What Materials Do I Need to Build a Loft for a Twin Mattress?

Hand Tools

• Since you will be doing a lot of screwing and hammering, have a power drill, drill bits and a hammer nearby during construction. A circular saw will be needed to cut large lumber boards into proper dimensions for the bed frame. Additional tools include a socket wrench set, tape measure, carpenter’s square and goggles. The tape measure and carpenter's square will be essential for aligning and adjusting different bed components with accuracy and precision. Wear goggles when using tools and cutting wood to protect from flying debris and dust.

Hardware

• Use lag or carriage bolts, hex bolts, lag screws and decking screws for attaching finished lumber boards to each other and to the posts. The carriage bolts will range from 3 1/2 inches to 8 inches long and be attached and secured with your wrench for heavier pieces. Likewise, lag screws will range from 3 inches to 5 1/2 inches in length. Also have 1 pound each of 2-inch and 2 1/2-inch decking screws and two or more 5-inch hex bolts. Other hardware needed for building a twin loft bed include washers, steel finishing washers and hex nuts for further security and providing bolts and screws with a polished look. Shelf supports should also be included in your hardware arsenal if you want to install built-in shelves for extra storage.

Building Materials

• Nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and “Ask the Builder” writer Tim Carter recommends one 4-by-8-foot-by-3/4-inch thick sheet of AC plywood and four 4-inch-by-4-inch-by-8-foot pieces of redwood or pine lumber for the bed posts. He also advises to use three 2-foot-by-6-foot-by-8-foot lumber boards and three 1-inch-by-3 1/2-inch-by-8-foot lumber boards. The lumber boards will be used to build the loft portion of the bed with a plywood covering. The posts support the bed and the smaller pieces of lumber are used to construct the ladder.

Optional Materials

• After assembling your loft bed, paint the lumber to accentuate and create a focal point around the space underneath. Sealants should be used on the lumber first so the paint will smooth across rather than bleed through the wood’s surface. Coat the lumber with a clear wood finish such as polyurethane if you are not using paint. You can also attach a bulletin board using 2 1/2-inch decking screws and finishing washers to the rear support and bed frame. Other ideas include installing curtain rods behind the front frame and hanging fabric or a sheet to create a separate play space.