If you recently gained some weight, you might be worried you’re causing your futon to suddenly sink in the middle.
Though this is possible, your weight could be a contributing factor that caused the futon to break or sink in the middle. But just to be clear, other factors could cause the futon to cave in.
If you want to use your futon for a long time and avoid causing it to sink in the middle, read the tips to learn why the futon collapses and how you can prevent it from happening.
Why do futons sink in the middle?
When disaster strikes and you feel the futon under you collapsing, you will most likely ask yourself: “Why does my futon sink in the middle?”
Here’s why:
- You are new to using futons and not used to getting your furniture to a sitting or sleeping position.
- The locking mechanism is not staying in place, or not locking to begin with.
- The material used for the frame or mattress is of inferior quality.
- Support slats are wide apart.
- The metal or wooden frame is bucked or snapped because your weight combined with the weight of the mattress exceeded the recommended weight limit.
- Age of frame and mattress.
How to stop a futon from bucking in the middle
Here are some tips you can follow to prevent your futon from sinking in the middle:
Sinking due to incorrect folding and unfolding
If you are new to the comforts of futons, you might have bought one without checking out how it works. Or that the salesperson might have shown you how to fold and unfold the futon, but you were so excited and not entirely listening.
If your futon is bucking in the middle because the locking mechanism is not working as designed, watch the videos below to see if you are folding or unfolding your futon correctly
Back-loading futon:
Tri-fold futon:
Cheap materials
To make futons widely available to everyone from different walks of life, manufacturers make futons using different types of frame materials, including wood, steel, and cheap metal alloys.
The more affordable futons in the market mostly use cheap metals that tend to bend in the middle because they lack the sturdiness required to provide support. Moreover, the slats supporting the mattress are either too thin or wide apart, causing the mattress to sag faster.
To make the frame sturdier, you can add support to the middle by using wood or metal rods to prop it up, allowing it to carry heavier weight and prevent sinking.
Exceeded recommended weight limit
All furniture, including futons, has a maximum weight capacity they can bear. Going over it can lead to earlier wear and tear or damage.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommended weight to ensure your futon doesn’t collapse or break. You can also read the article Do futons have weight limits? Understanding Capacity and Why It Matters to learn more about this.
