TOPIC:

Bummed out...spent a long time explaining issue, and it disappeared! Do users get timed out when composing?
Anyway...I am about to return a too-firm Beautyrest Black (nonhybrid) at a big $ loss, due to fees. I previously had a sleep number bed, and kept the platform parts and cover. I have decided to give a talalay organic latex mattress a try, from FloBeds or SleepEZ. Can I use the molded plastic-like sleep number platform, which has a 4-part slab, and lock-together sides and cross-supports, and a non-skid cover? Maybe with one of those bed rugs? Secondly, is there any advised thickness for a latex mattress? They sell both three and four layers, although more ILD options at the more expensive FloBeds. I am currently about 172 lbs and 5'4" although dieting, of course! I am a side to stomach sleeper, due to sleep apnea, and am afemale more apple than pear shaped, not much of a waistline at all. If a less expensive 10 inch works as well as a more expensive 12 or 13 inch, seems that would be the way to go, unless there is a benefit for the taller one. Please advise, planning to order this weekend if I can figure it all out! Thanks.

Hi jleining,

Bummed out...spent a long time explaining issue, and it disappeared! Do users get timed out when composing?

It's not normally an issue if you are in a reply window but it can happen occasionally with any forum software when there are a combination of factors that can cause your current forum session to time out (see post #3 here ).

Anyway...I am about to return a too-firm Beautyrest Black (nonhybrid) at a big $ loss, due to fees. I previously had a sleep number bed, and kept the platform parts and cover. I have decided to give a talalay organic latex mattress a try, from FloBeds or SleepEZ. Can I use the molded plastic-like sleep number platform, which has a 4-part slab, and lock-together sides and cross-supports, and a non-skid cover? Maybe with one of those bed rugs?

You can see some comments about solid surface support systems in post #10 here . It would certainly be supportive enough and if you don't have any additional risk factors it should be fine. With a bed rug to provide some additional airflow and breathability under the mattress it would certainly be fine in any normal conditions.

Secondly, is there any advised thickness for a latex mattress? They sell both three and four layers, although more ILD options at the more expensive FloBeds. I am currently about 172 lbs and 5'4" although dieting, of course! I am a side to stomach sleeper, due to sleep apnea, and am afemale more apple than pear shaped, not much of a waistline at all. If a less expensive 10 inch works as well as a more expensive 12 or 13 inch, seems that would be the way to go, unless there is a benefit for the taller one. Please advise, planning to order this weekend if I can figure it all out! Thanks.

The thickness of a mattress or the number of layers or the thickness of any individual layers inside it is really just a side effect of the design and the design goals of a mattress and the thickness of any individual layers or the complete mattress is also only one of many variables that can affect the feel and performance of a mattress relative to any particular person (see post #2 here ) and by itself isn't particularly meaningful (see post #2 here ). In some cases people that are in higher weight ranges (or a higher BMI) will sometimes do better with a mattress that is thicker than lower weight ranges or a lower BMI (see post #14 here for more about the effect of thickness) but even this depends more on the specific design and combination of materials in the mattress and on how well your testing or personal experience indicates the mattress "as a whole" matches your specific needs and preferences in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP than it does on just the thickness itself.

When you can't test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance is always a more detailed phone conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart (and isn't just interested in "selling you" any mattress they can convince you to buy) and who can help "talk you through" the specifics of their mattresses and the properties and "feel" of the materials they are using (fast or slow response, resilience, firmness etc) and the options they have available that may be the best "match" for you based on the information you provide them, any local testing you have done or mattresses you have slept on and liked or other mattresses you are considering that they are familiar with, and the "averages" of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about "matching" their specific mattress designs and firmness levels to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences (or to other mattresses that they are familiar with) than anyone else.

Both of the manufacturers you are considering are members here which means that I think highly of them and that I believe that they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency so you are certainly looking two great quality/value choices.

Once you have narrowed down your options to a list of finalists that are all choices between "good and good" (which you have) and you have confirmed that none of them have any lower quality materials or "weak links" in their design (which they don't) and if at this point there are no clear winners between them (which is usually a good indication that you have done some good research) then you are in the fortunate position that any of them would likely be a suitable choice and post #2 here can help you make a final choice based on your more detailed conversations with each of them, your personal preferences, your confidence about PPP and the suitability of each one, their prices, the options you have after a purchase to fine tune the mattress or exchange or return the mattress (or individual layers in some cases) and any costs involved, any additional extras that are part of each purchase, and on "informed best judgement" based on all the other objective, subjective, and intangible parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.

Phoenix

Thanks, Phoenix, for getting back to me so promptly, and elaborating on topic! Will check out your links for more info, and contact someone in person at the two places.

Hi jleining,

I'm looking forward to finding out what you end up deciding

Phoenix

Not done reading your links yet, but will let you know. Still have to decide about platform versus slatted foundation, as well. The platform I already have would definitely save me some money, but if there is a compelling reason to shell out what seems like a lot for wooden slat foundation, I may do that.,,,,and possibly stick with a thinner mattress to offset the additional cost. As a retiree, and one who has to let the dept store keep $450 to take back my Beautyrest, it pains me a bit to spend more than necessary on the replacement.
One more question....what is your opinion of the "convoluted" toppers or layers in natural, unblended talalay? It would seem to me that the process of removing so much of the latex would significantly weaken it, and make it less durable than a solid piece.

Hi jleining,

Not done reading your links yet, but will let you know. Still have to decide about platform versus slatted foundation, as well. The platform I already have would definitely save me some money, but if there is a compelling reason to shell out what seems like a lot for wooden slat foundation, I may do that.,,,,and possibly stick with a thinner mattress to offset the additional cost. As a retiree, and one who has to let the dept store keep $450 to take back my Beautyrest, it pains me a bit to spend more than necessary on the replacement.

As I mentioned in my previous reply ... it will probably be fine unless you have a combination of risk factors that would clearly indicate otherwise.

One more question....what is your opinion of the "convoluted" toppers or layers in natural, unblended talalay? It would seem to me that the process of removing so much of the latex would significantly weaken it, and make it less durable than a solid piece.

You can read more about the pros and cons of convoluted layers in post #2 here but with very high quality and durable materials such as latex it wouldn't be a durability issue.

Phoenix

Happened again to me, bumped me out before I could finish my post....is it something I am doing wrong, or IE?
Anyway, have been reading the link you mentioned regarding risks of platforms under latex mattresses.
My platform, being plastic, has no cellulose, as in the plywood platforms, and does not absorb moisture from the room air....would this not make it less likely to support mold growth than a plywood platform?
Also...it seems to me that a 1 inch coir mat, as in the savvy rest bed rug, placed on a plastic foundation would give better air flow than a slat foundation, where most of the mattress is resting directly on wood, which absorbs moisture. The mat would actually keep the mattress completely off any wood or plastic substrate.
Another option....tell me what you think...is to do what you mentioned in your linked post: buy some 1x3's (18, as you said?) and stick them to my plastic platform with outdoor mounting tape, in effect doing a platform- to- slat conversion for very low cost.
Which, of the options noted above....coir bed rug over plastic platform, or home-made conversion kit, would be least likely to promote mold? The homemade conversion kit is much cheaper than any other option I have seen. But the coir, if resistant to mold, might give the best air flow of ANY option, including the recommended slat foundation. Comments, please!

Hi jleining,

Happened again to me, bumped me out before I could finish my post....is it something I am doing wrong, or IE?

I wish I knew but it's not something that normally happens (in any of the major browsers) so I don't know why it's happening to you outside of the comments that I made in my previous reply. I would probably suggest copying and pasting your reply before you hit "submit" because that's the only time I know of where it could possibly happen and it wouldn't happen while the reply window was open unless you clicked something that caused it to disappear or move to another page in the same tab.

My platform, being plastic, has no cellulose, as in the plywood platforms, and does not absorb moisture from the room air....would this not make it less likely to support mold growth than a plywood platform?

Condensation can happen when warm, moist air comes into contact with cooler surfaces and the moisture in the air condenses. Warm moisture laden air can also move downwards from the top of a mattress. The risk of mold would be in the mattress not the support surface but as I mentioned in my earlier replies I think you would probably be fine unless there is an obvious combination of risk factors that would clearly indicate otherwise.

Also...it seems to me that a 1 inch coir mat, as in the savvy rest bed rug, placed on a plastic foundation would give better air flow than a slat foundation, where most of the mattress is resting directly on wood, which absorbs moisture. The mat would actually keep the mattress completely off any wood or plastic substrate.

Either way there would be no risk so which one is "better or worse" wouldn't really be relevant because both of them would provide plenty of airflow under the mattress.

Another option....tell me what you think...is to do what you mentioned in your linked post: buy some 1x3's (18, as you said?) and stick them to my plastic platform with outdoor mounting tape, in effect doing a platform- to- slat conversion for very low cost.

I'm not sure where you read this but it's not something that I've suggested. While it may help airflow to some degree ... it wouldn't be as effective as the slat conversion kit where the slats are raised by the side and middle supports because if you only use slats and the mattress sinks into the gaps to a depth of only 3/4" (which is the width of a finished 1x3 slat) then it would cut off the airflow and IMO it would probably be more effort than it's worth.

Which, of the options noted above....coir bed rug over plastic platform, or home-made conversion kit, would be least likely to promote mold? The homemade conversion kit is much cheaper than any other option I have seen. But the coir, if resistant to mold, might give the best air flow of ANY option, including the recommended slat foundation. Comments, please!

While there is no way to know for sure ... if I had to guess out of the two options that you mentioned (the coir rug or the 1x3 slats on top of the platform and fully secured) I would vote for the coir rug as being the one that would be the least likely to contribute to conditions that would allow for mold growth ... although if it was me I probably wouldn't use either one unless you were really at risk.

Just for reference ... I live in the Pacific Northwest and have my mattress on an adjustable bed which also has a solid surface and I have never had any issues.

Phoenix

Thanks.. Last night I was browsing the net, and read some horror story posts from people who say they bought the highest quality organic latex, and put it on the recommended slat foundation, and later found MOLD in it, even between layers!!! Two of the sites, if you haven't heard of this, are diaperswappers.com and debralyndadd.com. Some had the mattresses on the floor, and some on slats.
I would be horrified to spend so much on latex and have to pitch it due to mold contamination. You really can't get it out of deeper layers of anything, just solid surfaces where it hasn't penetrated. The hyphae, or roots, continue to live even after the surface has been treated. I have to work to keep mold out of my basement, but never had a problem with my sleep number bed upstairs...although have seen a few reports about that occurring with sleep number beds.

Do you know anything about this problem with organic latex mattresses?

Hi jleining,

Thanks.. Last night I was browsing the net, and read some horror story posts from people who say they bought the highest quality organic latex, and put it on the recommended slat foundation, and later found MOLD in it, even between layers!!! Two of the sites, if you haven't heard of this, are diaperswappers.com and debralyndadd.com. Some had the mattresses on the floor, and some on slats.

I spend a great deal of time on the internet with mattress research (my normal workday is 12 - 16 hours a day 7 days a week and 365 days a year) so I've seen examples of just about everything imagineable.

The example at diaperswappers was with a mattress on the floor so it certainly isn't surprising (a mattress on the floor would be a significant risk factor for mold).

The example here at debralynndad was also with a mattress on the floor. She also mentioined that the replacement mattress that they put on slats has a smell but doesn't mention anything about mold.

I would be horrified to spend so much on latex and have to pitch it due to mold contamination.

I (and I think most other people) would be as well.

Do you know anything about this problem with organic latex mattresses?

It certainly wouldn't be a problem with any latex mattress that was used on a suitable support system.

Phoenix