials, ASTM, regulation F1169. This is particularly important because children have an interesting view of the world, particularly the use of a bed.
The durability of bunk beds begins with the type of wood used in its frame. The use of rubber tree wood has become the selection of choice for high-end furniture manufacturers. It has a dense grain, stability, attractive color and handles different finishes well. Also, it is an "environmentally friendly" wood, since it makes use of trees that have been cut down at the end of their latex-producing life cycle which are then replaced with new seedlings.
The sturdiest bunk bed construction uses techniques that provide the best durability: mortise-and-tenon joints, steel reinforcement points as in a hook and pin system and enough slats supporting the mattress to ensure stability.
Mortise-and-tenon joints are formed when one piece, the tenon, is secured into a hole made in the second piece, the mortise. The mortise hole is generally a square or rectangle. Cut to fit the mortise hole exactly, the shoulders of the tenon seat snuggly when the joint is completed. This causes the joint to be stable as well as durable. To further lock the joint into place, it can be glued, pinned or wedged.
To create a strong, long lasting connection between the headboard and footboard, two metal pins should be embedded within the head and foot boards. These steel reinforcement points reduce stress on the frame when there is movement in the bed. Also, they permit the bed frames to be raised or lowered depending upon what height is needed for the bunks. This is useful when under-bed storage drawers or a trundle is included.
Bed slats support the mattress and should provide a solid foundation especially for bunk beds. This is accomplished by the number of slats used, the tensile strength of the wood from which they are made and their cut to fit the frame properly.
When shopping for a bed, any bed, remember that it gets more use than any other piece of furniture in your house or apartment. With this in mind, "durable" becomes the guiding principle when making a bed selection followed closely by safety. Most beds built by reputable manufacturers are safe. However, they can become less safe over time, due to wear and tear, if the techniques required to make the wooden bedroom furniture durable are not being used.
When bunk beds are made of high-quality wood using the best construction techniques, your investment will look great and last well past the "bunk bed" era and into its "twin bed" life.
