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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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| Diane, Sleepeze carrys Latex Green Dunlop, as well as RMM, Absoluteonsale also. I believe, Budgy can correct me if I am wrong Natura uses Latex Green in the lower layers of their mattresses. Not sure who else uses them. Aren't they the only ones making Dunlop now? I wonder if the mattresses from Sears used Dunlop that was as firm as they make now. If so I wonder how most people could take the firmness as a top layer. You had to really like a firm mattress. |
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I meant I was curious about the 15 ILD dunlop. I haven't seen that particular firmness around except for the Celsion Talalay at SLAB. Thanks |
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pianoman wrote: 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. http://www.rockymountainmattress.com/talalaylatextoppermediumplush-p-86.html |
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Leo3 wrote: 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 I don't really agree with you that LI is the best latex. From what I have seen and heard, most latex is about the same quality. LI might be more perfectly uniform in the way it looks - evenly placed holes, etc.. maybe. Don't get me wrong, I think LI is a good company, I'm just not sure their latex is really any better than anyone else's, I just think they have the best marketing campaign. I believe it was Budgy who stated that Natural latex is better than synthetic or blends like Talatech, and from what I have seen and heard I think that might be true. Or it may be that all are pretty close to equal in terms of practical usage. In terms of uniformity and "looking nice", LI might be the winner. So you are saying that your 24ILD Natural Talalay from RMM is very soft? And so you think the softer Talatech 14ILD from sleeplikeabear would be too soft (for me, I mean)? I am using a 32 ILD Talalay natural as my top layer sometimes and it feels too firm to me. Yet if I put the wool over it sometimes then I get lower back pain. So maybe the 24 is what I want? I'm just concerned that it might not be soft enough... that's why I was going to try the 14ILD; also someone in the foam industry recommended I try the 14ILD. You say the 24ILD from RMM is LI? I thought it was Latex Green... not sure though. Does it say on the site it is LI? Sorry to detour the thread, but this response of Leo's stimulated some questions and comments. |
still working at it.|
Jim, as I said this is MHO, and only MHO. I only have experience with LI natural and blended talalay, and Latex Green dunlop. I have seen pictures of FBM, and some looks wonderful, and some not so much. Someone here also did a side by side of LI and FBM and gave his opinon of LI is better. It doesn't matter to me either way. Yes, the RMM natural talalay is definitely LI. Their dunop is LG. Several people have ordered it and have it and it does have it stamped on the latex side. Again, in MHO 24ILD is as soft as I want, this is my opinion and only for me. Some want softer, if it were any softer it would be smashed and of no use to me. I almost thought 24ILD was too soft after doing my hand test, LOL. But when your body weight is spread over the entired mattress with lots of Dunlop layers underneath it I now am happy!!! I hope this is not temporary like you have had Jim, and like I have had with the wool on top for a while. I took the Natura (Brylane Home) Dunlopillo soft blended latex off (I think it is 14-18ILD) and that really didn't do much for me. So now I am either going to have to find a soft cushier mattress cover, or keep using the plush polyester blanket still. So I would consider your wool pad could be a culprit of problems. But you are different from me, and my opinion may be of no value to some here. P.S. I have 1 1/2" of 24ILD LI blended talalay and 2" of 24ILD LI natural talalay, and I think I do like the natural better. Time will tell, and it smells just like my LI pillows, yummy. P.S.S. I forgot your question first time round, the LG 15ILD is marked as such, and yes I can see why you would not like the 32ILD of LG way too firm. But the 15ILD is fine as bottom layer. The other layers I have from OS was not marked and I do believe it is LG from the same similarities, and it is a bit softer, but it could be because if is thinner. The thinner the latex the softer it is, again IMHO. Disclaimer, LOL, this is only my opinion....... This message was modified May 24, 2010 by Leo3
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Leo3 wrote: 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. Regarding their return policy, SleepEZ has a 30 day money back guarantee on their toppers: http://www.sleepez.com/mattresscomponents.htm. This message was modified May 25, 2010 by pianoman
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Leo3 wrote: Also free shipping with RMM, $50 charge for shipping Sleepeze for toppers only, free for mattresses. |
Leo, remind me again of your current configuration. Also, if you don't mind my asking, what is your height/weight? I've re-read your posts and am thinking pretty strongly about going with (yes, I haven't ordered anything yet! ) 8" of very high quality PU foam (4" ILD 50 and 4" ILD 35) plus 4" of latex (2" of 32 ILD and 2" of 24 ILD). |
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My layers are bottom to top: 2" LG 15ILD, 1 1/2" LG Dunlop (a tad softer than 15ILD, not labeled), 1 1/2" LG Dunlop (same as previous), 1 1/2" 24ILD LI Talalay blended, 2" 24ILD LI natural talalay over a spring mattress, on box spring, on the floor. Totally not acceptable to some here, LOL, but this is working for me in the last few days, which means it is an experiment. Weight 175, give or take up or down 5-10 lbs. female, 5'11" middle aged female, so I have more aches and pains. I see you and your wife are approx. 165, how tall, and do you have middle age aches or are you young and can sleep on anything? If young, don't overthink it, if middle age give it lots of thought, LOL! Over the mattress and latex is just a plush blanket and jersey sheet. Most people here just don't agree with anything I have here. But that is why I say we are all different. What works for me, doesn't work for you (perhaps but probably not). I can't find a mattress pad that I like, and yes it does change the whole feel of the mattress. Mine now feels like memory foam without the sinking in like quicksand feeling. I also would not use 1" layers, yes some people here would, but my theory is 1" is softer than a 1 1/2" or 2" of the same density. Others have agreed with this theory, others have not. But I do believe this is true. To me 1" (which I have in the closet now) is useless. Please understand this is only my opinion. I have been trying to fix my mattress for 2 years now. I have now tried every mattress pad available, okay not the Dormier, but I hate stitching lines. I am super picky, I believe I am the princess and the pea, LOL. I can't take wrinkles, or stitching lines, or stiff backing on mattress pads. There is my short story. Use what you like, and leave the rest. I believe my hip pain is better now with 24ILD on top and no stiff mattress pads. No back pain either. I need to find a wool or cotton soft blanket, since my plush polyester blanket will be too hot in the summer. I am so outside of the box, that most people will think what???? That is okay, if it works for me I am happy. This message was modified May 25, 2010 by Leo3
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Leo, Very helpful... thanks! You are close in size to my wife (she's 5'10", 163 lbs.), and she also has hip pain. Are you a side sleeper like she is? I'm still trying decide whether to go with 2" or 3" on my top layer. And if I go for 3", I may opt for it in one 3" topper rather than a 2" and a 1", based upon what you've said. |