Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I buy from Murphy Beds of Florida?
A: This is a common question for many folks. The question actually has many answers. They range from the quality of our product and its design to the professional quality of our delivery and installation. But the best answer is PERSONAL TRUST. When you purchase a Murphy Bed from us, we give you our word that we will do what we say we will do. If we say we will meet you at 10:00 AM for an appointment, expect us to be there a few minutes early. If we tell you that your Murphy Bed will only be constructed with real hardwood solid lumber and real hardwood veneer sheetgoods, you can be sure that there will not be any melamine, particle board, or construction-grade materials used in the project. We will not cut corners just to "make a buck." Our relationaships with our past, present, and future customers is more precious than that.
Q: What should I know about Murphy Beds?
A: Actually there are a number of things to consider when evaluating a Murphy Bed for your home. But, don't let that scare you away from the idea of this great space-saving product. Instead, let us walk through what we consider the four most important issues.
- Mechanism: Early Murphy Beds used a spring system to offset the weight while opening and closing the bed. [See A Brief History of Murphy Beds for more.] A number of manufacturers still use this concept. Many of them who use this spring system, still need the bolt the bed down to the floor. This can obviously damage your flooring and carpet. If you ever want to remove your Murphy Bed, you may be faced with some expensive floor repairs. We use a piston system to make opening and closing your Murphy Bed an easy operation. Typically one can operate our systems with a single hand. Our Murphy Bed System mounts to the wall studs with several fasteners. Repair of the small holes remaining, if you decide to move your Murphy Bed, is simple and inexpensive. Normally a little bit of spackle (dry-wall compound) and some touch-up paint is all that is needed.
- Comfort: The level of comfort in your Murphy Bed is essentially dictated by two items: the frame and the mattress. Ours uses a standard mattress on a solid flat platform. There are no cross-bars or springs underneath the mattress. So, there are no bumps or ridges to press into your body while you sleep. Some other manufacturers may have a similar system. But, pick up the mattress and look underneath. If you see metal cross braces right underneath the mattress, you can bet you will feel them after lying in the bed for a while. And, since our Murphy Bed System uses a standard mattress, you can use the mattress that you determine to be the most comfortable for you. [See Mattress Sizes and Information to learn more.]
- Materials: We have seen Murphy Bed systems constructed with everything from construction plywood (normally used for sub-flooring and roofing), to melamine (a thin clear laminate coating applied over a sheet of printed design paper applied to particleboard), to solid wood and hardwood veneer sheetgoods (furniture-grade plywood). We only use REAL WOOD in our Murphy Bed Systems. That means every piece of wood that you see, and cannot see, is either solid hardwood or hardwood veneer plywood. Other materials, such as melamine, are lower in cost, but they have their drawbacks. They are much heavier, hard to repair if chipped or scratched, and usually have high levels of formaldehyde in the particle board. I don't know about you, but I would not want to be sleeping all night next to that product.
- Maintenance: All of the wood surfaces are properly prepared, stained, and coated with long-lasting, professional-grade finish products. Normal cleaning is accomplished by simply wiping down the surfaces with a damp rag, and drying. Heavier cleaning can be done by spraying a window-cleaner onto a rag, then cleaning the surface, and wiping dry with a clean rag. Repairs can be accomplished by any trained furniture repair person. Small, touch-up repairs can be accomplished by the user if some care is taken. The pistons are maintenance-free. There are no periodic adjustments needed, as with many spring systems as the springs weaken. If you do change mattresses, and the new one is a different weight, the mechanism is easily adjusted, if necessary, to provide optimal and easy performance. A simple wrench is the only tool needed. There is a life-time guarantee on the pistons and hardware.
- For more comparisons between our Murphy Bed System and many others available in today's market, see Compare the 'Create A Bed 'Mechanism to any other bed mechanism.
Now, let's move on to some more frequently asked questions.
Q: How do I install my new Murphy Bed System?
A: You don't need to. We do that for you! Every Murphy Bed System sold in our area comes with professional delivery and professional installation included in the price.
Q: How comfortable is a Murphy Bed?
A: That depends on the make and manufacturer of the Murphy Bed. Ous is very comfortable. It is a real bed. As mentioned above, ours uses a standard mattress on a solid flat platform. There are no cross-bars or springs underneath the mattress. So, there are no bumps or ridges to press into your body while you sleep. Some other manufacturers may have a similar system. But, pick up the mattress and look underneath. If you see metal cross braces right underneath the mattress, you can bet you will feel them after lying in the bed for a while.
Sleeping on one of our Murphy Beds is just like sleeping on a real bed. Because it is a real bed!
You can say goodbye to futons, daybeds, and sleeper sofas when you install a MURPHY BED.
I still have "memories" of sleeping on my parents' sofa bed with the cross bars underneath the mattress. That was many years ago, and I can still feel them. :-)
Q: What keeps the mattress in place when the bed is closed?
A: As part of the leg system, there is a rail that connects the two legs for ease of opening and closing the bed. This same rail holds the mattress in place when the bed is closed. When the bed is in the upright position the mattress will not move or touch the wall. This allows you to hang artwork on the wall, which will make the bed more decorative when the bed is open. Our system means that there are no straps, no buckles, no Velcro, etc. to strap the mattress in place. Our system does it automatically when you close the legs.
Q: Can you leave anything on the bed when closing it?
A: You may leave sheets, blankets, and a comforter on the bed as long as they are tucked in around the mattress before you close the bed. Pillows must be removed before closing.
Q: Can I add lighting to my wall bed?
A: Yes. We offer lighting that is installed inside the wall bed during the manufacturing process. The lighting is located on the inside header (top) piece. This lighting consists of two "recessed" puck lights controlled by a three-way touch-pad controlled dimmer switch mounted to the headboard. There is also a safety switch that turns the lights off automatically when the bed is returned to its closed position. This lighting package is an option listed on the MurphyBED->Pricing page.
Q: Is there a Warranty?
A: We offer a life-time manufacturer's Warranty on all mechanical parts and hardware.
Q: How do I clean my cabinetry?
A: Finishing (applying the stains and protective topcoats) is completed using the latest and most advanced products available to professional manufacturers. This means that your MurphyBED and StudyBED™ cabinetry will last for years to come with only a minimum of maintenance. There is no need to "oil the wood" to keep it from "drying out" or to protect the surface. A simple cleaning with a damp rag followed by a soft dry towel is sufficient. If heavier cleaning is required, spray some Windex (or similar) onto a cleaning rag, wipe the surface, then immediately dry. Avoid heavy cleaning materials and ammonia. (The small amount of ammonia in Windex will not hurt the finish if you wipe it off immediately. Do not spray the cleaner directly onto the wood surface.)
