Buying Bunk Beds

Archive for the ‘Questions to Ask When Shopping’ Category

You can purchase your bunk bed in almost any type of wood imaginable, however certain types of wood may be far more expensive and harder to find.

Pine is commonly used in the construction of solid wood bunk beds. It has the advantage of being fairly strong while at the same time being much less expensive than hardwoods. Pine comes in a variety of species, but the two most common used for bunk bed construction are Radiata which is grown on plantations in South America and relatively clear, and Southern Yellow Pine which is grown in the United States. Other wood that works well for bunk beds is Parawood, more commonly known as rubber wood. This wood comes mainly from Malaysia in their effort to recycle rubber trees.

Another wood that can be used on bunk beds is plywood. It is very strong and offers the stability you need. Veneered particle board should be avoided for most furniture, but especially bunk beds. It does not hold fasteners well and can lead to a bed that is not stable.

Getting the best value when purchasing a bunk bed.

Bunk beds are not complicated to construct. There are several people who are able to produce them in a small wood shop or garage and sell them directly to the public. These beds are usually very sturdy and affordable, although their design and appearance tends to be rather simple.

While these small shops and individuals are probably familiar with the latest safety requirements, they probably do not have the skills and facilities to conduct extensive testing on the beds they produce. You should thoroughly acquaint yourself with the safety information on this web site prior to purchasing a bunk bed from one of these sources.

How to select the right material for your bunk bed.

Metal bunk beds tend to be less expensive than wood bunk beds, and of a lower quality. Some of the problems that have been reported with metal bunk beds include squeaking at the joints and broken welds, which can be almost impossible to repair. Wooden bunk beds are definitely more popular than metal ones, and come in a wide variety of price ranges. Here are some of the factors that go into a bunk beds price:

Bunk beds are expensive to ship from the manufacturer to the retailer due to their weight and size.
Beds that are constructed using less material may weight less, but they are usually more flimsy. Always check the construction of a bunk bed by shaking it vigorously.

Inexpensive bunk beds are often poorly constructed. When a bunk bed includes added features such as drawers manufacturers will often use less expensive materials, such as veneers and particle board to recoup the high shipping costs of these items.

Ask some important questions before deciding to purchase a bunk bed to make sure that you really need it.

You should always ask whether you really need bunk beds before purchasing them. Bunk beds are great for saving space, but they can also help your children sleep better. Since bunk beds offer a sense of fun and adventure they can encourage your child to sleep in their own bed, and stay out of their parents. Older siblings often enjoy the private space provided by sleeping on the top bunk. You can see that bunk beds do more than just save space.

If you are just looking to save space you may also want to consider a Captain’s bed. This style of bed has drawers underneath that can replace a dresser. Many older kids prefer Captain’s beds to bunk beds.

When researching which bed is right for you, be sure that you are comparing similar products.

Bunk beds are great for giving you extra sleeping space and extra floor space. To ensure safety your bed should be purchased from a reputable dealer, comply with the latest safety standards, be correctly installed, and have its use supervised. Look for a dealer that has a good reputation and is willing to stand behind their product with a solid lifetime warranty. Your bunk bed should have a gold sticker attached to it that outlines important safety information that should be followed. There are voluntary safety standards for bunk beds which have been published by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). Be sure that the bed you purchase complies with these standards.

When researching which bed is right for you, be sure that you are comparing similar products. For example, sometimes the price of the bed includes a posture or Bunkie board, sometimes it does not. You will need these to provide adequate support to your mattress, so be sure to know the price with these items included.

Find out the delivery policy of your dealer. Some good questions to ask include: Will there be an additional fee fore delivery? Will the delivery people set up the bunk bed in my home? Will any product packaging materials be removed by delivery personnel? Does the dealer sub-contract out delivery and installation, or do they have their own in house employees for such jobs? Are they able to deliver at a time that works will for my schedule? Do I need to set aside an entire day to wait for delivery or are they willing to set an appointment for a more specific time?

The best value is beds that have been constructed using hardwoods.

Solid woods are best for the construction of bunk beds. While you will find that beds made from plywood or particle board with a veneer are less expensive, they are not strong structurally and will not last the way a solid wood bed will.

The best value is beds that have been constructed using hardwoods. They are usually a better investment than beds made using either metal or softwoods.

The beds of the finest quality will have mounting hardware that has been totally concealed. Be sure there are no rough points sticking out as these could be a safety hazard.