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After all the help I received here, I wanted to report on our new foambymail (aka The Foam Factory, and here just "FBM") mattress. We ordered on 5/27/11, and even with the Memorial Day Holiday, received our order exactly 1 week later on 6/3/11. Here is what we ordered: Latex: 6" 36 ILD core + 2" 32 ILD mid-core + 2" 20 ILD topper (all 100% natural talalay), upgrade to 10" Terry cloth cover, at a cost of $1,216 total with free shipping. Foundation: http://www.amazon.com/Thick-Foundation-memory-latex-mattresses/dp/B002RVCSRI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1305859732&sr=8-3 $229 with free shipping. I added 4 more slats to this to bring the spacing from 3.75" to 2". Cost at Home Depot was around $10. Pad/Protector/Topper: undecided at this point For background on how we got to this point, see my thread here: http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/advice-needed-my-diy-all-latex-project/19004-A-1.html So, here are the pics: We are absolutely loving our new FBM DIY mattress. As we were putting together the layers, the two 2" layers were not labeled with ILD numbers or descriptors "medium"/"soft." However, it was very obvious which one was softer. Laying just on the 3 layers of latex, without even the terry cloth cover, the mattress was very, very soft (but still supportive). However, there was a bit of a jiggly feel to it that others have mentioned. I wonder if a firmer Dunlop core would feel as jiggly. With the terry cloth cover on, the mattress felt slightly firmer and less jiggly. Overall, I consider the feel of this mattress soft, but it is very supportive - sort of the best of both worlds. It is amazing how much anything on top changes the feel of the latex. Since I was unsure of what mattress pad or topper I might want to go with, I first tried this one (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=110636&RN=559&) I picked it up at Bed, Bath & Beyond with a 20% off coupon just because they have such a liberal return policy. I liked how this pad gave a slightly more "enveloping"/"sink in" feel to the mattress, but it actually firmed up the mattress a little too much. Also, after sleeping on a natural feather bed for years, this pad with poly fill felt hot to me. We took it back to BB&B the next day. Just for kicks, we did an even exchange for this 2" featherbed topper (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=126595&RN=560&) which is on order for us. In the meantime, we have slept 2 nights with just a fleece winter sheet (for some protection of the mattress) under our normal cotten summer sheet. This feels really nice and we're both sleeping great as is, but I did like the little more enveloping, plush feel the pad gave. My guess is that we will ultimately take back the 2" featherbed too, but I'd rather try different options from a store that allows returns. We may love it and be done, but I am thinking we will end up with a thinner topper comprised of either down/feather or wool. My thought here is that anything in the 1/2" to 1" range will give a cush feel but still allow the latex to do the job of supporting us, and the natural fibers will do the job of regulating temperature. I have scoured the net looking at options in this thickness and am considering the following: http://www.thedownstore.com/catalog/mattresspads&toppers/downmattresspads&toppers.htm (1/2" pure down pad for $225), http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/57166?pi=950603&subrnd=0&qs=3006448_pmd_amazon (all down pad for $189), or http://www.naturaworld.com/topper-classic (18oz per s.y. wool fill topper for $220 from The DownStore). If we end up deciding that we want to keep the feel as is, we'll go with the Dormier pad - http://www.flobeds.com/product_details.htm?ID=2140EK ($160). If anyone has any other recommendations or thoughts on the pad/topper, I would love to hear them. Overall, we are extremely pleased with our new latex mattress and the experience we had with FBM. I am glad to answer any questions. -Cliff |
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Ok, so the featherbed came in yesterday and I returned it to BB&B the same day. It ended up being much thicker than I thought it was, and it totally removed all of the latex feel. It basically felt just like our old setup of a featherbed on top of the spring mattress, and I could tell it was going to have the lumpy, crushed out feel of our old featherbed in no time. At least it didn't cost anything to try it.
In continuing my search for a pad or topper, I narrowed down my search to wool fill pads. From reading, wool seems clearly superior certainly to snythetic fibers and even down. Before going with the Dormier, I at least would like to try a wool pad with some cushy, softness to go over the latex. I'm sleeping very comfortably now, but still would like a little more of a cush, plush feel. I've spent probably hours pouring through various sites. Besides wool being pretty expensive, most sites that had a pad that I would like to try had a no return policy for their mattress pads. Well I just stumbled on this pad at Sierra Trading Post (I use STP often for gear or outdoor clothing, and didn't realize that they have bedding): http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,2786T_Downtown-Mattress-Pad-King-Merino-Wool-Fill-Anchor-Bands.html Using the one day site coupon of 20% off, I've got this coming to me with shipping for $167. Unfortunately, it looks as if I bought the last one. There were more reviews for the queen size, and they were all very positive. Here is the manuf. website with more details: http://www.downtowncompany.com/matress_pads.html (hover over the middle left picture to see detail, click for description - 100% merino wool obtained from free range sheep, 100% cotton cover). Looks to be about 1.25" thick. I'm excited about this find for that price, and best of all it is returnable with STP if I don't like it. I ran across 2 pads in my research that seem interesting - one as a possible Dormier alternative at a lower price, and the other as an expensive, but high quality thick pad. Here is the inexpensive one: http://www.gatewaymattressfactory.com/30.html (quilted wool with cotten cover, $119 queen, $139 king). Here is the really nice one: http://www.gatewaymattressfactory.com/27.html (cotton/bamboo blend cover, quilted wool, .8" layer of latex, 2" total thickness, for $289 queen and $359 king). If it weren't so expensive (and probably non-returnable), I would love to try this pad. It looks really nice. I'll report back on the DownTown wool pad when we receive it. -Cliff This message was modified Jun 11, 2011 by TheLTFM
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This thread is a great resource - thanks for making the efforts to post the pics. It really helps put the whole process together. How difficult do you think it would be to move that mattress with just the terry cloth cover if you had to? Do you think you'd have to break it back down to do so? I'm also trying to decide on what cover to put over the latex layers I end up buying - looking forward to hearing your results. |
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proof1st, you're welcome - glad the pics are helpful. I would definitely break the mattress down to move it. If for no other reason than the total weight of the thing is 167lbs (101+33+33). It would be a beast to move, and the 2" layers might get torn. |
| TheLTFM - did you notice a strong odor from the core or topper when you got it? I ordered a latex topper from FBM but haven't been able to sue it yet because of the smell. It permeated my whole house at first, but after airing the past few days it's only noticeable upstairs. Interestingly, my son can't smell it at all. I wonder if this means I will develop a latex allergy if I use it? Does anyone know about that? |
| Thanks for the report. I love all the tinkering and DIYs that people on this site do. :-) Beats heck out of just taking whatever junk the mattress makers are cranking out nowadays. |
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Susan123 wrote: TheLTFM - did you notice a strong odor from the core or topper when you got it? I ordered a latex topper from FBM but haven't been able to sue it yet because of the smell. It permeated my whole house at first, but after airing the past few days it's only noticeable upstairs. Interestingly, my son can't smell it at all. I wonder if this means I will develop a latex allergy if I use it? Does anyone know about that? |
| Cliff - I had heard that FBM uses the same ILD latex for the 6" 36 ILD and the 2" 32 ILD, just cut to different thickness. Do you have any impressions based on comparing the softness of the 6" 36 ILD and the 2" 32 ILD pieces you have? |
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proof1st wrote: Cliff - I had heard that FBM uses the same ILD latex for the 6" 36 ILD and the 2" 32 ILD, just cut to different thickness. Do you have any impressions based on comparing the softness of the 6" 36 ILD and the 2" 32 ILD pieces you have? My understanding is that the ILD's in reality are more of a small range with the stated number a kind of average. With these 2 being just 4 ILD's apart, it would make sense that they would have a similar feel. I didn't really A-B compare the 2 with that thought in mind, but I did lay on each layer as I "built" the mattress. I do recall that the 32 ILD on top of the 6" core felt a bit softer, but not by much. I don't know if that helps any, but that was my experience. |
| This was an extremely helpful post with photos - and links. Thank you. |
| Great post! And I'm happy you are happy with your DIY mattress! |