Rising the floor for sofas, how do you do it?

ash · 05-02-2006, 6:57 PM

Hope no one is confused about the title, I just want to know how people make like boxes that you put your sofa on top. My floor is concrete because its a shed, so any idea how I can do it?

I dont mind if its portable, should I make a box and put weights in it?

Miniholic · 05-02-2006, 7:06 PM

I think most peope just make a wooden platform. In your case you could quite easily anchor it to the floor if its just solid concrete.

Check out the gallery in this post, there a some good construction pics in there.

ok, lets see yours! <<<lots of pictures, 56k beware!!>>>

ash · 05-02-2006, 7:26 PM

Mm.... I'm no DIY man.

Mine wont need to be that big. Do you really need those many bars going along.

I was thinking more like, making a base (wood) and then making the edges coming up, and then filling it up with cement(or whatever) and then putting another wooden piece on top.

Is that the best cheapest method? What type of wood do you recomend, MDF?

shahedz · 05-02-2006, 7:32 PM

i would leave a 1 ft gap between the bars( i think they would be called joists here) , i wouldnt use concrete, messy, and would be a nightmare to dismantle if you wanted rid of it

ash · 05-02-2006, 7:58 PM

Any other ideas apart from concrete? I was thinking of some heavy weights, maybe an amp lOL!

shahedz · 05-02-2006, 8:57 PM

paving slabs ontop of each other until the desired height is reached? and area covered?

ash · 05-02-2006, 9:00 PM

Nice idea, what do you mean slabs?

Jon Boy · 05-02-2006, 10:22 PM

If its just to raise the sofa itself then build one like in that pic further up , i'd make the joists around 400mm centres , it should be apiece of shizzle to build!
Give me the dimensions and ill knock it up in an hour lolol
In all fairness , even someone with basic diy skills should be able to build something like that

Jon

shahedz · 05-02-2006, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashmufc

Nice idea, what do you mean slabs?

if youre only raising a small sofa etc, just buy some paving slabs (pavement slabs) from home base, B&Q etc and put them on top of each other, or you can get some breeze blocks and get some wood and screw it into the sides of the blocks so they are all held in postion and dont move, literally line the breeze blocks up side by side and screw a baton along the sides into each screw to hold the blocks in place, if you do it tightly it shouldnt move, woud be really simple as well

Jon Boy · 05-02-2006, 10:30 PM

But then surely that would make it uncomfortable as your legs would just dangle over the edge of the sofa, plus it would make it more tricky for shorter people to get on the sofa?

shahedz · 05-02-2006, 10:38 PM

he doesnt have to have it exactly the same size as the sofa, he can have it protuding by 10 cm or 50cm what ever he wants so legs do not dangle over and people can step up , i dont know his exact dimensons, mearly giving a solution to his problem

ash · 06-02-2006, 4:40 PM

True, I would wnat a base for putting my feet on.

Jon Boy · 06-02-2006, 7:10 PM

Measure the length and width of your sofa and decide how much of the platform you want sticking out. The get the car warmed up and pop down to b&Q and buy some 4"x2" / 5x2" / 6"x2" planed timber ( ill hazard a guess that youll need 6 lengths in total just to be sure.
Also whilst your down there grab a box of 3" or 4" nails.

Take the overall length of the platform that you previously measured and cut two of your lengths of timer to this size.(1)

Then take the width you measured earlier , subtract 4" from this measurement and cut those.(2)

Now place the longer timbers(1) on the ground and fix the shorter timbers(2) in between them at either end.

Measure the length inside the frame and cut the rest of the timbers(3)

With the left over timbers cut some noggins to go inbetween the timbers just to strengthen it up a bit(4)

Fix it all together using your nails by fixing into the corners!

Cover the top of it with sometounge and grooved ply boards , i think they do them in loft packs designed for the floor of your loft or alternatively you could you mdf.

Then you can carpet it or finish it how ever you want!

Heres a pic i did in ms paint which may help with the numbers from the description!

Now get off your lazy backside and build it lolol

Keep us posted matey

Jon

ash · 06-02-2006, 7:39 PM

Cool, thats a great post.

So how high will the base be then?
And will the be heavy enough so it doesnt move? Well actually, a moveable one would be cool

And covering the top, say I choose MDF, I just screw it in.

Miniholic · 06-02-2006, 7:53 PM

You can make it as high as you want, materials permitting. The sizes Jon Boy states 4"x2" / 5x2" / 6"x2" planed timber will give you a platform 4, 5 or 6 inches high (plus the thickness of the board used on top).

You then just need to buy some sheets of MDF or ply for the flooring. I'd allow for an overhang of around 1/2" to 1" so that you can wrap the carpet round, and fix it from underneath. For added bling some people even put rope lighting under them to illuminate the step. Depending upon taste this gives one of two looks, cool or chav.

EDIT: Knew I'd missed something. The weight of the wood and the sofa should keep it from moving. And the MDF can just be fixed with countersunk screws into the joists.

ash · 06-02-2006, 8:04 PM

Cheers for the help guys.

I know Ikea sell some cool blue lights that are in this wire kind of thing, and its pretty long, and less than a fiver.

Jon Boy · 06-02-2006, 9:17 PM

I went to the new ikea in Milton Keynes last week and i noticed they sold them blue l.e.d strips of lights , i think you get 4 in a pack for around £21 but they had completly sold out!
Don't know if this is what you were after but they looked pretty cool to me

**inzaman** · 06-02-2006, 9:46 PM

Quote:

cool blue lights that are in this wire kind of thing

I think they are called rope lights, they will look very effective on the step up.
Following Jon Boys post you should be fine, damn its that straight forward i am tempted to build one myself

, might bang my head on the ceiling though

ash · 06-02-2006, 10:25 PM

Rope lights, thanks

Well let's hope people will be encouraged by this. I am planning to make this in July, I'm just looking around to see how much I will need.

How much will all that wood cost roughly?

Jon Boy · 06-02-2006, 10:50 PM

I honestly dont know off the top of my head , id hazard a guess at a round £40 - £50.

Jon

shahedz · 06-02-2006, 11:02 PM

brilliant diagram Jon Boy!

Jon Boy · 06-02-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shahedz

brilliant diagram Jon Boy!

Thankyou thankyou i'm here all week

scharf_10 · 06-02-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Boy

Thankyou thankyou i'm here all week

LOL sounds just like a quote from Shrek, "Thanks, i'm here til Thursday"

john59 · 06-02-2006, 11:21 PM

Well, you guys have the patience of a saint

Just goes to show that where help is needed it will be here

.
Come to think if it Jon Boy, will mild steel nails or bronze nails do, LOL.
Only joking

Jon Boy · 06-02-2006, 11:28 PM

Well if you want to get fussy if it was my build id just use a first fix paslode gun and fire it together in about half an hour lolol

The problem i have is i rent my apartment off my mate so can't actually put any of these ideas to work where i live! It's not fair i tell you lolol

Jon