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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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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. |
| 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. |