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I have a Sterns and Fosters tight top mattress. It's the base model "luxury plush" tight top mode. After reading all this, I realize that I should have probably gotten the ultra firm model with no plushness involved at all and it would have been perfect with the addition of a soft latex topper. The mattress isn't too bad overall, but I want a firmer feel to the mattress. If I spend too much time on the bed, my back hurts. I'm 215 LBS and my girlfriend is only 105 LBS. She complains that she sinks into my side of the bed when we sleep together. It's a full size bed, so there isn't much place for her to run and hide. Here's what I ordered so far:
1. foam by mail 2" medium density latex (32ILD) 2. fitted quited matterss pad (not a thinck one) I will be taking pics and documenting what's inside it for the benefit of others. I'm sure that once I open the thing up, I'll want to get more foam with mostly likely different firmness. Here is what the mattress looks like:
Here is my question: How should I make my first cut? Should I cut just below the bead at the top of the mattress so that I can open it up like a suitcase? I might want to keep the top layer of the mattress in tact. Otherwise, should I cut just above the bead on the lower part of the mattress so that I can lift up the entire top casing of the mattress? I'm a touch neverous of the operation, but I'm leaning toward the first option.
PS: I'm a physical therapist specializing in low back pain and the information that I've gained from this website over the past few years have helped many a patient from spending tons of money on mattresses they'll regret in no time. For that, my patients thank you. I just wish that I had stumbled onto this site before I made my own purchase. This message was modified Feb 28, 2013 by SJTrance
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sandman wrote: I think you are on the right track... <snip> I'm no mattress surgeon, but I think this is sound advice. Keep the sidewall structure, if you can. GK |
| Thanks a bunch! That's just the kind of advice I was looking for. The pad will get here on Monday and I'm very excited to get started. I'll take pics and post them up here. |
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I finally cut up my mattress and it was the easiest thing to do. I just used a very sharp paring knife and I keep sharp and I cut above the bead on the top of the mattress. There wasn't too much fluff underneath. It just had one layer of 2" foam that I replaced with the 2" 32 ILD Foam Factory latex pad. I then put the top fluff back on and put a mattress pad over everything. Bed was more firm and I am very happy. The girlfriend was shaking her head the whole time saying I was crazy, but after the second night, she told me that she liked the bed very much now. Here are some pics.... They are of bad quality and from my iphone, but you'll get the idea. I don't have pics of the FF latex pad or the bed put back together with the mattress pad. I'll put it all open and take pics again. I just hope that the bed doesn't splay out over time. |
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Thanks for the pictures of the mattress surgery. To keep the case toghether, you could glue several velcro tabs on each side and use them to fasten the cover. You could get fabric glue and velco straps at a craft or fabric store. Please keep us posted on how the mattress surgery turns out over time. |
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Yes, thanks for the update. I am glad that you are happy with it so far. I think you will find that the latex will hold up better over time as well. Plus you have the option to update it years from now. Your coils must be softer than mine, because 2" of 32 plus the top would be too firm for me. It looks like pocketed coils, which do conform better to your body position. I had the same thoughts that maybe attaching some kind of velcro (or other) straps to hold the top on firmly. Not sure how easy it would be too do that though. It would be nices if they sold spring mattresses with a zipper top to allow people to customize and update the foam. The sides of mine sag a bit, but no big deal so far. I have interlaced coils, so the coils do not really push out to the side. That might be an issue for you, but securing the top might help a far amount with that. Or a fairly tight mattress pad. Some have fairly strong elastic sides that would help pull everything together. |
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I can't imagine that glue will hold up to the abuse. I'm a pretty heavy guy. I think an option might be to either sow on some velcro straps or even use a few very long straps across the bed. That harder boarder on the outer edges is the side stability thingamagigy. The mattress pad I use isn't particularly tight. With regards to the springs not being too firm, I'm not sure. It's a subjective thing, as you know. If you come here and sleep on it, you may think it's too firm. The top plush layer of the mattress is still on the bed and does add good amount of softness to the latex layer. Without that, it's much more firm.
Edit... I just ordered this: I'll let you guys know how it works. I don't need to use it on top of the mattress pad; I just want to ensure that it doesn't cause the base to splay out. http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-3060DAT-12-Foot---1-Inch/dp/B0009V1WXY/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1363125644&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=tie+down+straps
This message was modified Mar 12, 2013 by SJTrance
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Perhaps you could slip a snug allergen cover over the mattress to bag it up/keep it together/hide the scars/keep the beasties out. GK |
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GKDesigns wrote: Perhaps you could slip a snug allergen cover over the mattress to bag it up/keep it together/hide the scars/keep the beasties out.
GK |
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SJTrance wrote: Not a bad idea, but damn, at $100 for the full size for my deep mattress, it's a bit hefty. Lemme try the straps first. Yeah, that vendor is pricey but a quick reference for shopping such covers. Another idea is a grommet kit and thin cord/bungee as lacing... but I have not thought this one through. GK |
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Hi SJTrance, Can you explain what you are thinking of doing with the strap? Because it seems to me that it would just tend to smush the material together towards the shape of a circle, rather than keeping it rectangular. |