College Bed Lofts Loft Bed User manual

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CollegeBedLofts.com
Plans for: Loft Bed - Bunk Bed - High Rise Platform Bed
High Rise Platform Bed

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Thank you for ordering our Plans. If you decide at a later date to purchase some of the individual parts from us, the $10
Plans payment may be credited toward purchasing a complete loft kit. Just send us an email after you have purchased
the parts or complete kit from us and we'll refund your original $10 Plans purchase.
Please Note: The plans will provide you with the instructions to build all the individual pieces for your bed. Once you
have made all the pieces, you can assemble the bed using the instructions at http://collegebedlofts.com/setup.html.
Tools Required / General Notes
 Electric or cordless drill/screwdriver with 3/8” wood bit and a phillips #2 medium head bit, table saw or circular saw, jig
saw, framing square.
 Drill pilot holes whenever using wood screws to prevent the wood from splitting. Countersink the pilot holes so the
screw is just below the wood surface. Never drill into wood closer than 3/4" from the edge, otherwise it may split.
 Always refer back to the first picture to see how everything fits together.
 For ease of transportation, we have set the maximum length of any single board to purchase at 10', which should
easily fit into the back of most mini-vans, SUVs and station wagons and not stick out too far. You may also purchase
longer pieces and have the lumber yard cut them to size before you leave. Remember to place a red flag on any
lumber sticking out the back end of your vehicle.
 Remember 2x4's are actually 1-1/2" x 3-1/2", 2x6's are 1-1/2" x 5 1/2".
 When drilling pilot holes use a 5/32" drill bit and a #6 countersink.
 Save the scrap pieces, they may be used for building a desktop or bookshelves later on.
 Before purchasing the lumber, please read through this entire set of plans to familiarize yourself with all aspects of
this project.
 Always wear safety glasses when working around wood and sawdust.
 And remember, Measure Twice - Cut Once.
Safety Guidelines
The College Bed Loft was designed utilizing the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) Safety Guidelines for
bunk beds. The loft should not be used by children under the age of 6. If modifications or alternations are made it must
conform to the CPSC Document #071 requirements. Since College Bed Lofts cannot control the quality of the assembly
nor modifications made to the loft, Eastbay Solutions Group, LLC (College Bed Lofts) will not be held legally liable from
any accidents, injuries or property damage resulting from the use of our loft. Because of the very nature of sleeping on an
elevated surface, there are obvious and inherent risks involved due to falling. This risk is enhanced when consciousness
is limited or impaired due to sleep, lack of sleep, illness, consumption of alcohol, taking medications, inhalation of
smoke/fumes or similar factors. The loft is an all natural wood product and will burn when fire or sufficient heat is present.
Elevated beds may also create obstructions or impediments that increase the hazards encountered in a fire or other
emergency by hindering evacuation or fire suppression activities. Customers who choose to use our loft shall be deemed
to have assumed all risks of accidents, injury and property damage associated with their use. As a general safety
precaution do not place the loft near any window, door, closet, fire / smoke alarm or ceiling fan. All college residence halls
have specific requirements regarding the use and placement of lofts and students are required to follow all college
requirements.
The safety rail must be in use at all times.
Loft Bed Sizes - Using this set of plans, you can build any of the sizes listed below:
Mattress Size Twin Full Queen
Regular 39 x 75 54 x 75
Extra Long 39 x 80 54 x 80 60 x 80
The High Rise Bed Platform Bed is built using the same techniques as the loft bed, only it is half the height.
The loft needs to be built to fit the mattress size. For example, a regular twin mattress is 39x75, use the Twin Regular
39x75 specs to build this bed.

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Please Note we do not offer plans for the following: King sizes (they are very wide beds and will need a large center
support). Multi-Width Bunks (twin/full, etc.), Steps & Shelves. Side Platform. Custom desks/shelving/beds. Many of these
items are too complicated for the typical casual woodworking home project.
Beds taller than 84" or longer than 84" may be slightly top heavy and should either be attached to a wall or corner bracing
added.
Lumber Requirements
All lumber should be prime or #1 grade. We use Spruce grown from the Pacific Northwest. Since it grows in a cooler
climate, it has fewer knots and the boards stay nice and straight better than other wood species. Most home improvement
stores such as Home Depot and Lowes will let you search and select the best pieces from the lumber pile. Be careful
when un-stacking lumber as they tend to tip easily and watch out for splinters and staples in the wood. Never stand on a
pile of lumber and children should not be around stacked lumber.
Leg Height
We have two leg heights. For ceilings up to 8’ you will use the 72” legs. For ceilings greater than 8’ or if you are planning
on adding more safety rails you will use the 84” legs. To calculate the leg height you can use our Loft Height Calculator
at: CollegeBedLofts.com/loft_height.html. This will tell you the actual leg height needed. Please note that the
standard safety rail will be installed 5” above the top of the mattress. If you decide to add extra safety rails to go 10”
above the top of the mattress you need to increase the leg height by 5”. If you want the safety rails to go 15” above the
top of the mattress you need to increase the leg height by 10”.
Loft Bed Material List
Ladder Legs Loft or Bunk (4) 2x6x8' or (2) 2x6x8' for the high rise bed.
Ladder Rungs Size Using 72” Legs Using 84” Legs High Rise Bed
Twin (4) 2x4x8' (5) 2x4x8’ (2) 2x4x8’
Full (4) 2x4x10' (5) 2x4x10’ (2) 2x4x10’
Queen (4) 2x4x12' (5) 2x4x12’ (2) 2x4x12’
Rails (2) 2x6x8'
Rail Ledge (2) 2x2x8'
Mattress Foundation Bed Slats
Twin (5) 2x4x10'
Full (7) 2x4x10'
Queen (7) 2x4x10'
Bolts, Screws & Misc. Items
(4) Carriage Bolts 3/8” x 5”
(4) Each 3/8” Washers, Lock Washers, Hex Nuts
2 lbs. 2½” Screws #7 or #8 size (the larger number size is better)
½ lb. 2” Screws #6 or #7 or #8 size
1 lb. 1-5/8” Screws #6 or #7 or #8 size
½ lb. 1¼” 3d Nails
1 lb. Yellow Wood Carpenter's Glue

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Cut the Ladder Rungs
Cut (8) for 72" Legs (10) for 84" Legs (4) for High Rise Bed
Twin: Using the 2x4x8' cut rungs @ 44"
Full: Using the 2x4x10' cut rungs @ 59"
Queen: Using the 2x4x12' cut rungs @ 65"
Drill (2) pilot holes as per diagram at each end.
Cut the Mattress Foundation Bed Slats
Twin: Using the 2x4x10' cut fourteen (14) slats @ 38"
Full: Using 2x4x10' cut fourteen (14) slats @ 53”
Queen: Using 2x4x10' cut fourteen (14) slats @ 59"
Drill (1) pilot hole as per diagram at each end.
Cutting & Building the Rails
Cut (2) Rails: 2x6 Rail & 2x2 Ledge Lengths:
Regular 75” XL 80”
Glue and screw the 2x2 ledge to the 2x6 rail as shown
in the diagram.
Drill pilot holes before driving screws. The screws
should go from the 2x2 into the 2x6. Use #7 2-1/2"
screws spacing them 6" apart.
Drill a 3/8" hole through the ledge and front rail 2" from
each end as shown in the diagram. Drill (4) pilot holes
as shown in the diagram at each end.

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Cutting End Ladder Legs and Rung Notches
Cut (4) 2x6 Legs at 72" regular height; 84" extra tall; 39" High Rise Bed. The
spacing between the rungs is 11". From the bottom you start with an 11" gap,
then a 3-1/2" rung, then 11" gap, then 3-1/2" rung, and so on to the desired
height.
Leg Height Number of Notches
39" 2
72" 4
84" 5
Notches need to be cut into legs to fit a 2x4 (1-1/2" x 3-1/2") rung.
This can be accomplished in a few ways:
Doing one leg at a time, use a table saw and a dado blade, slide the board over
the blade to cut the notches, this is for experienced woodworkers only.
Clamp all four legs together, using a circular saw, cut a series of slits 1-7/16"
deep and about 1/16" apart. Then use a chisel to clean out the notched area.
Doing one leg at a time, using a 3/8" drill bit, drill a hole at the base of each
notch. Then using a jig saw cut the complete notch out from the leg.
Please Note: If you are also building a Double Bookshelf Headboard and using
the 72" legs, you may want to make (2) legs 91" tall with 4 notches. The top 18"
will be used for the Double Bookshelf sides. You can also do this with the High
Rise Legs and make (2) legs 69” tall with 2 notches.
The rungs will protrude about 1/8” from the
edge of the legs (see diagram). They will
not be flush with the legs.
Drilling the Carriage Bolt Holes
Use our Loft Height Calculator at:
CollegeBedLofts.com/loft_height.html.
This will give you how much space you will
get underneath. Drill a 3/8” hole into the
legs 2” from the inside ledge at the height
specified on our Loft Height Calculator.
For example, if you have a 96” ceiling and
6” mattress and want 30” space above you
will get 58” underneath. Drill the hole 58”
up from the floor. For bunk beds, drill
the bottom hole 8” from the floor.

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Bunk Bed Plans
The Bunk Bed requires a second set of rails, bed slats and additional hardware.
Cut them exactly as the upper bunk pieces were cut.
Hardware
(4) Carriage Bolts 3/8” x 5”
(4) Each 3/8” Washers, Lock Washers, Hex Nuts
Material List
Rails: (2) 2x6x8'
Rail Ledge: (2) 2x2x8'
Bed Slats Twin: (5) 2x4x10' Full: (7) 2x4x10' Queen: (7) 2x4x12'
Drill the bottom hole 8” from the floor.
Front Ladder Plans
The vertical front ladder is built using the same procedures as the loft end ladders, except
they are 2x4 legs.
Material List Legs: (2) 2x4x8' Rungs: (2) 2x4x8'
Cut (2) ladder legs using the same notching instructions as the loft legs.
Cut the rungs at 18".
The length of the angled ladder is the height of where you will be mounting it plus 4”.
The bottom of the legs are rounded. The rungs are 15” long and are glued and
screwed to the legs. The spacing between the rungs is 10-1/2”. The rungs are
placed at a 14 degree angle to the legs. At the top of the legs cut the back edge 14
degrees and mount a 2x4 which will be used to attach to the front rail or top rung on
the end.
To support the safety rails on the front make a support using a 2x6 and have it go
from the bottom of the front rail to the top of the legs.

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Loft & Bunk Double Bookshelf Headboard
Double Bookshelf Headboard Front View
Double Bookshelf Headboard Back View
Short Bookshelf

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Long Shelf & Desk Shelf
Cut the shelf material the length needed based on the width of your bed. If you have short shelves at the ends then cut
the shelf at the edge of the short shelf, otherwise cut the shelf at the end of the bed. Cut the 2x4 support the length of the
bed between the inside of the rungs. Cut the shelf supports based on the width of the shelf.

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Safety Rails
The Safety Rails go the full length on three sides and half way across on one ladder side. The number of Safety Rail Sets
required is based on the thickness of the mattress. If your mattress is up to 8" thick, 2 sets of safety rails are required.
For up to 16" thick 3 sets are needed and 4 sets for mattresses greater then 16”. If a Front Ladder is used then the Safety
Rail Brace and Short Safety Rails are not used. The Consumer Products Safety Commission Guidelines are there must
not be a gap of more than 3-1/2" anywhere above the bed slats. Below the bed slats the gap must be either not greater
than 3-1/2" or if it is greater than 3-1/2", then it must be at least a 9" gap. After placing the bed together you must
measure the gaps all around the bed and add additional safety rails if the above limits are exceeded.
Material List
Safety Rails: 1x4x8' (8) for 2 sets of safety rails (12) for 3 sets (16) for 4 sets
Safety Rail Brace: (1) 2x4x8'
Safety Rail Brace
The safety rail brace is made from a 2x4 33" when using 72" Legs and 30-1/2" for
84" legs. It needs to be cut as per the picture at left. It is used when you have the
opening at the end of the bed. It is not required when using a front ladder.
This brace is designed for the safety rail to go 5” above the top of the mattress. If
you want the safety rail to be 10” above the top of the mattress you need to extend
the top section by 5”. If you want the top of the safety rail to be 15” above the top of
the mattress you need to extend the top section by 10”
Cut safety rails for the front at 75" (Regular), 80" (Extra Long) or 84" (Dorm XXL).
Drill four (4) pilot holes into each end of the front and back safety rails as shown in the
above picture ¾” from the edge. Drill the second set of holes 2” from the first.
Cut safety rails for the ends at 44" (Twin), 59" (Full) or 65" (queen). Drill two pilot holes into
each end of the side safety rails ¾” from the edge.

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Desktop Plans
Short Desktop Long Desktop
The Short Desktop goes the width of the loft and is 20" deep and 30"
from the floor. It is attached to the second rung with two angled side
supports. The Long Desktop goes the full length of the loft and is
attached to the second rung and does not require the angled side
supports.
Materials List
Desktop: The desktop can be made from any material such as solid pine, MDF, Melamine or plywood.
Frame: The frame is made from (3) 2x2x8'
Angle Brace: 2x4x19", 2 required for short desktop, not required for long desktop.
Screws: (20) 2" & (15) 2-1/2" Screws.
Desktop & Frame
Cut the desktop material 20" wide and to a length as shown on the
left diagram. Place desktop face down to attach the frame which
will support the desktop from underneath.
Cut the 2x2 pieces for the frame using the measurements shown at
the left. The frame is glued and screwed 1-1/2" from each end of
the desktop. Place screws every 8".
Angle Braces
The Angle Brace is cut from a 2x4x19". The ends are cut to 45 degrees as shown on the picture on the
left. Two braces are required for the short desktop, none are required for the long desktop. Drill pilot
holes 3/4" from the ends as shown in the picture.

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High Rise Platform Bed Bookshelf
The High Rise Platform Bed Bookshelf may built separately
first and then attached to the top of the legs, or you may
make the legs tall enough for the shelves.
You may make the height at anything you need, typically
they are 30" above the top of the legs.
Materials List
(2) Shelves 3/4” x 7” x 41” (twin),
56" (full) or 62" (queen) pine or MDF
(2) Shelf Sides 2x6x30
(2) Shelf Side Supports 2x2x11”
(4) Shelf Supports 2x2x5½”
(2) Backboard 1/8” x 6-1/2” x
44” (twin), 59" (full) or
65" (queen) Hardboard
(16) 1-1/4” Nails
(8) 1-5/8” Screws
(16) 2-1/2” Screws

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Low Platform Bed
The low Platform Bed is the same size as your mattress and is 10” high (where the mattress starts).
Materials List
(4) 2x6x8’ for the rails and headers
(4) 2x2x8’ for the ledge
Mattress Foundation (Bed Slats) (5) 2x4x10' Twin; (7) 2x4x10' Full; (7) 2x4x10' Queen
Cut (2) Long Rails to the proper length to fit your mattress size. Install the 2x2 ledge and legs as per the above diagram.
Cut the short rails at 36” Twin; 51” Full; 57” Queen. Install as shown below.

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L-Shaped Bed
The L-Shaped Bed connects two beds together to form a single unit bed with two sleeping surfaces on top. By joining the
two beds together this eliminates the center post (leg) between the beds giving you a larger open area underneath. The
L-Shaped side can either be on the left or right side. This requires advanced carpentry skills to build due to the special
cuts and joints needed.

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An example of an L-Shaped bed is shown below.