New here...just took the leap to latex
Dec 23, 2008 1:45 PM
Location: Maryland
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Points: 8
First off - thanks to all the regular contributors on this forum.  After months (maybe years?) of reading and researching latex mattresses, I placed an order yesterday for a SleepEz 10000 queen in 100% Dunlop.  I was actually *this* close to buying from another online vendor, but it appeared that the SleepEz product was very comparable, but about $500 less.  It should arrive in about a week.  The funny thing is that once I decided to make the purchase, my current 10-yr old inner spring mattress now fees like a concrete slab!  I cannot wait to get the softer feel of the latex.  My wife and I are both lightweights (100lbs, 155lbs, respectively), so we went with a single soft top layer, then two mediums in the middle, and two firms on the bottom.  We are also both back / side sleepers, which is one of the reasons we went with the slightly firmer feeling Dunlop.

One thing I am not sure about, and I've read conflicting info on this forum, and elsewhere, is whether a new foundation is mandatory for the new latex mattress.  Most queen foundations available online run $400 or more, which seems like a lot to me for what it is.  Shawn at SleepEz suggested that I try the latex on our current box spring, and that if we felt more firm support was required we could just lay a piece of plywood or OSB on top of the box spring.  However, in another thread here, I read that putting a latex mattress on a box spring is a no-no.  Is there any real harm in trying out the latex on our box spring?

Thanks!

-Brian
Re: New here...just took the leap to latex
Reply #1 Dec 24, 2008 5:11 AM
Joined: Sep 7, 2007
Points: 476
Years ago latex (Dunlop) mattresses were sold with box springs. Of course they were single core and about 4 1/2" thick. The SleepEZ mattress you are about to receive is twice the size and extremely heavy. The box spring you have is designed to support an innerspring mattress, which has more rigidity than latex. You'll see when you get it, latex is very limp.

I tried a SleepEZ 10000 Talalay on my old  box spring. Not only was it way too bouncy, the weight of it actually ruined the box spring and made the mattress hammock. You could try it out, but I think you'd be better off slipping a board between the mattress and box spring as Shawn suggested or get a new foundation. You should be able to find one at a local discount mattress store for around $150 or less. Today's thick latex mattresses generally do better on a solid foundation or slats rather than on springs.

Re: New here...just took the leap to latex
Reply #2 Dec 24, 2008 7:30 AM
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 191
Brianc,

Gotta agree with cloud9.

I tried my SleepEZ13000 on a box spring and it was waaaay too soft,just no support what-so-ever.

I went to a local Mom &Pop mattress store and picked up a queen foundation for about $125.00.

Another option, (and what we did with my Brother's bed) was to go to the local Big Lots and pick up a Serta foundation.It was even cheaper.

Jeff

Re: New here...just took the leap to latex
Reply #3 Dec 24, 2008 9:22 AM
Location: Maryland
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Points: 8
Thanks for the responses, the advice is appreciated.  I was checking online and found this - $199 wood queen foundation in a kit:



From the web site:
Introducing the VersiFlex®, by Coverest®, the original state-of-the-art collapsible mattress foundation that is a breeze to move in and out of your home, and stronger than the old traditional models. With an 8-inch profile, it is made from solid Spruce, requires only 6 carriage bolts, and can be fully assembled in less than 10 minutes. With a simple, one-of-a-kind design, the entire foundationl fits in a box that measures only 80" x 10" x 10"!

Ever hear of this product?  It looks like it would provide the support, but I would wonder if those bolts would loosen up over time.


I'll also call around to a few local mattress retailers and see what I can get locally.  I'll try to follow the lead of some of the other posters and report back on my experience setting up and using the new mattress.

Thanks, again!

-Brian
This message was modified Dec 24, 2008 by Brianc
Re: New here...just took the leap to latex
Reply #4 Dec 26, 2008 5:48 AM
Joined: Sep 7, 2007
Points: 476
Brian, if you get any kind of slat foundation be sure that the space between the slats is no more than three inches, otherwise your mattress will start to sink through the gaps.