Silly question about "slats" / mattress support
Aug 22, 2011 1:07 PM
Joined: Aug 22, 2011
Points: 2
I'm in charge of replacing several boxspring/mattresses at my family's cottage; they are 20-30 years old and are very mushy and sag in the middle.

Here's my Q: all of the beds are these very nice hand-crafted wooden things...but they don't have any "slats" that run horizontally from the left edge to the right...I don't know much about beds, but my understanding is that it's always best to have good support underneath a boxspring/mattress so that it doesn't sag in the middle...kind of like this:

 

My noob question is whether supportive 'slats' like the above (or heck, even just a single horizontal metal frame like below) is necessary to prevent sag/droop over time, or is that basically what the boxspring is there for?  If it's a high-quality wooden box-spring, will that provide all of the below support needed to prevent mattress deterioration or is it wise to still have some sort of slats or frame below?

Re: Silly question about "slats" / mattress support
Reply #4 Aug 23, 2011 2:46 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
I've read that regular slatted founations firm up the feel of a mattress.

 

Thinking about regular wood slats, they will flex the most in the center of the slat, and less towards the edge.  I don't think that is the best thing because I would think you want to try to get even flex all over the mattress.

I heard about 'modular grid' foundations, and I've seen a model of a few of them.  I think they are sold with expensive beds like Stearns and Foster Silver Dream and such.  I would imagine those foundations sell for over $500 in Queen size.

Funny thing is that pretty much every foundation is 'S' brands is this type of 'semi flex grid' pattern.  It's basically a grid of rods connected to V shaped supports that go down to the wood cross slats on bottom which sit on a center wood spine.

So, just about every low to mid grade S mattress has the same foundation. Maybe the guage of rod is a little thicker in more expensive 'box springs'.

This message was modified Aug 23, 2011 by slpngoc
Re: Silly question about "slats" / mattress support
Reply #5 Aug 23, 2011 6:47 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
Since all box springs look the same these, pretty sure they all use Legett and Platt semi flex 'springs' inside.  They look like this -

http://www.beddingcomponents.com/semi-flex.asp

If my Serta icomfort / Stabl base has the L&G innards, they bent within 4 weeks.

This message was modified Aug 23, 2011 by slpngoc

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