Lately, we’d been waking up a lot during the night because of a creaking squeaky bed. Anytime we moved we woke each other up. Recently, the problem had gotten worse. Fixing a creaking platform bed was suddenly top of the list of chores. Looking under the bed, I saw the problem. The middle feet decided to call it quits. Not only was it creaking more, now there was an ever so slight slump toward the middle because the middle feet were bent away from vertical. We were not getting great sleep.
Identifying the Problem
The first step was diagnosing the issue. If you’ve seen any bed with a middle rail, then you know they usually give you those little supports that are held in by one screw in the middle. Our supports had given in, causing the bed to sag and resulting in an unpleasant creak with every movement. This is pretty common with those little feet on a platform beds or any bed with that middle board support.
Replacement Options
I saw that there were at least two types of aftermarket feet available. One type was a bracket around the wood middle beam, and the other type just screws in. I opted for the screw in type set that required a bit of DIY installation. It was a bit of a coin toss which to buy really but in hindsight I like the screw in type.
The DIY Fix
- Clearing the Area: I started by clearing the space under the bed and moving the mattress out of the way.
- Removing the Old Feet: I carefully removed the old, broken feet. One had actually fallen off completely.
- Prepping for the New Feet: The aftermarket feet came with their own set of screws. I just had to assemble the feet with the nuts and set them to the length I needed.
- Screwing in the Support: I placed the feet close to where the old feet had been. With the new feet in place, I screwed them into the middle beam. This required a bit of elbow grease, going too slow meant the screws would strip out.
- Testing, Testing: The true moment of reckoning came when I tested the bed by sitting on the edge and rolling in. The squeak was gone, and the bed felt more secure than ever, and I didn’t roll to the middle.
Other Creaks
If the middle legs or feet on your bed are still vertical and not bent out of shape, but you still hear creaking. Depending on the sound, it could be the sound of the wood slats rubbing on the screws that hold them in. One way to dampen that problem is to make sure for a platform bed that you put plywood or other flat material under the mattress to cover the wood slats completely. Having flat sheets of plywood spreads out the load more evenly on the slats. It’s actually required for some mattress warranties, so that the mattress doesn’t get pushed between the slats. Also tighten up the frame every so often to ensure that the creaks aren’t coming from the bed frame itself.
The Verdict
In the end, the DIY fix was a success. It was obviously better the very first night. Sometimes, a simple upgrade can make a world of difference in the comfort of your sleep haven. Here’s to a quieter and more restful night ahead! If you’re not the DIY type yet, it’s never too late to start, you can do it!
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