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
Reply #1 Mar 16, 2010 3:56 AM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Very sorry to hear it was the springs... Wow, that's not very good - only 9 years for springs... I guess NOTHING lasts any more... like it used to...

At least you know...

Looking forward to your photos...

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery
Reply #2 Mar 17, 2010 4:35 PM
Joined: May 3, 2008
Points: 827
That is surprising it is the springs, take pics, I would like to see.
Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #3 Mar 17, 2010 6:12 PM
Joined: Mar 11, 2010
Points: 56
 

Here is the mattress before surgery:

 

 

My assistant holding back the very thin layers. Underneath the grey material is just covering the springs:

 

 

 

I don't know if you can see it as clearly as I did, but there is definate sag to the springs in the middle:

 

My temporary fix. It's been working, but don't know how long it will last:

This message was modified Mar 17, 2010 by Q119
Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #4 Mar 17, 2010 6:20 PM
Joined: May 3, 2008
Points: 827
No I really can't see the sagging at all.  But I sure can see the horrible so called foam they put in!  The kids were having fun.
Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #5 Mar 18, 2010 4:09 AM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
I can see the dip.

This must be a really FIRM mattress or else they'd have put more foam in it.

Isn't it just AMAZING how cheap and low-density the foam they use is?

Thanks for posting the pix!

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #6 Mar 18, 2010 9:36 AM
Joined: Mar 15, 2010
Points: 5
Q119 wrote:

 

 

Here is the mattress before surgery:

 

 

My assistant holding back the very thin layers. Underneath the grey material is just covering the springs:

 

 

 

I don't know if you can see it as clearly as I did, but there is definate sag to the springs in the middle:

 

My temporary fix. It's been working, but don't know how long it will last:

Hey Q119 correct me if I'm wrong, on this picture above, are those blankets on the middle laying on top of the box spring;In other words what's below the red sheet?the box spring or part of the mattress? The reason why I'm asking is because I plan on doing the same thing.I go to bed with my back doing fine and then when I wake up I have discomfort in my back. So I guess this is a good idea like they suggested me on another post.Now that I see the pictures you posted, I understand how it is done.How thick does it have to be when you place on top of each other  all the blankets? Thanks for the post and the pictures!
 

Re: My Serta Mattress Surgery (now with photos)
Reply #7 Mar 18, 2010 10:43 AM
Joined: Mar 11, 2010
Points: 56
jimsocal: Yes, I am amazed at how cheap and thin the foam was. Unbelievable. We chose a firmer mattress because we had a pillowtop before that was dipping and giving us backpain and were told that this would be better. Ha! The dip doesn't look too bad when no one is on the mattress, but add 375lbs between the 2 of us and it was ridiculous.

eliwwjd: This is right on top of the boxsprings. The red covering is the bedskirt. I just played around with it until the mattress was fairly level. It's not perfect, but better.

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.