Yves from Ottawa, Ontario Canada is one of the 125+ people who have requested my plans for the loft beds I have made. He sent in pictures of his completed project, as well as a 3D rendered drawing of my plans! He also included a materials list and a step by step procedure list. His drawings and list are now a part of my plan download package - thanks Yves! His letter and pictures are posted below. Hopefully this will inspire some others to send in pictures of their project!

Craig:

Thanks for the plans, they arrived just as I was to drive out to Home Depot to get the material. It allowed me to do some last minute re-thinking and re-planning.

I am in the middle of building the bed and I must say what I like most about his plan is it's simplicity and flexibility. Bed height, materials, ladder location and construction technique can all be modified to various adaptations. For example, the Depot didn't have those brackets you use for your guard rails. So I'm planning to install mine fixed. A little hard to change the sheets perhaps, but it'll work.

Frankly, I think I over-engineered it, but it'll last. I used 1x8s all around to give it a finished feel.The back cleat is secured with eight 5/16"x4" lag bolts with 1" countersunk washers into the studs. The head has four of the same bolts. The bottom clearance is 53" so I can fit a desk and computer underneath for my son.

I didn't use a 4x4 post because there's only pre-treated and the color didn't suit. I know I'm going to paint it fairly soon, but meanwhile, a pre-treated post looks out of place. So I, created one by using two 2x4s screwed together. Your plan helped me figure out how long to make that post. I couldn't envision how the mattess would fit around this post until I saw your drawings. Clever bit there.

I screwed in 2x2s all around and laid fourteen 1x4 slats across it spaced 2 inches apart. That's where I'm at. I've cut the risers for the ladder and that's where I'm at. So far, I've worked about six hours so it's pretty quick. I'm finishing tomorrow morning (This is one of my vacation projects, as well as closing the walls in my basement project), and I'll be glad to send you the final details when it's done. Pics and drawings too if you like.

I really like what you're doing at your site. Thanks for hosting it. Here's drawings and step-by step of how I did your plan. Turned out great. I took some pics but I don't have a digital camera so I'll scan the pic in when I get them back from developing.

Thanks

Yves
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
August 2003