Wood – use two 2×4’s to replace 4×4 posts in a loft bed

furniturewood

I'm building a loft bed for a queen size bed. I planned to build a platform and support it with 4x4s, but I'm having trouble finding untreated 4x4s. I plan to loft the bed 5' or so. The platform will be made of 2×6's covered in 1/2" plywood.

This shows what I'm planning to do:

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Can I use two 2x4s instead of the 4×4's to carry the load?

If so, will nailing/screwing them together in several places be sufficient to hold them together?

I'd like to use 3/8" bolts to join the platform to the posts (for easy disassembly). If so, should I only bolt down the long side of the platform, or try to place bolts on both sides of the corner? If the latter, how should I put a bolt through the narrow side of the joined boards?

Best Answer

2 2x4s are not square, if that matters (3 x 3.5). They will be plenty strong as assembled posts.

Try a traditional lumber yard, they will have untreated pine. Cedar may also be an option.

Your structure would be better supported if you shortened 1 of the 2 paired 2x4s at each corner and made a jack-king stud arrangement like a door frame and header. The main tenant of construction is to bear the weight with structural components and only use fasteners to keep the structure in place, not to bear the load (in shear).

You are, in effect, making a small deck. You should attach the rear 2x8 2x6 to each wall stud. A 4" #10 decking screw would not be too small .

The front and rear members are, in effect, beams and should be 2x8s. The joists running perpendicular to the beam should be 2x6 2x4s hung with joist brackets.

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