There is nothing wrong with a good slatted frame. They do not all have to be box springs. But a slatted base should be checked regularly. Here is a checklist to get you started:
- Are all the slats still round? Remove your mattress from the base and look over the slatted base from the foot end of your bed at eye level. Are the slats at hip and shoulder level still as round?
- With a good slatted base, the slats are in rubber holders that provide vertical springing. Thanks to these rubbers, the slats should protrude two to three centimetres above the frame. This is particularly important when using a double mattress on two adjacent slatted frames. Also check that no rubbers are cracked.
- Do you have a double bed? Are there feet in the middle under your slatted base that you can adjust? Also check that they are still at the right height. “Rolling together” is often caused by legs that are (no longer) properly adjusted.
- Is the slatted base positioned in the right direction? Many slatted bases have a shoulder zone. Usually the rubbers have a different colour there. The shoulder area should of course be under your shoulders, not under your feet.
- Are the ‘sliders‘ (at the height of your hips) still set correctly? These ensure that the convex slats are perfectly horizontal when you lie on your bed. If your soil is set too soft, you will be lying in a pit. If your bottom is set too hard, you will roll off (to the middle, for example).
- Are the slats too far apart? Pocket springs are usually not that big. If the gap between two slats is larger than the springs, they are not supported.
- How often should a slatted frame be checked? Once a slatted base has been in your bedroom for five years, you should check it every other year.
Is all this in order? Then you can rest assured for a few years. Is it not in order? Time for action then. Otherwise, both your sleep quality and your mattress will soon be in jeopardy.
