My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Mar 15, 2010 11:14 AM
Joined: Mar 11, 2010
Points: 56
So I decided to cut open my Serta Baywatch Perfect Sleeper (purchased in 2000) to see what was causing the excessive sagging. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the springs and not the foam. There was very little foam at all - three layers that were each maybe 1/4 inch thick. SOOOO disappointing. I could clearly see that the shape of the mattress without the padding was exactly the same as it is with the padding. The center springs are shot. So, as a temporary fix, I folded up some blankets and layed them vertically along the center of the box springs so that they would push the center of the mattress up into a more comfortable position. It made for a much more comfortable sleep last night...no back pain! However, I have no idea how long this fix will last, so hopefully I'll be ordering our Flobed soon.

 

Thanks to all of you for your help. I did take pics and will add them to this thread as soon as I upload them.

This message was modified Mar 17, 2010 by Q119
Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #8 Mar 18, 2010 11:56 AM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
Thanks for updating with the photos.  Too bad it was the springs, but at least you know for sure.  I guess they don't make the springs as well as they use to either.
Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #9 Mar 18, 2010 4:00 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
eliwwjd wrote:

.I go to bed with my back doing fine and then when I wake up I have discomfort in my back.

This is how my problem is now, and I have new, high-gauge springs, so it's likely NOT the springs. I wonder if my box springs might be the problem. I am thinking of throwing them out and putting my mattress right on the floor, maybe that would solve the problem. Also I have allergies to dust and I'm pretty sure my box springs is full of them, maybe my mattress too, though less so I would think since it's only 4-5 months old, whereas the box springs are about 5 years (?) old.

My back feels fine when I go to bed, it feels okay when going to sleep, but then hurts after about 4-6 hours of being on my mattress, then when I wake up I'm sore and stiff. Sometimes it's mid-back and sometimes it's lower back.

I've been adjusting my mattress every 3 days or so because I feel it is a configuration problem not my back itself. I'm about ready to look at a water bed! Years ago I slept on one and it was very good...
 

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #10 Mar 19, 2010 4:32 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Q119 wrote:

jimsocal: Yes, I am amazed at how cheap and thin the foam was. Unbelievable.


Q119, that amount of foam really isn't that bad; the problem is the Quality of the foam they used.

I am currently using only 2" of foam on top of my springs, but 1 and 3/4" of it is latex. I am not saying this is the best configuration for me or anyone, however, I have at times found that less is more so to speak.

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #11 Mar 22, 2010 10:38 PM
Location: Yosemite area
Joined: Sep 10, 2008
Points: 249
I can see the sagging in the springs very clearly, thanks for sharing it with us.  I'd probably say that is a Bonnell unit.  Your assistants did a great job, you can tell they are having a blast!  Really cute kids.

You are right about padding from underneath...it works pretty well.  I would have thought to put it on top of the mattress, but my bedmaker said to put it on top of the box springs to make a difference.  He was right.

Kait

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #12 May 30, 2011 8:39 PM
Joined: Mar 15, 2009
Points: 5
ok, call me stupid..... (oh no, don't )

Even though you shore up the boxspring.... isn't there enough thickness to the mattress, that  it will still sag ?? I understand you are leveling out the boxspring, but then, what about the mattress ? Thesse are great photo's.

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #13 Jun 1, 2011 4:49 PM
Joined: Jun 16, 2010
Points: 5
It appears  a lot of the sag is in the box spring.  Place a weighted string across the width of the matress and you can measure how deep it is. Any mattress will instantly follow the contours of a sagging box spring.

It is rare when the source of mattress sag is the innerspring unit inside the mattress. Over the years I have cut open  ten mattresses  that were used for ten plus years. Nine of  the innerspring units were still like new. One had a 3/4" sag, from a low end Bonnell coil mattress.

The rest of the sag is from  the low density foam, which loses 30-40% of its original height and a similar percentage of its original firmness, under the areas where most of your body weight is focused.

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #14 Jun 1, 2011 11:32 PM
Joined: Mar 15, 2009
Points: 5
mattressdan wrote:

It appears  a lot of the sag is in the box spring.  Place a weighted string across the width of the matress and you can measure how deep it is. Any mattress will instantly follow the contours of a sagging box spring.

 

It is rare when the source of mattress sag is the innerspring unit inside the mattress. Over the years I have cut open  ten mattresses  that were used for ten plus years. Nine of  the innerspring units were still like new. One had a 3/4" sag, from a low end Bonnell coil mattress.

The rest of the sag is from  the low density foam, which loses 30-40% of its original height and a similar percentage of its original firmness, under the areas where most of your body weight is focused.


Thanks. I thought the sag came from the foam only.   INteresting about the boxspring too. dang, my parents 25 year old mattress feels better to me than the last 3 mattresss I have put out the HUGE bucks for.   What a ripp.....

Loved your photo's and surgery.

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #15 Jun 3, 2011 3:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 6
The boxspring is part of the problem just like mattressDan said.

Does your frame have a center support? If it does use a string and pull it tightly across the frame from side to side see if the frames center support is dipping in the middle. If it does the problem started with the frame or possibly with a thick carpet under the frame. If you have very thick carpet it could be that your carpet has compressed more under the center support than under the side rails of the frame.

Next put your box spring on a floor that is perfectly flat, see if your boxspring still sags or rocks from side to side. If it does you need to throw the box-spring away. My recommendation is to build a solid flat platform type of foundation no matter what since they will provide the best support for your mattress. Make sure that the foundation is 'SOLID" with no give or flex anywhere!

That should help your problem. It could still be that your srpings have a slight sag from sitting on top of faulty frame or box-spring. But most of the problem should be solved.

Hope that helps!

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #16 Jun 4, 2011 2:40 AM
Joined: Mar 15, 2009
Points: 5
Thanks for the ideas.

It is a full bed, so no middle support.   I put some plywood in between today, so will see how that works tonight. 

Unfortunately, I live in a small studio, so don't really have room to put my mattress on the floor. I have laid a yardstick across the center and there is about a half inch depression without me in it.  I have a 1 and 1/2 inch topper of latex from latex international on that may be adding to the dip. I bought it when I had the Englander latex mattress  (donlop) that  turned into a brick a few years ago.... after a couple thousand, I couldn't wait to get rid of it.  the topper didn't help. It is probably around 19 ILD ..... too soft.

I just don't have any money right now to buy anything new.  When I do, I am gong to buy the cheapest s brand, firm and put toppers on it...... I spent another 800.oo for a sealy Post. after that which lasted about 2 years without a dip.....  why not just buy cheap cheap, and when the dip happens  buy another cheap.

whoever tries to stick up for the mattress industry.... sorry.... I think it is a crime !!!

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #17 Jun 4, 2011 2:44 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 6
Full size beds will sag without center support as well, no matter what the industry says.

Buy a solid wood foundation! Put in a few slats on your frame and make legs under each slat in the middle to support it.

Good luck!