PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Oct 28, 2007 7:19 PM
Joined: Oct 28, 2007
Points: 69
Has anyone put together a mattress with PU base, latex in the middle, and memory foam on top? I was laying on a Simmons ComforPedic the other day with this configuration. It felt like Temperpedic support laying in it, but it didn’t have that hard feel when you roll over or sit on it – it actually had a little spring to it. When I was looking at it in a showroom, I was able to see some of the specs on the sheet the sales person was holding:

    Top layer: 4.5” 5.5lb memory foam – ILD unknown, but possibly 2 different foam ILDs (springs back faster than Temperpedic)
    Middle layer: 2" 24 ILD latex (said it was to dissipate heat)
    Bottom: 7" 30 ILD foam (I'm assuming it's PU, but I'm not sure???)

From what I've been reading about foam lately, I thought a combination like this would be too soft, but it was really supportive. After laying in it for awhile, it did seem a lot cooler and more comfortable than a Temperpedic. The price for the above configuration was $4200. Any ideas on putting one together for a lot cheaper?

Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #31 Nov 6, 2007 9:37 AM
Foam Nerd
Location: USA
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 605
I again requested a sample of Isoform memory foam and this time the response was "I would be happy to send you a sample and some information." Maybe they have someone new working in customer service.

Bergad/Isoform is a company that has flown a little bit under the radar and I'm not sure why. They are actually one of a very few "name brands" of memory foam made in the U.S., the others being Foamex/Sensus & Aerus, and Carpenter/Isotonic. Who has heard of Essentia, AdaptaFlex, Viness, Vitality, Vx, or Dual-Peak?
This message was modified Nov 6, 2007 by haysdb
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #32 Nov 6, 2007 10:09 AM
Joined: Oct 28, 2007
Points: 69
Has anybody used foambymail 2.0 lb/ft3 conventional foam mattresses? I think I'm going with 3" Sensus top over 2" of firm latex or Energia (to give it a little spring) over polyurethane foam, but I'm not sure what firmness to go with for the poly (HD36 or Lux), or if I should do two different firmness layers. Any opinions?
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #33 Nov 6, 2007 3:41 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
Steve, I have had no experience wiht foambymail's PU foam, but judging by the way they over-sold their memory foam density, I wonder if it really is 2.0 - it may be 1.5 - who knows. Any way, 1.9 or 2.0 PU is considered a 4-5 year foam - you may want to consider a 2.5 to 3.0 HR (high resiliency) foam. These are more like 10-year foams. Here are a some sources:

PerfectFit is an upholstery supplier, and the foam sizes listed are not quite large enough for a king-size bed, but they say that other sizes are available. Looks like reasonable prices.

Foam On-line does custom sizing, but seems expensive.

Simple-pedic has a price calculator and seems very expensive.

This message was modified Nov 7, 2007 by donw
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #34 Nov 8, 2007 1:32 AM
Foam Nerd
Location: USA
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 605
FoamByMail's "HQ" foams, HD36-HQ and LUX-HQ, are 2.8 lb foams. The LUX HQ is an ILD 55 and will be VERY firm. I might use 2" of that for a bottom layer but I think an entire core of that would be too firm for the vast majority of people. You have to custom order a size to get it. Their standard mattresses are the 2.0 lb foam.

Energia is nice, if somewhat pricey. It's a very definite step up from a conventional PU foam. It doesn't quite achieve a latex feel, but there is no question it's a high quality foam.

I received a sample of memory foam from IsoForm. Some of the information I had about this foam was wrong. For starters it's a light green in color, not yellow. I would not call this a fast foam. In fact out of all my samples, I'd call it the slowest of the lot. It does have an open cell structure. I would call it a "coarse" cell structure but not with any negative connotation.

This is the first foam I've received that literally freezes into a solid block. All of the Foamex foams, including Sensus and Venus as well as the foams they make for Sleep-Aid and FoamByMail, get firm but do not actually freeze solid. It gets softer and responds more slowly when it's warm, vs. room temperature. I would definitely call this a temperature sensitive foam.

I wish I had a sample of Tempur foam. My guess is that Isoform is very similar to Tempur foam. It's a dense (5.0+) foam that's temperature sensitive, and like Tempur foam, it's a relatively firm foam, as memory foams go. For someone wanting a very traditional memory foam feel, this fits the bill.

I would "rate" FoamByMail and Isoform about the same. This is VERY subjective. The FBM foam recovers just a bit quicker, is less temperature sensitive, and has a finer and more consistent cell structure, but I suspect the Isoform might sleep a bit cooler because of the larger cell structure and higher permeability. That's just my educated guess. Both seem like a good value at around 2/3 the price of Sensus.
This message was modified Nov 8, 2007 by haysdb
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #35 Nov 8, 2007 10:55 AM
Joined: Oct 28, 2007
Points: 69
Thanks again to everyone for the information and taking the time to post.

I did order a 3" Sensus topper from Sleep Warehouse as a start to my new mattress. They were really good about answering questions in a timely matter by email. After a few emails, I decided it would be easier to call to get a price on putting together a custom mattress, but the CS person I talked to couldn't answer my questions and said she would have a mattress specialist call me back...I never heard back. But like I said, their email support has been very good and whoever was replying, new what they were talking about...unlike foambymail. I sent an email to FBM to see if I could order and get a price on their 2.6 - 2.8 lb/ft3 polyurethane without the memory foam attached to it and I received a reply with a link to their 2.0 lb/ft3 mattresses...did they actually read my email???

So, I'll still need to figure out what to put under the Sensus as far as Energia, latex, or polyurethane. I think I'll probably want 2 layers with different ILDs incase one configuration is too soft or too hard. I also want a finished mattress size of 12", so I may need something cheap and extra firm for the bottom layer to make the size. Will a cheap, low density extra firm (possibly hard even) polyurethane last any longer than a a cheap, low density medium polyurethane?
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #36 Nov 8, 2007 1:21 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
Just add it to your cart from here: LUX-HQ and here: HD-36HQ. It looks like they are 2" longer than a king-size bed, but I'd guess that my pink memo foam I ordered from them is almost that. I think you could readily cut it. I'd think about 2" of latex under your 3" Sensus, 3" HD-36HQ, and then 4" LUX-HQ for a total of 12". (Use  3 LUX and 4 inch HD-36, instead to get softer.)
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #37 Nov 8, 2007 6:00 PM
Location: Mequon, WI
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 363
steve2u wrote:
 Will a cheap, low density extra firm (possibly hard even) polyurethane last any longer than a a cheap, low density medium polyurethane?

Typically, low density foams don't last very long.
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #38 Nov 10, 2007 4:34 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
I can't believe I didn't see this foambymail page: custom sizes of HQ foam. Man, FBM does have the best prices. I just wish they weren't so squirrely!
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #39 Nov 10, 2007 11:40 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
Comparing FBM's prices for custom sizes to their full sheet prices, it looks like thay charge $37 to cut the 2 extra inches off. I think I would just take a full sheet and cut it down myself.
Re: PU/Latex/Memory Foam Mattress
Reply #40 Nov 11, 2007 9:35 AM
Location: Mequon, WI
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 363
PU foam & memory foam are very easy to cut with an electric kitchen knife.

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