How To Fix A Broken Wooden Bed Frame: Complete Guide 2023

Nothing is immune to natural defects, and the same things happen to your wooden bed also. And in some cases, the frame can break. If you faced this issue, you might be wondering how to fix a broken wooden bed frame without calling a carpenter? 

Last week was a hectic one for me, and I had to work 12 hours a day! So, when I got a chance to relax on the weekend, I decided to spend two days straight in bed. 

I switched off my phone and decided not to open the laptop and bought enough packaged food, so I didn’t have to go to the kitchen either. Only Netflix and the bad will be my two companions. 

And then it happened, my wooden bed frame broke to ruin my weekend! It was not entirely destroyed though, because of my DIY experience. 

But then I thought, what if it happens to someone who doesn’t have any experience repairing a broken bed frame? That prompted me to write this article on how to fix a broken wooden bed frame? 

How do I repair a broken bed frame? 

Fixing a cracked bed frame is not like fixing a broken friendship. So, don’t be over-cautious; you can do it. But before you start, you should know you can break your bed frames from multiple sides, such as joints, slats and there could be major or minor cracks. 

But, as I told you, you are not repairing a broken friendship; you can do that with a little bit of effort and using the right equipment. 

Common fixes in a wooden bed frame

Many issues may arise with a wooden bed frame, and most of them can be fixed by yourself. In this article, we will share how to fix a broken wooden bed frame in four ways.

Cracks and splits

Cracks are the most common of common issues that you will need to fix on your wooden bed frames. The main reason for cracks and splits in wooden bed frames is that they are not getting the proper support.

Broken bed slats

Broken bed slates are mostly seen on older, well-used wooden bed frames. The slats in the bed frames break due to being under the constant pressure of the mattress and people sleeping on it. New wooden bed frame slats can break if the pressure isn’t evenly placed.

Minor cracks

Unlike the major cracks and splits we discussed above, minor ones happen when you are rough with your bed frame. Sexually active couples tend to see more minor cracks in their wooden bed frame.

Bad joints

Wooden bed frames are meant to be durable, but they aren’t perfect. Over time the joints of the bed frames will wear out and break. 

How to fix splits and cracks in a wooden bed frame

Honestly speaking, I forgot when I bought my wooden bed in my bedroom. I think I have been using it for ages. If that is the case for you also, there is a high chance you have some splits or cracks all across your wooden bed frame.
The support system of a wooden frame weakens over time. In some cases, the quality is not good right from the beginning. Either way, you have to fix a broken bed frame to avoid any unwanted accidents if that happens to you. 

The fixing steps of a wooden bed frame are straightforward, and you can achieve that with a little bit of patience and using proper instruments. And with appropriate dedication, you can bring your wooden bed back to the previous condition in a single day. 
But before we dive into the repairing process, let’s discover the pieces of equipment you will need to repair your wooden bed frame.

Step 1: Empty your bed 

As you can guess, the first thing is to clear your bed. You have to remove the mattress and bedsheets from your bed. If you use box springs or mattress toppers, remove them, leaving only the wooden frame and slats.  

Step 2: Clear the splinters

Use a screwdriver and carefully open the split or crack from inside the wooden frame of your bed until you get enough space for removing every splinter with a plier.  

You can use a utility knife to complete the job faster.

Step 3: Use wood glue

I would not recommend using the glue right away. Instead, use it along the length of the crack. Then saturate the glue all over the damage. 
Don’t worry about slathering the glue evenly like that. Just make sure you cover all the areas of the split. Move the excess glue on the area that has less glue. Using it here is the same as when you used it to build your memory foam mattress foundation.

Step 4: Restore the crack

Now get your bar clamp or C-clamp and open jaws according to the width of the bed frame. The clamp’s number will depend on the length of your split. Now, put the split in between and position the clamps onto the frame. 
Now closely tight clamp jaws so that you can see the excess glue coming out a bit. For the best result, you should leave them for a night.

Step 5: Make the junction stronger

Get your ruler to measure the width of your bed frame. Also, figure out the length of the split and add 6 inches to your measurement. 
After finishing the measurement, bring a 1/2 inches strip of plywood and shape it according to the measure. If you have any piece of wood at your disposal, feel free to use them as the type doesn’t matter really.

Step 6: Drill holes

Get your drill and insert a 3/16 inches bit. Take the plywood you just cut and drill some holes with the drill maintaining 2 inches difference between each hole. 

Step 7: Attach the piece

Before attaching the plywood, apply a decent amount of common wood glue on one part of the plywood. Then join the plywood with the inner part of your bed frames. 
Lastly, drive one-inch screws through the pilot hole you made earlier through the wooden bed frame.

Now, wait a single night to set everything correctly, and Hurray! You have fixed it!

How to fix broken bed slats

How to fix a wooden bed frame? As I promised you earlier, it is a straightforward process if you have the equipment at your disposal and follow the below instruction: 

Steps to fix broken slats

1. First, you have to get rid of the broken slats. Use a driver to remove the screws of the broken bed slats. 
2. Get all the broken slats you find defective out of bed. If the condition of those broken bed slats is to be fixed, then keep them, otherwise get new slats. 
3. If the bad slats are not worth repairing, measure the thickness, length, and width to replace those with new slats. 
4. Now visit a hardware shop to get the ideal replacement. If there are no exact replacements, find slats with precise thickness and width, as you can easily adjust the length by cutting. 
5. Use your drill to install a new slat. Drill a pilot hole of 3/16 inches. And finally, use 11/4 inches screws with your driver to attach them to the frame. If you are extra cautious, you can apply some glue. 

How to fix minor cracks? 

When you are dealing with frames not all the time, you will deal with major cracks or splits. Instead, sometimes you will find some minor cracks. I used to face this issue now and then as I went rough with my beds. Also, friends come over to my place, and they don’t treat my bed as they treat theirs. 

Fixing minor cracks in your bed frame is more manageable than fixing splits or large cracks.

Steps to fix minor cracks

1. Rub the crack with sandpaper to make it as even as you can. 
2. Get some wood putty or wood filler and fill the crack with it before the crack gets full. 
3. Use a plaster knife to get rid of the surplus putty. 
4. Now, wait some time to dry the putty. 
5. Fixing the crack of the frame is done. Now you can paint that portion to make the putty invisible. 

How to fix bad joints

Steps to fix joints

If necessary, remove the metal bracket first and keep them safe. You have to reattach them later so, DO NOT lose them.

1. Carefully remove the joints. You would need to use the rubber mallet in some cases.  
2. After removing the joints from the bed frame, inspect the joint. If you find dried glue on them, use a chisel to remove that dried glue.  
3. Now, apply wood tape to the joint that slots into your bed frame.
4. Now use glue into the slot and use it gently to all sides of the slot. You can use a putty knife to spread the glue into all corners of the slot. 
5. Now, it’s time to reattach the joints of your bed frame. You can use your rubber mallet to reattach those joints of your bed frame by hammering two pieces. 
6. Put the metal brackets back on. If they have been damaged, you might want to use new ones.
7. Now, wait for the glue to dry up, and your broken bed frame will be fixed. 

How to fix a broken metal bed frame? 

Fixing a broken metal bed frame is quite similar to fixing a broken wooden bed frame. But here is the trick, instead of drilling and screwing, you have to do wielding in this case. 

I have done wielding work quite a few times in my life at the university lab. From my experience, I can say that initially, that is quite a tricky job to do. You’ll need a steady hand to do that. 

But before you start wielding, wear a welding helmet and gloves. This is a serious business, and you should beware of safety first. 

Steps to fix metal bed frame

1. Now find the broken metal bed rail and clear the metal chips.  
2. Get some leftover flat iron around 1 inch thick. 
3. Keep the metal bed rails and the flat iron tight together using bar clamps. 
4. Get the welding device and weld them from top to bottom. 
5. After you are done with the wielding, use a coat of paint and give it some time to dry. 

You can paint the area to give your broken metal bed frame a decent look. It might not be that aesthetic, but I think it is way better than purchasing a new one. 

Things to consider before buying a new bed frame 

We are talking about how to fix a broken wooden bed frame. But what if the bed frame breaks after one month you purchase that? I don’t think you want that to happen. In that case, you have to be cautious before buying a new bed frame. 

Here are the things you should consider: 

• The first thing you should consider is the timber quality. Bad timbers will not sustain and fade quickly after contact with water. 
• Next thing you should look after the new slat. You can find two types of bed slats: wooden and other materials. Wooden slats sustain longer and provide more comfort. 
• Joints are the culprit to breaking the wooden bed frame in most cases. Observe the strength of the corners. If you feel any doubt, avoid that. 
• If the company offers any guarantee for extra money, avail that. It is not possible to watch every detail, or there could be manufacturing defects.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Final thoughts  

I can’t rest on a broken bed frame, can you? I hope not because no normal human being can do that. Besides, there is a risk of probable accidents, and you can face severe health damage for the broken bed frame. 

If you have followed my instructions carefully, you should now know how to fix a broken bed frame and how easy it is. 

Of course, you can ask a carpenter to do that for you, but they don’t do that for free. And fixing your own broken bed is not about the money only. This provides you with experience and confidence. 

As a result, you will be able to fix your other furniture without taking professional help.

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