| So you've got the perfect little log cabin, or chalet by | | | | beds, but you certainly can. |
| the lake, or just want a country touch to your home. | | | | The other alternative to hold the mattress up is called |
| You want a log bunk bed, or two, but don't know | | | | a Bunkie board. A Bunkie board is basically ¾ |
| where to start. And they don't carry them in your | | | | inch plywood cut to the size of the box spring. It sits |
| downtown furniture store. | | | | inside either the metal bed frame, or the wood bed |
| Not to worry, there are plenty of options available on | | | | frame, and supports the mattress. If you have a box |
| the Internet. There are loft log bunk beds, twin over | | | | spring you don't need a Bunkie board, but if there is not |
| twin log bunk beds, full over full or even twin over | | | | a box spring, the Bunkie board is what supports the |
| queen. I haven't seen a twin over king yet, but really | | | | middle of the mattress. We sell Bunkie boards if people |
| the Amish can make any size you want. A lot of | | | | want them, but a lot of people just cut their own. It's up |
| college students who looking to build an inexpensive | | | | to the buyer. |
| loft bed might find an Amish loft bunk bed to be just | | | | Another option to consider is the type of ladder you |
| the ticket, and some of them come with futons under | | | | want with your log bunk bed. Some of the Amish beds |
| them, too. | | | | have the ladders built right into the end of the bed, so |
| There are federal regulations regarding bunk beds, so | | | | you don't have a ladder leaning out from the bed. |
| you'll want to make sure that whatever bed you | | | | Others have a moveable ladder that can hook on the |
| choose meets the regulations. We're talking safety | | | | end or the side. In many cases, the amount of space |
| here, and things do happen. But you certainly wouldn't | | | | available determines the type of bunk bed you buy. If |
| want a bed that doesn't meet the regulations, so make | | | | you have a small room, the larger cedar logs may |
| sure that the one you buy, does. Most accidents with | | | | seem too massive. If you don't have room for a |
| bunk beds happen to children under the age of three. | | | | slanted ladder, however, you may opt for the cedar |
| Many of these accidents can be avoided by having | | | | bunk bed anyway that has the ladder built in. If you |
| safety rails on both sides of the top bed. If one side of | | | | have a larger room or larger people, you may opt for |
| the bed is against the wall, that can be sufficient--but it | | | | the larger cedar logs. |
| must be against the wall. There are also regulations | | | | If you get a pine bunk bed with metal frame, there is a |
| regarding headboards. There is a link to a page with | | | | way to give the metal frame that log look when the |
| the regulations at the bottom of this article for those | | | | covers are thrown back. These are decorative half |
| who wish to read further. | | | | logs or rails, not to be confused with the safety rails |
| Bunk beds built to those regulations are generally built | | | | that go around the top of the bunk bed. The top |
| to hold an adult weighing up to 250 pounds. If you are | | | | safety rails are always included with the log bunk bed, |
| pushing the limits, try cedar instead of pine. In the beds | | | | but the decorative half rails are optional and just for |
| we sell, the cedar logs are 5 ½ to 6 inches in | | | | looks. |
| diameter, while the pine is about 3 ½ inches in | | | | Last but not least, be sure to measure before you buy. |
| diameter. They are both built to federal specifications, | | | | Last year we sold a couple of log bunk beds to |
| and the pine bunk beds are very solid and strong, but if | | | | somebody in Montana. They absolutely loved the beds, |
| there is a question in your mind, go for the bigger logs. | | | | but had bought two for the room and soon found out |
| And of course, you can always put the big fella on the | | | | that only one could comfortably fit. Since we are in |
| bottom, too. | | | | Michigan and they in Montana, it would have cost quite |
| Some log bunk beds come with a metal frame to hold | | | | a bit to ship it back. They ended up selling the extra |
| the mattress, but some of the Amish build them with a | | | | bed on ebay, but the problem could have been |
| wood frame to hold both the box spring and the | | | | avoided with a bit of careful measuring up front. |
| mattress. You don't have to put a box spring in those | | | | |