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Anyone have any thoughts on the sturdiest, most cost-effective foundation for a latex mattress? I was eye-balling one of the frame/boxspring combo things like the Smart Base steel frame (http://www.smartbasesteelbedframe.com/). Didn't know if anyone might have experience with it or something similar. Thanks. |
| Half inch plywood or MDF should be fine. Standard foundations are just some widely spaced slats with cardboard over the top covered by some padded material. |
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I'm glad this question came up. Does anyone really believe that a latex mattress needs to "breathe"? After all, it's inside a mattress cover with a pad on top and sheets. Would a slat foundation really allow air to circulate around the latex? I just ordered a platform bed from Charles Rogers in NYC that will be delivered next week. The platform is solid wood with fabric over it to keep the mattress from sliding around. I can't believe this would not be appropriate since the bed it designed to be used with foam mattresses (I haven't ordered the mattress yet.) Just wondering what your opinions are about the breathing issue. Thanks. Ilene |
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stuman74 wrote: I have a memory foam bed in transit to my house. I did not order a matching foundation and am planning to use my existing box spring with hardwood between the mattress and box spring. My current king bed has two twin-ish sized box springs. I am thinking of just getting some medium density fibreboard at the local Lowes or Home Depot for about $20-$40. Is there a recommended thickness that would be needed to lay onto the box spring and give the foam mattress the required support? I was thinking two 76"W x 40L" 1/2" thick MDF boards. Thanks in advance for your input! Unless you are planning on standing on it (putting a lot of pressure in one spot), I don't think a 1/2" thickness would be needed. By the time the latex or in your case, memory foam is on top, the weight would be dispersed over a greater area. In fact 1/2" mdf is very heavy in and of itself. The box foundation I have is covered with a fairly thin material and it seems to handle 8" of latex and two people very well. |
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Beanie wrote: I'm glad this question came up. Does anyone really believe that a latex mattress needs to "breathe"? After all, it's inside a mattress cover with a pad on top and sheets. Would a slat foundation really allow air to circulate around the latex? I just ordered a platform bed from Charles Rogers in NYC that will be delivered next week. The platform is solid wood with fabric over it to keep the mattress from sliding around. I can't believe this would not be appropriate since the bed it designed to be used with foam mattresses (I haven't ordered the mattress yet.) Just wondering what your opinions are about the breathing issue. Thanks. Ilene
A while back, I put a thick towel under my 8" of latex to see if it would 'bring up' the middle section a little, as I am a sometime stomach sleeper. This was suggested to me by a bed maker as a way to counteract my spine being inverted by stomach sleeping. Well what came out of this was that I could feel the towel under the latex, even through 8" of it. And it felt really strange. What I'm getting at is that I don't like the idea of the slatted foundations only for the latex as I think it might create a strange feeling to sleep on. I think the smoother the better. Note - this is my opinion only as I know alot of folks have these slatted foundations. |
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This is all great feedback! For my foam mattress that is in transit (the Costco ARA Sleep Science King bed) I was planning to put a waterproof cover over it just because we have 5 year olds that could be prone to spilling something (no matter how much I try to discourage drinking in the bed while watching TV). It sounds like for latex beds that is not a good idea, but is it a problem for the memory foam beds as well? If the 1/2" thick MDF boards are overkill, do you think 3/16" would be too thin? From what I read, it should be as solid as the floor for best performance. But realistically, does it have to be? I know I am just trying to cheap out and save a couple hundred bucks by not buying a new foundation, but I do what the mattress to have the intended performance. Thanks! |
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Hello, this is Dewey from FloBeds. We have a hands off policy regarding discussions, even though were a sponsor of this forum. However, this thread, “Best foundation for latex” has some information we fear might lead someone to damaging their latex mattress. We strongly believe a latex mattress *must* be placed on slatted foundation or a high quality box spring. This is because a continuous wood service, (ie platform) has the potential for creating an environment in which condensation can occur. Condensation occurs when a cool surface and a wood surface meet. We have all seen a window pane collect moisture on a cold night. This is moisture in the warmer air condensing on the cooler surface of the window. The same thing can happen with a warm mattress and cool platform. We warm up the mattress at night with our body heat, and if the surface of the platform is cool enough…condensation will form. If air is not circulating and eliminating moisture collection, mold will occur. Sorry for the intrusion, but felt it was important for people to know. We really appreciate the frank and open discussion in this forum. Remember, your dreams may vary… |
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I sent a note to South Bay International (maker of the bed I ordered from Costco) asking where I can get one of their foundations. They said they don't sell them separately. They recommended that I pick one up from another maker at a local bed store. I was looking at a Serta Stabl Base foundation...would this be sufficient? Or is this intended for a spring mattress? Here's a link to it from the Sears site (yes, I would need to order two). http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_08293350000P?vName=For+the+Home&cName=Mattresses&keyword=serta+king+foundation |
| Thank you Dewey for letting us know why you recommend a slat foundation. I have the FloBeds Pine Slat Foundation and I am happy with it especially the tall legs so I can store clothes under my bed. |
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Any standard (non-box spring) foundation should work with a Memory Foam mattress. Call a local discount mattress store in your area. You should be able to get one pretty inexpensively. Dewey made an interesting point about the potential for condensation to occur when a warm foam mattress meets a cool piece of wood. This is more likely to happen in humid climates than in arid ones. If you're still set on using a sheet of plywood or MDF however, it would probably be a good idea to cover the wood by slipping a mattress pad, sheet or bed skirt over it to keep the mattress from resting directly on the wood. From experience I wouldn't recommend placing a foam mattress--especially a Talalay latex mattress on an box spring. This makes the mattress way too bouncy--and Talalay is bouncy enough all by itself. Years ago latex mattresses came with box springs--but they were Dunlop latex, which is less bouncy, and only about 5 1/2" thick. A box spring foundation just makes today's 9-12" latex mattresses hammock. Memory foam mattresses should always be placed on a solid foundation. I think Tempurpedic tells you the warranty is void if the mattress is placed on anything else. |
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I guess my dreams do vary... I will not be changing my mattress setup from being on the smooth box type foundation that I am currently using. There's no other foundation that makes more sense to me for a latex mattress. This setup does have some breathability. The *theory* that condensation can occur if a latex mattress is placed on a flat surface seems very plausible; but I think in the real world, not very probable. I have studied the latex mattress topic with a passion the last 8 mos and have never heard or read of this situation where someone's latex mattress developed mold from sitting on a flat surface due to condensation. That's not to say I couldn't have my mind changed.... This is just the opinion of a layman who has good intuition and common sense, but is not an expert. Just a user. Placing a latex mattress on a regular box spring also does not make good sense to me. Too much variability in what you might get out of it. Too springy, not enough, too soft or hard in different places, noisy, etc, etc.... |