Replies

1. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Dec 07, 2002 12:59am | #1

   I've built quite a few beds like the one you're contemplating.  I generally build them the nominal size of the mattress.  Most mattresses I've encountered are like yours --- somewhat smaller than their nominal sizes.  The air gap between the mattress and the side boards makes it easy to tuck in the sheets and/or blankets.   I generally do not use sides as tall as you're thinking.  I think you'll find that if you sit right on the edge of the mattress, it compresses enough that you'll hit the top of the side, and that the hard edge is unpleasant.  Instead, I make the side only a couple inches tall above the mattress bottom.  That's plenty of height to capture the mattress, but not so much as to get in your way.

1. 
   patternmaker | Dec 07, 2002 03:17am | #2

   I have a friend in the mattress business,so I get the mattress diminsions ahead of time.

   I usualy make the width between the rails 1"greater thah the box spring and mattress width.

   This gives room for tucking the side covers. The top covers,or spread as some call it, drape over the outside of the rails.I make a bandsawed dovetail joint on each end of the spring support slats.This prevents the side rails from ever changing diminsion. Who knows the stresses that some furniture items may be subjected to.

   I place the slats at the headboard end close to the posts. On the footboard end,I like to leave about 3" space between the slat and the foot assembly. This allows the covers to be tucked far down on this end.We make the top covers with a notch on each side to drape around the post.

   FWIW¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

2. 
   Ricky_Yu | Dec 07, 2002 11:49am | #3

   I agree with Pat in the previous post in that 1" should be allowed on all four sides. I recently ordered two custom-made mattress sets and the maker gave me that recommendation. So for a 60" x 80" mattress, the interior measuremants of the bed frame should be 62" x 82". Of course, these numbers would be adjusted if your mattress is slightly smaller as you stated. And if in doubt, err on the side of caution and go bigger.