layering/zoning multiple pieces of latex
Oct 29, 2011 3:02 PM
Joined: Sep 30, 2011
Points: 60
I have a 6" slab of firm latex, from disassembling an old mattress; I've asked what to do in another thread.   The suggestion I like most is to buy 1" of a soft Talalay latex topper from FBM and start with that.   Maybe I'll love it.  If not, I could double it up and see if I'd prefer 2" and then buy another 1" of it, or 1" of something firmer.   If the latter, I could zone, making a firmer topper under my butt; this has been suggested for a male side-sleeper, with wider shoulders than butt, and need for good back support.

All this sounds intriguing, but I'm starting to wonder if all these piece of foam will play together nicely.   If I end up wanting two pieces of 1" latex foam (both soft, or soft+medium), and both are the full size of my bed, then I imagine I can just lay them on top of each other, with my mattress pad (with elastic skirts that pull over each corner of the entire assembly including my 6" base), and it'll be fine.     But what if I want to zone - so that two separate pieces of foam are on the same layer ?   I worry that a crack would develop between the two.   Is the answer to glue stuff toegther somehow, or what ?

Thanks for advice.

Re: layering/zoning multiple pieces of latex
Reply #1 Oct 31, 2011 4:11 PM
Joined: Aug 1, 2009
Points: 175
I haven't tried zoning, but I wouldn't think the latex layers would shift around much. Try them loose first (inside the topper cover or mattress cover), and then if you find that they shift around too much, just glue them together. You can look at sites like FoamByMail (Accessories section, I think) to see what kind of glue to use.

I've been considering zoning, but before I cut up my latex, I'm trying an experiment, which is to place a 5mm thick yoga mat under the hip area to prevent my hips from sinking too far down and dragging my shoulders down with them. (I have 3" of 14ILD latex, then the yoga mat, then the bottom two inches of latex [24 and 28-ish ILD], on top of my very firm innerspring.) You can also get yoga mats that are 3mm thick. My 5mm one doesn't show at all.

 

This message was modified Oct 31, 2011 by Catherine
Re: layering/zoning multiple pieces of latex
Reply #2 Oct 31, 2011 7:43 PM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
Latex is kind of sticky, so it doesn't really slide much when on top of another latex layer.  If it is a middle layer, I doubt it would be a problem.  As the top layer, it is possible that they would seperate a bit unless you have a very tight cover or mattress pad.  As suggested, maybe try without gluing first to see how it goes.   You could glue, but not sure what type the use.  Possibly something that works for rubber.   The glue might cause some odor until it dries thouroughly.