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Anatomy of a Truly Rock Solid Loft Bed
* Note: A few points
on this page (slats)
do not apply to our
new Basic Models.
Just refer to the
Basic Models page
for clarification.
on this page (slats)
do not apply to our
new Basic Models.
Just refer to the
Basic Models page
for clarification.
Go ahead, do your comparative shopping, and pay close attention to the design features
of other loft beds (or lack thereof). For those of you who like to save time, however, we've
loaded this page with comparison information and then go into detail about our loft beds.
We hope you find this page to be quite informative!
of other loft beds (or lack thereof). For those of you who like to save time, however, we've
loaded this page with comparison information and then go into detail about our loft beds.
We hope you find this page to be quite informative!
| MC WOODWORKS ADVANTAGE Premium Grade Southern Yellow Pine: Virtually clear, holds fasteners well, ideal for furniture. Key structural components are double thick for increased sturdiness. Width of some components are scaled up for larger models. Triangle supports to virtually eliminate wobble. Proportionally LARGER TRIANGLE SUPPORTS at ends of loft bed for larger models. Rounded edges on virtually every component, concealed hardware used in construction, recessed bolts near the ladder to prevent scrapes, and more. Slats are spaced at most 3 1/2" apart; no additional platform is needed unless your mattress is unusually thin. 100% hand-made, many routine quality inspections performed by master builder personally. Full color photo instructions, steps taking you virtually piece by piece. Personal service with master designer. TWO YEARS |
We expect you to check out other loft beds on the market.
Here are a few pointers on what to look for:
• Does the design incorporate triangle supports? If so, how large are they and are they scaled up for
the larger models?
• Are the edges rounded? If so, how round are they? We use 5/16" radius roundover routing bits,
which we think is ideal for comfort and appearance. The lower the radius, the sharper the edge.
• What's the overall weight of one of their units? Our twin loft bed ships at about 200 pounds (Full Loft
Bed: 240, Queen Loft Bed: 260, King Loft Bed: 340). Generally, this can give you an indication of the size of
components (effecting sturdiness) and quantity of components (an indicator of design refinement).
• Do you need to purchase a mattress foundation separately? Our loft bed slats are strong and spaced
at most 3 ½” apart, no additional platform is needed unless your mattress is unusually thin.
• Is there personalized service with the master designer? How involved is he in the construction
process? Our master designer performs very routine quality inspections, and can be contacted directly to
answer your questions.
• How do you like the overall appearance of their design? Call us biased, but we think our loft beds
look great!
• How long is their warranty? We offer a two year warranty on all of our loft bed products.
If you answered negatively to any of the above, well, we'll let you be the judge!
Here are a few pointers on what to look for:
• Does the design incorporate triangle supports? If so, how large are they and are they scaled up for
the larger models?
• Are the edges rounded? If so, how round are they? We use 5/16" radius roundover routing bits,
which we think is ideal for comfort and appearance. The lower the radius, the sharper the edge.
• What's the overall weight of one of their units? Our twin loft bed ships at about 200 pounds (Full Loft
Bed: 240, Queen Loft Bed: 260, King Loft Bed: 340). Generally, this can give you an indication of the size of
components (effecting sturdiness) and quantity of components (an indicator of design refinement).
• Do you need to purchase a mattress foundation separately? Our loft bed slats are strong and spaced
at most 3 ½” apart, no additional platform is needed unless your mattress is unusually thin.
• Is there personalized service with the master designer? How involved is he in the construction
process? Our master designer performs very routine quality inspections, and can be contacted directly to
answer your questions.
• How do you like the overall appearance of their design? Call us biased, but we think our loft beds
look great!
• How long is their warranty? We offer a two year warranty on all of our loft bed products.
If you answered negatively to any of the above, well, we'll let you be the judge!
Want to learn even more? Of course you do! Read on...
(From the "MC" in MC Woodworks)
(From the "MC" in MC Woodworks)
As you might expect, I’ve done my share of
research when it comes to loft beds. With cues on
what works and what does not, I’ve learned a few
things over the years, achieving a design I believe
is one of the sturdiest and highest quality loft beds
on the market.
At first glance, a loft bed appears to be a simple
structure; one that a fair handyperson can build in
their home workshop. Admittedly, loft bed design is
not rocket science (I don’t claim to be that smart…:) ),
but there are quite a few things that separate a higher
quality loft bed from the rest.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes a truly SOLID loft bed:
Wood Characteristics – There are literally hundreds of species of wood, but the choices are typically
simplified by its regional availability. Some of our first models were made of an Eastern White Pine, abundantly
available in the Northeast. While this material was serviceable, I decided to search for a harder and more
durable wood, even searching out of my region in coming up with a Southern Yellow Pine (SYP). We now
have a constant supply shipped up by the truckload, directly from our supplier mill in the southeast. SYP has
many desirable natural characteristics, making it one of the most versatile and durable building
materials. It is used in many common applications including: building construction, boat building, decks,
hardwood flooring, as well as novelty items and furniture. In other words, if it's strong enough to build a house
with, safe to say that it's strong enough for loft bed building! For more information on SYP, here's a great link:
www.southernpine.com/lumberproducts.shtml
Size of Components – Some loft bed manufacturers choose to use thinner and/or
narrower lumber in efforts to lower material and shipping costs. When our business
expanded to offer nationwide shipping, I designed and built a lighter prototype with
the same intentions. However,once built and tested, I decided against introducing
this lighter loft bed model for two simple reasons: 1) Using smaller and lighter pieces
ultimately sacrifices sturdiness, both in wobble and weight capacity, and 2) I
believed that our customers would be willing to invest a bit more rather than settle
for an inferior product. Seems to me that both reasons were justified so I continued
with the original models. Another important note is that many other manufacturers
use the same-width components on ALL of their different size models. For example,
a twin loft bed would have the same-width components as a queen loft bed, but the
components would simply be made longer. Problem is, a queen loft bed needs to
hold much more weight than a twin loft bed, but none of the components are scaled up for higher weight
capacity. Recognizing this shortcoming, I designed the larger models with some proportionally wider
components to handle more weight. Even though it involved some more thinking and labor, I decided
against sacrificing quality just to lower costs. Want an indication of this? Our standard twin loft bed ships
at about 200 pounds. Ask about the weight of others in the market.
Triangle Supports – I cannot stress this point enough. While type and size of lumber plays a large part in
determining sturdiness, it would all be for naught if not incorporated into the sturdiest possible design. An
unstable design creates wobble. Wobble can put considerable stress on each joint and wears out the grip of
the fasteners, potentially making the unit unsafe. So, how do you keep such a tall piece of furniture square and
virtually free of wobble? For the answer, look no further than the architectural innovation developed many ages
ago: The Triangle. It’s the key design element you’ll find in bridges, for example, in which triangle-
shaped supports not only keep the structure from shifting, but also distributes the enormous weight it
carries appropriately throughout the structure. As you see, I have taken a page from this age-old
architectural innovation and incorporated it our loft bed designs. I’ve tested many different sizes and models
with these supports, ultimately coming up with just the right design to maximize stability. Our customers will
attest to how SOLID our loft beds are. Guess that ninth grade trigonometry came in handy after all...
research when it comes to loft beds. With cues on
what works and what does not, I’ve learned a few
things over the years, achieving a design I believe
is one of the sturdiest and highest quality loft beds
on the market.
At first glance, a loft bed appears to be a simple
structure; one that a fair handyperson can build in
their home workshop. Admittedly, loft bed design is
not rocket science (I don’t claim to be that smart…:) ),
but there are quite a few things that separate a higher
quality loft bed from the rest.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes a truly SOLID loft bed:
Wood Characteristics – There are literally hundreds of species of wood, but the choices are typically
simplified by its regional availability. Some of our first models were made of an Eastern White Pine, abundantly
available in the Northeast. While this material was serviceable, I decided to search for a harder and more
durable wood, even searching out of my region in coming up with a Southern Yellow Pine (SYP). We now
have a constant supply shipped up by the truckload, directly from our supplier mill in the southeast. SYP has
many desirable natural characteristics, making it one of the most versatile and durable building
materials. It is used in many common applications including: building construction, boat building, decks,
hardwood flooring, as well as novelty items and furniture. In other words, if it's strong enough to build a house
with, safe to say that it's strong enough for loft bed building! For more information on SYP, here's a great link:
www.southernpine.com/lumberproducts.shtml
Size of Components – Some loft bed manufacturers choose to use thinner and/or
narrower lumber in efforts to lower material and shipping costs. When our business
expanded to offer nationwide shipping, I designed and built a lighter prototype with
the same intentions. However,once built and tested, I decided against introducing
this lighter loft bed model for two simple reasons: 1) Using smaller and lighter pieces
ultimately sacrifices sturdiness, both in wobble and weight capacity, and 2) I
believed that our customers would be willing to invest a bit more rather than settle
for an inferior product. Seems to me that both reasons were justified so I continued
with the original models. Another important note is that many other manufacturers
use the same-width components on ALL of their different size models. For example,
a twin loft bed would have the same-width components as a queen loft bed, but the
components would simply be made longer. Problem is, a queen loft bed needs to
hold much more weight than a twin loft bed, but none of the components are scaled up for higher weight
capacity. Recognizing this shortcoming, I designed the larger models with some proportionally wider
components to handle more weight. Even though it involved some more thinking and labor, I decided
against sacrificing quality just to lower costs. Want an indication of this? Our standard twin loft bed ships
at about 200 pounds. Ask about the weight of others in the market.
Triangle Supports – I cannot stress this point enough. While type and size of lumber plays a large part in
determining sturdiness, it would all be for naught if not incorporated into the sturdiest possible design. An
unstable design creates wobble. Wobble can put considerable stress on each joint and wears out the grip of
the fasteners, potentially making the unit unsafe. So, how do you keep such a tall piece of furniture square and
virtually free of wobble? For the answer, look no further than the architectural innovation developed many ages
ago: The Triangle. It’s the key design element you’ll find in bridges, for example, in which triangle-
shaped supports not only keep the structure from shifting, but also distributes the enormous weight it
carries appropriately throughout the structure. As you see, I have taken a page from this age-old
architectural innovation and incorporated it our loft bed designs. I’ve tested many different sizes and models
with these supports, ultimately coming up with just the right design to maximize stability. Our customers will
attest to how SOLID our loft beds are. Guess that ninth grade trigonometry came in handy after all...
Take a look
at these
illustrations.
Which
design is
sturdier?
You be the
judge...
at these
illustrations.
Which
design is
sturdier?
You be the
judge...
Form follows function. In designing our loft bed units, the absolute priority is to ensure that every model is as
structurally sound as possible. Throughout the design process, however, I also considered the ergonomics
and versatility of each design. A loft bed is not just an elevated platform for your mattress. It’s a piece of
furniture that you live on and keep in your most personal living quarters. It needs to fit your living space,
however you choose to arrange it. Several ladder options are available for our loft beds, with some models
featuring reversible ladder designs. Every standard height model includes five ladder rungs for easy climbing, as
opposed to four like many of our competitors’ models. It doesn’t end there. We offer several accessories to
hold your nighttime items, i.e. an alarm clock, book, or even a small lamp. The headboard shelf even has holes
on the sides to facilitate a power cord without having to wrap it around the front of the shelf.
Having satisfied all of the above, I then considered the aesthetic
qualities and attention to detail in the construction of each and
every loft bed. Whether kept as a permanent fixture in a child’s
bedroom, or used temporarily for the dorm-dwelling college student,
I make sure that the little things are not taken for granted. For
example, rounding the edges not only give your hands and feet a
break from the sharp edges of most lumber, it also eliminates any
splinters around the edges. Furthermore, there are some loft bed
components that are actually separate pieces, permanently glued
and screwed together, but you may not even notice. The permanent
hardware used to attach these pieces is concealed with matching
wood filler, and then carefully smoothed and sanded over by hand.
I perform many routine quality inspections personally. Drill and cut accuracy, visual appearance, and
overall quality are the things I look for. If it doesn't meet my high standards, we simply scrap it and replace the
component. Considering that we haven't had to replace a loft bed component in roughly 300 units (as of April,
2006), that's just about 12,000 quality components without defects since that single piece. And yes, that piece
was replaced immediately, and of course for free.
Believe it or not, there are many other details I could elaborate on, but if you made it this far, you’ve already
learned quite a bit about our loft bed products. I made a commitment long ago to never "cut corners". In fact,
whenever a customer had anything even resembling a complaint (more like suggestions), I went back to the
drawing board to enhance that aspect of the design.
Don’t be fooled: Sometimes a photo does not reveal the shortcomings of some loft beds on the market.
Likewise, it does not always reveal the finer details of a higher quality product, which is exactly why I’ve taken
this opportunity to elaborate. You generally get what you pay for in the loft bed market, but even considering
this, our customers still tell us that our loft beds are of great value and the right investment.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks for your interest and we look forward to
building your loft bed!
Sincerely,
Maurice Cheng
MC WOODWORKS, INC.
structurally sound as possible. Throughout the design process, however, I also considered the ergonomics
and versatility of each design. A loft bed is not just an elevated platform for your mattress. It’s a piece of
furniture that you live on and keep in your most personal living quarters. It needs to fit your living space,
however you choose to arrange it. Several ladder options are available for our loft beds, with some models
featuring reversible ladder designs. Every standard height model includes five ladder rungs for easy climbing, as
opposed to four like many of our competitors’ models. It doesn’t end there. We offer several accessories to
hold your nighttime items, i.e. an alarm clock, book, or even a small lamp. The headboard shelf even has holes
on the sides to facilitate a power cord without having to wrap it around the front of the shelf.
Having satisfied all of the above, I then considered the aesthetic
qualities and attention to detail in the construction of each and
every loft bed. Whether kept as a permanent fixture in a child’s
bedroom, or used temporarily for the dorm-dwelling college student,
I make sure that the little things are not taken for granted. For
example, rounding the edges not only give your hands and feet a
break from the sharp edges of most lumber, it also eliminates any
splinters around the edges. Furthermore, there are some loft bed
components that are actually separate pieces, permanently glued
and screwed together, but you may not even notice. The permanent
hardware used to attach these pieces is concealed with matching
wood filler, and then carefully smoothed and sanded over by hand.
I perform many routine quality inspections personally. Drill and cut accuracy, visual appearance, and
overall quality are the things I look for. If it doesn't meet my high standards, we simply scrap it and replace the
component. Considering that we haven't had to replace a loft bed component in roughly 300 units (as of April,
2006), that's just about 12,000 quality components without defects since that single piece. And yes, that piece
was replaced immediately, and of course for free.
Believe it or not, there are many other details I could elaborate on, but if you made it this far, you’ve already
learned quite a bit about our loft bed products. I made a commitment long ago to never "cut corners". In fact,
whenever a customer had anything even resembling a complaint (more like suggestions), I went back to the
drawing board to enhance that aspect of the design.
Don’t be fooled: Sometimes a photo does not reveal the shortcomings of some loft beds on the market.
Likewise, it does not always reveal the finer details of a higher quality product, which is exactly why I’ve taken
this opportunity to elaborate. You generally get what you pay for in the loft bed market, but even considering
this, our customers still tell us that our loft beds are of great value and the right investment.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks for your interest and we look forward to
building your loft bed!
Sincerely,
Maurice Cheng
MC WOODWORKS, INC.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| OTHERS Construction grade lumber: Rough surfaced with many visual defects. Width of components are NOT scaled up for larger models. No triangle supports, or NOT SCALED UP for larger models. (Yeah, it's that important.) Additional sanding suggested to remove rough edges and splinters (ouch!). Additional platform may be required. Mass manufactured. B&W computer drawings, multiple pieces assembled at a time. Customer service representative. Six months |
WOOD COMPONENT SIZE STURDINESS DETAIL MATTRESS FOUNDATION QUALITY CONTROL ASSEMBLY CUSTOMER SERVICE WARRANTY |
| Copyright © 2006 MC Woodworks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
MC Woodworks, LLC
| Super-Sturdy Loft Beds by Superior Design |
Phone: (973) 885-8686
Email: mcwoodworks@gmail.com
Email: mcwoodworks@gmail.com
P.O. Box 261111
Lakewood, CO 80226
Lakewood, CO 80226