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Hi all, Been doing my reading and caught the DIY bug. FBM seems like the best deal around. Here's what I had in mind for our new queen mattress.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm shooting for a relatively firm mattress that would be suitable for my gf and I (185lbs and 115lbs) and would last a few years. Thanks |
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Phoenix wrote: In general, I think that your "general direction" of higher quality polyfoam under latex is a very good one for those on a limited budget. I would probably go in this direction myself in the same circumstances (perhaps an innerspring under latex but this may be more and the benefits are "disputable").
If you could tell me more about your sleeping positions it may help a bit to make better suggestions. Another thing that may help (in the absence of field testing) is any details of mattresses that you have slept on and liked in the past to give an idea of what you are most comfortable with. FBM is not a problem for someone that is willing to "flip a coin" in terms of 50/50 odds of getting what you want. Sometimes the "gambler" in us makes the saving worth it :). They are more likely to be accurate with the poly than the latex IMO. The information about the FBM HD 36 being 2.0 lbs/sq ft came from here. Phoenix I'm a side and back sleeper. The girlfriend is strictly a side sleeper. The spring mattress we have now is crap in my eyes because it feels like it has no support. If I'm to kneel on the bed, my knees fall so far into it - the springs are much too weak. As crazy as it sounds, I slept beautifully on the dorm mattresses in college. I dont believe they had springs in them. I'm guessing you might tell me I need to soften the setup for side sleeping.. Would adding another inch of soft be advised? BTW, for the foams I'm going with the high quality versions: http://www.foamdistributing.com/products/hd36-hqM.html and http://www.foamdistributing.com/products/lux-hqM.html, both are labeled 2.8 pcf. I'm just itching to order...! |
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Latest revision... cut back a little so save on cost
1" Soft (20 ILD) $74.99 Medium (32 ILD) 1" $79.99 Medium (32 ILD) 2" $158.99 2" Thick - HD36 High Quality Foam $52.80 FULL - 54" x 75" 2" Thick - Lux High Quality Foam $53.05 FULL - 54" x 75" 2" Thick - Lux High Quality Foam $53.05 |
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I believe that this is an improvement on your previous layering even though it has saved you some money. In general a 3" comfort layer is the beginning point from which you either go up or down depending on weight and sleeping patterns and other factors. This has 4" which I believe is better than 5". In terms of comfort, 1" soft over 3" of what could be called "medium on the border of firm" is bordering on a firm overall comfort layer but it is in thinner layers which makes it "act" softer. This may be OK more for you than your GF. In general lighter people (like your girlfriend) prefer and need thinner and softer comfort layers because they don't sink in as far and heavier people need a little thicker and maybe a bit firmer because their definition and perception of "firm" is often firmer than someone who is lighter. Sometimes there is a problem with side sleeping that the shoulders don't sink in enough to a firmer layering and end up being "raised" in relation to the hips which can cause alignment issues or not sinking in enough which can lead to pressure issues. Men are "more likely" to have broader shoulders and have more "issues" there and women in general have broader hips and have more "issues" there. The shoulders come "into play" more in side sleeping and the hips/pelvis comes into play in all positions since in both men and women the hips and pelvis can sink in too far and causing "hammocking" which also puts the spine out of alignment in all 3 positions. You like a firm mattress so your overall construction seems pretty good to me ... assuming you actually get what you order. If I was to change anything ... and bearing in mind that I have no actual feedback to go by so am relying on "averages" the only change I may make would be to make the 1" talalay 32 ILD a little softer (24-28) but they don't seem to have that available on any of their websites esxcept as a thicker layer inside their mattresses. May be worth a call to see. Other than that ... it's nice to see how well thought out your mattress is and how carefully you are making choices that lead to the "best for the least". I really like that kind of thinking as I share it :) Phoenix. |
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Phoenix wrote: I believe that this is an improvement on your previous layering even though it has saved you some money. In general a 3" comfort layer is the beginning point from which you either go up or down depending on weight and sleeping patterns and other factors. This has 4" which I believe is better than 5".
In terms of comfort, 1" soft over 3" of what could be called "medium on the border of firm" is bordering on a firm overall comfort layer but it is in thinner layers which makes it "act" softer. This may be OK more for you than your GF. In general lighter people (like your girlfriend) prefer and need thinner and softer comfort layers because they don't sink in as far and heavier people need a little thicker and maybe a bit firmer because their definition and perception of "firm" is often firmer than someone who is lighter. Sometimes there is a problem with side sleeping that the shoulders don't sink in enough to a firmer layering and end up being "raised" in relation to the hips which can cause alignment issues or not sinking in enough which can lead to pressure issues. Men are "more likely" to have broader shoulders and have more "issues" there and women in general have broader hips and have more "issues" there. The shoulders come "into play" more in side sleeping and the hips/pelvis comes into play in all positions since in both men and women the hips and pelvis can sink in too far and causing "hammocking" which also puts the spine out of alignment in all 3 positions. You like a firm mattress so your overall construction seems pretty good to me ... assuming you actually get what you order. If I was to change anything ... and bearing in mind that I have no actual feedback to go by so am relying on "averages" the only change I may make would be to make the 1" talalay 32 ILD a little softer (24-28) but they don't seem to have that available on any of their websites esxcept as a thicker layer inside their mattresses. May be worth a call to see. Other than that ... it's nice to see how well thought out your mattress is and how carefully you are making choices that lead to the "best for the least". I really like that kind of thinking as I share it :) Phoenix. If I go wit this setup and she's not comfortable and needs something softer, do you think something like the cuddlebed would work?
Unrelated, but would it be okay to have the latex+2 foams (8") in an encasement, and the base on my slats? foambymail does a max of 8" for a case. |
Phoenix, I hope you agree with everything above as I pulled the trigger!  |
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The "cuddlebed" may make it "feel" softer but it probably won't help with pressure relief ... especially as it compresses so it depends on whether she would need something that "felt soft" or something that was "pressure relieving". With latex it is very important to have a case around it as ultraviolet light and ozone can cause it to degrade and breakdown much faster. Poly not so much but I would probably tend to use a case that fit around all of it. I would also tend to use a case that was as "elastic" as possible as it will help with the feel and performance of the latex and a "less elastic" case may not work as well with a "firmer" comfort layer. If you want to sleep on wool or something else rather than directly on the latex, you could always add it as a mattress pad. If foambymail can't make their terry "upgrade" cover in a 10" version (ask them when you talk to them), then I would consider getting one either at http://www.foamorder.com or at http://sleepez.com/mattresscomponents.htm. They may cost you a bit more but I believe would be worth it. In the end though if I had to leave a layer out for the sake of having a lower cost cover ... it would be a poly layer. Phoenix |
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I see we were posting at the same time :) Given what I posted in the last (simultaneous) post, everything makes sense to me. Congratulations ... and I really hope you will post here to let us know how things work out. You are clearly anxious to "get sleeping" (laughing) Phoenix |
| You bet I'm anxious! I'm excited, but nervous too. The gf is very skeptical, if it was up to her we would be going with a cheap S brand! Ill definitely be back to share the results of my setup. I'm hoping I have good news to report, but I accept the possibility that adjustments might be needed. I'm thinking the likely complaint will be "its too firm!". Ill cross that bridge when I get to it. Thanks for helping me get started, phoenix. See you soon.. |
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Some people here that have used their soft latex find it firmer than the 20 ILD rating. Possibly because their process is different than Latex International and possibly because the rating is innacurate. I think others in the past have thought that there was little difference in firmness between the soft and medium. So, a bit of a crap shoot in trying to determine what it will really feel like. My guess is that this setup will be on the firmer side. It seems like that may be what you want. If end up wanting it softer at the very top comfort layer, you may want to add a little memory foam or Latex International talalay. |
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sandman wrote: Some people here that have used their soft latex find it firmer than the 20 ILD rating. Possibly because their process is different than Latex International and possibly because the rating is innacurate.
I think others in the past have thought that there was little difference in firmness between the soft and medium. So, a bit of a crap shoot in trying to determine what it will really feel like. My guess is that this setup will be on the firmer side. It seems like that may be what you want. If end up wanting it softer at the very top comfort layer, you may want to add a little memory foam or Latex International talalay. Just so I'm prepared, would I be looking at 1" of soft LI talalay on top if it's too firm? Obviously there are many variables, but I'd be curious if you'd think thats enough based on the setup. Thanks |