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OK, I've been lurking for awhile and am about to pull the trigger on building my own mattress. But I am very indecisive and would greatly appreciate input from all of you that have experience with latex. I am building a 12" Eastern King mattress to be placed upon a 14" solid platform bed frame. I've spent hours reading on this forum and researching assorted options with various online vendors. I've come to the following conclusions thus far. #1 — I think I'll take a shot at latex (though I must confess I've been very tempted to try to recreate the Tempurpedic Cloud Supreme after my wife and I tried one at a mattress store a few weeks ago and she really liked it). I'm drawn by fact that good quality latex mattress components seem to last a LONG time. #2 — I want LI "Talatech" Talalay blend latex for at least the top portion of my latex. #3 — Any PU foam used will be 2.8 lbs/cu ft density from foamdistributing.com. They have a 36 ILD medium foam and a 55 ILD firm foam. What I can't decide upon is how much latex to use. I have basically come up with four price points using four varying levels of latex/PU foam. I'd love to get your opinions/feedback on what you think. Here are the options, with the proposed layers listed from the bottom up. BTW, my wife and I are 5'10" and 6' respectively, we each weigh 160-165 lbs. and we're both side sleepers. Option #1, $779 (9" PU, 3" Latex) — 4" 55 ILD PU, 2.5" 55 ILD PU eggcrate (for airflow), 3" 36 ILD PU, 3" 24 ILD (soft) Talatech latex Option #2, 1042 (6" PU, 6" Latex) — 4" 55 ILD PU, 2.5" 55 ILD PU eggcrate (for airflow), 3" 32 ILD (medium) Talatech latex, 3" 24 ILD (soft) Talatech latex Option #3, $1209 (3" PU, 8.5" Latex) — 3" 55 ILD PU, 5.5" Dunlop Latex 3-Zone Core (32/36/32 ILD), 3" 24 ILD (soft) Talatech latex Option #4, $1473 (11.5" Latex) — 5.5" Dunlop Latex 3-Zone Core (32/36/32 ILD), 3" 32 ILD (medium) Talatech latex, 3" 24 ILD (soft) Talatech latex Because I'm concerned about whether my wife and I will really like sleeping on latex, I'm very tempted to go with option #1. If we really like it, we can always replace those foam components when they wear out in a few years or so with latex. Also, according to SleepEZ's web site, their latex mattress components (made by LI) have a 30-day money back guarantee, so this makes any of the four options a little less scary in case we don't like latex or we need to change some firmnesses, etc. Options #3 and #4 would use an affordable 100% natural Dunlop latex core from Arizona Premium Mattress Company. I'm really concerned, though... wouldn't 3" of soft latex on top of either 5.5" of medium latex (#3) or 8.5" of medium latex (#4) simply be too soft? I talked with Shaun at SleepEZ (he's very helpful, just as so many of you have attested) and he recommended 3" soft/3" medium/3" firm top-to-bottom. From what I've read here on the forums, some of you have found even this combination to be too soft, so I don't know what 3" soft over 5.5" or more of medium would be like. Maybe 2" soft over the 5.5" medium would be better? By the way, the 3" latex layer(s) in options #2, #3 and #4 will actually be a 2" layer plus a 1" layer of the same density totalling 3"... this will allow considerably greater flexibility in configuring the mattress. Also, do you think the LI Talalay blend is the way to go, or should I pay the premium and get the LI Natural Talalay? I'm not convinced that the natural is necessarily better than the blended. Well, that's it. If you got this far, you probably have some input for me, so fire away! This message was modified May 22, 2010 by pianoman
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I would go with a total of six inches of PU and 6 inches of latex. All layers would be 2 inches thick. You can then get various ILDs in PU and Latex and change them around until you find the combination that is right for you. I am not sold on the all latex concept, so a PU and Latex mattress is what I building. I am not concerned with it being 100% natural. The latex I bought is 100% natural, but if Foam by Mail had blended latex, I would have bought that. From what I have read, it is difficult to tell the difference in ILD between the soft, medium, and firm for 1 inch thick pieces of latex. |
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Why not get 2" of the 24ILD, then add more if you need it. But you might find you would rather have a 1" of say 19ILD if you find 24ILD not soft enough. Not sure if you said your weight, but the heavier you are the higher ILD you will want (from what I have been told). Like if you are over 200 lbs. they recommend 32ILD for top layer. Edit: okay I see you did say your weight, so what you said in option #5 (I think it was) sounds okay, except 3" for top may or may not work. Dunlop is firm, so you may need 32ILD over that, and then the 24ILD of the natural or blended talalay on top. See if you can get samples. I didn't get samples of Dunlop and it is firm. I did get samples of natural and blended talalay and now have layers of both, and they are totally different from Dunlop. Dunlop is okay for bottom layers but not top, at least for me it is too firm. Since I am still working on getting the comfort layers right, I can't say what REALLY works. It is a guessing game, and it all does not work the same for every person. Some people love latex, and some people hate it. Only you can tell. It is long lasting stuff, but you have to be happy with it, or it isn't worth 2 cents. You may need wool on top, or something else for more comfort. If I had it to do over again, I probably would order from Sleepeze or Flobeds, but I already have 5 layers of latex, so onward I go. I didn't want to spend thousands, and I haven't yet. Have you checked out Rocky Mountain Mattress for cheaper 24ILD and 32ILD natural latex? Good luck, let us know what you do and what works or doesn't. This message was modified May 22, 2010 by Leo3
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Thanks, laredo & leo! I have checked RMM and they do have good prices on natural latex, but it's Dunlop, and I'd prefer Talalay for the upper layers. Also, SleepEZ has an excellent price for their 2" King Talalay blended 24 ILD and 32 ILD toppers. It's actually cheaper to buy a 2" plus a 1" King topper from them than to buy their 3", thus my thinking on getting 2" + 1" 24 ILD and 2" + 1" 32 ILD toppers. I'm not sure how they package toppers when they send them, but if each is individually shrink-wrapped, I would probably try just the 2" toppers first and leave the 1-inchers sealed. It's possible that 2" of 24 ILD on top of 2" 32 ILD on top of the base layers would be okay. If that's too hard, then I could open and add one or both 1-inchers as desired. If I don't need to add one or both, this would make it easier and cheaper to return, since they'd be still unopened and thus compressed. |
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Not sure I understand what you meant by leaving it compressed, for how long? If you are buying layers I am not sure you can return them to Sleepeze, I believe only mattresses are returnable, but not positive. As for RMM they do have Natural Talalay latex, look again, they have both Dunlop and Natural Talalay. They do not take returns, so I wouldn't leave the toppers in the shrunken packages. Also free shipping with RMM, $50 charge for shipping Sleepeze for toppers only, free for mattresses. Read all of the fine print. I don't know anything about FBM return or shipping policy. I think I am going to get 32ILD, the 24ILD is really quite soft, and am not sure why people want softer than that. But I am 175 lbs, so I squish the 24ILD real easy. I might be happier with 32ILD on top, but not sure since I don't have a 32ILD piece. I have a 32ILD sample piece, but hate to say it I can't tell much difference in the 28ILD sample, and really can't tell much difference til you get to 34ILD sample piece. So it isn't fool proof figuring out from samples what to get. I have a 15ILD (I think) of Latex Green Dunlop and it is so firm, that I would put that on the bottom, that is how firm dunlop is. Maybe some people can use it for a top layer, but not my painful pressure hip point. |
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Don't forget to check out foambymail. I am pleased with the latex toppers and conventional foam that I received from them. I am not sure what their exchange policy is though. The latex I received from them looks like the pictures here:
You probably already saw this post, but just in case you didn't: http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/perfect-latexpu-foam-mattress-766/1335-A-1.html This message was modified May 22, 2010 by laredo7mm
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Thanks, laredo! I've seen both those posts but am really glad you pointed me to the second one, which I'd only read once. After thinking more about your and Leo's earlier responses, I'd been leaning toward a 6" PU/6" latex hybrid with 2" soft latex on top, 4" medium latex under that and 6" of PU as my base. Interestingly, that sounds exactly like what ericgl from your second link would do if he could build his again. I'm definitely getting closer to deciding. Will probably order something Monday. |
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I didn't mean to scare you off of Dunlop, just wanted you to be aware of it's firmness. I believe it really is for heavier people. But you will be replacing regular foam like Jim did in less than a year I believe. Look for his postings on foam under "Highlighted Threads" at the top of the forum, Jims Newbie mattress or something like that. I suggest you read that, he has used many different foams, and latex, and springs. The only time I used foam was in a Sealy Trueform, (like TP) and that failed in less than 6 months for me. I also think if you are picky on latex and want the "best of the USA" then Latex International is the best IMHO, and only MHO. I have never tried FBM, some people love it and others say it is no where near LI quality. Do searches on this forum for Foam by Mail, they don't tell you where it is made. Good luck. Latex Green Dunlop 15ILD is really beautiful and good quality latex, just firm... I put that on the very bottom layer. It probably is like the firmest Talalay blended latex. I use 2" layers or 1 1/2" layers. I can't imagine moving 3" layers of queen size around. UGH. If you are using twin size for each side that would be lots easier to move around. I finally had to get remove my wool on top mattress pad after trying it over the 24ILD 2" natural talalay I got from RMM, by the way it is very nice quality from LI. I did not have as bad of hip pain as before, so no more wool pad for me. I am back to looking for soming not stiff that has wool. I hope this works for me now. As I said, it is all trial and error. You could be one of the lucky ones, or like me This message was modified May 23, 2010 by Leo3
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still working at it.| Leo3, where did you get your Latex Green Dunlop 15 ILD from? |
Diane, at O-stock. You are too light weight for the stuff though  and that is a good thing, wish I was, LOL. Unless you are going to use it at the bottom of your layers. |
| Thanks - I was just curious as I hadn't seen it anywhere. |