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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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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. |
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Leo — Forgot to add that we are early middle aged with noticeably more aches and pains the past several years. That's why I'm agonizing over exactly which components to use in this DIY mattress. Been reading on this site pretty voraciously for several weeks now and it's helped immensely. jimsocal — You're right, LI definitely pours it on with the marketing, don't they? They claim superiority to the European and Asian imports, with "very stringent durability testing to compare its latex to competitive materials". Hmmmm. Budgy — Why do you believe all-natural Talalay to be superior to blended Talalay (like LI's Talatech)? This message was modified May 25, 2010 by pianoman
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Yes, I am a side sleeper. I have had bursitis in my one hip for many years (ski accident), and so I slept mostly on one side over the years; so I am really sensitive. So much that when I change sheets and they are tighter than the last time I feel that change on my hip, that is how finicky I am. I was surprised I could sleep on my bad side and didn't have pain with this current setup. Crossing my fingers that it will last. I went with 2" thinking I would not use the 1 1/2" under it, but it turned out I liked the 3 1/2" of 24ILD. If I end up having back pain, I will remove the 1 1/2" layer. Take into consideration what you are covering the mattress with, it will make it firmer depending on what you use, as well as your base for the foam. It really is a hard choice to make and unfortunately it is trial and error (boy is it). There are so many variables to consider. When I bought medium foam at a local upholstery shop that was 2" I loved it. Then I went back and got 3" for a different chair, and I hated it, it was so firm I couldn't use it. I made sure it was the exact density too, so it really is tough to get it right the first time. Also shows you if you buy the exact density of foam at 2" and 3" they are not the same at all. If you and your wife are finicky like me, maybe you need to try once piece of latex at a time and see what you think. Have you asked for samples of latex to give you an idea of what you think of it? Good luck and keep us posted on how it all goes for you. This message was modified May 26, 2010 by Leo3
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pianoman; same reasons I believe natural dunlop is superior to blended. 1. natural rubber is more elastic 2. natural rubber contains proteins that are responsible for its hypoallergenic properties. 3. natural rubber is not made from petro chemical byproducts like synthetic latex. |
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pianoman wrote: Regarding their return policy, SleepEZ has a 30 day money back guarantee on their toppers: http://www.sleepez.com/mattresscomponents.htm. Good luck with getting it right the first time in a week, LOL, it took me over 2 months to finally decide the wool on top mattress pad was causing me hip pain after I added 2" of 24ILD and still had hip pain. So it sometimes takes longer to figure it out. But you could be one of the lucky ones and get it right the first time. Maybe the 1" incremements will work for you, just not for me, just note it PROBABLY will be softer than the 2" and if you get 3" of the same it will PROBABLY be firmer. All in my own humble opinion, for what it is worth. P.S. It is time for me to find a new hobby, this mattress making deal for two years is enough already! Hope you find your solution faster than I did. This message was modified May 26, 2010 by Leo3
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budgy wrote: pianoman; same reasons I believe natural dunlop is superior to blended. 1. natural rubber is more elastic 2. natural rubber contains proteins that are responsible for its hypoallergenic properties. 3. natural rubber is not made from petro chemical byproducts like synthetic latex. |
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Leo3 wrote: Have you asked for samples of latex to give you an idea of what you think of it? No, haven't done that. Not sure I could really tell much from samples. |