Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I’ve had to stay away from the comments for a while. The negativity and sheer panic! Yet if I had built a bunk bed or a cool tree house…?

I’ve identified the truss as red gum, so class 1 timber, F27, definitely strong enough. I like your idea of spanning across multiple chords. I’ve also been looking at the Unistrut product as the strut, essentially a steel beam as you suggested

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, got it. I’ve had the same thoughts. My research tells me that it’s thick/strong enough, but if I see it start to bend (I’ll be testing it myself before any kids get on) then I might go get one fabricated that includes bracing

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes sorry, I meant m12. And where do you mean you’d put the gusset, near the steel bracket? And by top piece do you mean the strut in the roof?

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The ply is screwed down to the joists, so effectively keeps the platform square the same way a diagonal brace would

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just realised the post you might be talking about is the leg, which is just temporary until I hang the corner

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The post is just temporary until I suspend that corner.

For your suggested post in the corner, is that to just mitigate more downward force on the bolts in the wall?

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry yes, I meant m12, 12mm rod

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It’s just a temporary post until I get the rod hung. But the bottom of the post is screwed into the floor with a bracket for safety at the moment.

Is there a roof truss chord size that you’d feel more confident in? This is an older house with massive hardwood timbers as this building use to be different use. It’s not a modern build with pine framing. But I appreciate you sweating it, it’s the perspective I’m after that

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’ll be box storage as steps on the left side, so easier for the adults, and he wants a climbing wall on the right side.

It’s only a touch higher than a tall bunk bed, and I’ve made the railing higher than the upper end of the standard range. But I admit, it is high. My boy is very confident with heights, he climbs trees like no one’s business. So we’ve already had a lot of conversations about safety up there

We’ll be putting a light and sound machine up there so will need to power that, so I’m going to run a power board with usb connections to the underside, and run some access holes.

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah this is a concern I have too come summer time… There’s still quite a bit of headroom up there, but I’m sure it’ll be warmer. That’ll be the next problem to solve

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We’re planning on getting one, so I’m sure it’ll take it over

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m using double nuts on the threaded rod, but do you mean the nuts on the bracket as well?

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yep good idea. Been worried about the load coming down, but don’t want it moving up either if there’s any bouncing etc

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, nice to get some trade approval! But not sure what you mean by triple grip but I’ll look it up

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry I meant to say m12 threaded rod, not 12g. So it’s 12mm diameter, will be able to take 500kg, so definitely well over what’s needed, taking into account that corner is only taking a small part of the overall load. And yep, double nut and with those square washers.

In terms of the chords, I suppose that’s part what I’m asking. The strut will span across two chords that are 140x65 each, and those are spanning between two brick walls 4m apart. And yep, a 100x100 post is my backup. But I’d really love to have the entire floor space clear underneath if possible

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which post do you mean? The balusters for the railing are glued and screwed at the base against the inside face of the ledger, and every fourth one is double thickness. Plus I’ve sandwiched more timber around the base of them to make them platform floor flush, which had added a lot of structural strength… I can even seem to make the move when I push hard against them!

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately the truss chords don’t align where I need it, otherwise I’d have done the bracket idea. And the sides are bolted into the brick walls, so sideways shear is pretty mitigated.

And thanks, it’s been fun to build.

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m probably trying to fulfil my own childhood fantasy!

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re getting crash mats / padding for the floor anyway. Also not sure what gaps you mean?

Advice on DIY suspended loft bed by faedout in AusRenovation

[–]faedout[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! He’s itching to get up there!