1st DIY Mattress Build: Feedback/Critique/Advice?

Discussions General Mattresses Questions
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Been trying to replicate something to the feel of a Serta iSeries Hybrid 2000 or 3000—something between these ‘firm’ & ‘medium’ hybrids is what I think is ideal. That was my starting point when I decide DIY was my best solution. Especially could use advice on my transition layer and maybe base. Also on if there were difference between the two coils I listed.

Sleeper Profile:
Position: Combo stomach/side sleeper

Pain Points: Needs a lot of pressure point relief on my shoulder

Weight: 170-178 range and trying to get down back into the 160s. So I am just heavy enough that I feel like I can’t sleep on anything. But also feel ‘too light’ to compress a lot of even softer latex without feeling like I’m pushed out of bed by it—which is my dislike about latex.

Miscellaneous: I don’t like the quicksand feeling of memory foam but want some comfort/cradled/‘aahhh’ feeling (what ever you want to call it). However also don’t like the feeling of sleeping on top of the mattress/being pushed up out of it that I’ve felt with all latex mattress

All that being said, this is what I’ve come up with…

Mattress Build… (bottom to top)

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  • Cover: SleepLikeABear All-Natural Knit Bamboo and Cotton Zipper Cover 12" - Will hold off till I settle all the other layers but think the stretch will help with side sleep/shoulder pain. Previously of mattresses I’ve tried, the best covers I’ve liked are Sleep On Latex’s and the one used for the Serta iSeries just to give reference

  • [b]Base Layer:[/b] [url=https://www.foambymail.com/LRM/lux-r-foam-mattress.html]1" of LUX-R Foam - Standard Mattress by Foam by Mail[/url] - Not sure I REALLY need this and would appreciate advice here. BUT figured it'd help keep coils directly off slats and is really cheap. Everything else will come out to 12" but figure between sizing being usually smaller/stretch cover that 1" of this will still fit in the 12" cover.... but maybe I'm wrong and should go to 1/2"???
  • [b]Support Layer:[/b] [url=https://latexmattressfactory.com/products/quantum-edge-elite-pocketed-coil-1]Quantum® 8" Edge Elite Pocketed Coil from LMF[/url] - I could do this OR go with the [url=https://www.mattresses.net/quedelbo.html]Quantum Edge Elite Bolsa from APM[/url] as I'm not sure there's a difference but an 8", non-zoned, and hopefully somewhat firm coil system seems to be the right play here. Any information on the difference between the two would be great.
  • [b]Transition layer (2"):[/b] Here is where I could use the most advice. I'm using latex to help be a transition layer but also add some more 'bounce' to the comfort layer that will be a different foam most likely. With the transition & comfort layer being only 2", I'm leaning to a bit softer transition. I think either Soft Dunlop or Medium talalay would be the best, though wish I could custom order like a medium-soft talalay I think... Not sure.

    Option 1: Sleep on Latex 2" Dunlop Topper - SOFT

    Option 2: Organic Cotton Talalay Latex Topper - Medium from Mattress Topper by BB

    Option 2: Organic Cotton Talalay Latex Topper - Soft from Mattress Topper by BB

  • [b]Comfort Layer (2"):[/b] [url=https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/comfort-tech-serene-foam-2-inch-mattress-topper/5417539]2" Serene Foam Topper[/url] - As someone who doesn't love memory foam OR latex feel, based on what I've read this is the best in the middle. Slightly wish there was a medium firmness of this but looks like serene foam just comes in one foam style. If people have other recommendations here, I'll listen.

    • I appreciate any insight or recommendations anyone has. Also thank y’all for this resource of a website. It took me awhile to come around to DIY, but am now excited about the expense saving and customizability it provides.

    2

    Hi EvanTex.

    Thanks for your words of appreciation :wink:

    There are a few things you may wish to consider before diving into your DIY build. Since all 3 different basic sleeping positions have different basic support/comfort requirements. It is important to have a comfort layer that does not subtract from the support and firmness you need when sleeping prone but that adds enough comfort to address the “shoulder pressure pains” you are currently experiencing when sleeping on your side. Also, you’d need to assess the thickness of your current/future pillow under your head when sleeping upon your side, as this often has to be a bit thicker than what you would have been using when sleeping upon your stomach.

    I wish there was a “magic bed” that can be perfect for all sleeping positions! Those who sleep in multiple positions have the challenge to assess for themselves and learn to discriminate between the effects of the firmness choice for any given sleeping position as it relates to themselves. It is true that sometimes it can be difficult to untangle the mixed body messages and feelings as they relate to mattress needs and preferences, but you seem to get closer to having an educated guess as to what you can realistically expect.

    A combination Stomach/side sleeper is the most difficult to match as the prone sleeping position needs the firmest support and the side sleeping the deepest “comfort/cradled/‘aahhh’ feeling” and you’d have a very narrow margin to find the sweet spot that would be appropriate for both sleeping positions. I am glad that you are aiming to “get down back into the 160s” as this would enlarge this margin quite a bit. You may wish to review the guidelines in this Sleep Positions Article so that you avoid hyperextension in a swayback position that can also cause back issues.

    The good news is that you identified specific likes and dislikes to take into account in building our DIY mattress.
    As you are planning on building your own DIY mattress out of separate components that are purchased from several different sources then the first place I would start is by reading option 3 in post #15 here and the posts it links to (and option #1 and #2 as well) so that you have more realistic expectations and that you are comfortable with the learning curve, uncertainty, trial and error, or in some cases the higher costs that may be involved in the DIY process. While it can certainly be a rewarding project … the best approach to a DIY mattress is a “spirit of adventure” where what you learn and the satisfaction that comes from the process itself is more important than any cost savings you may realize (which may or may not happen). It comes with a steep learning curve, much patience, and you’d need to connect the dots along the way. There is something to be said about a finished mattress designed that went through multiple stages of trial and error.

    You have not provided your BMI or height that will help with placing in the weight category for firmness support you might do well with based on averages of other consumers in the same wage range and sleeping positions, but I’ll do my best to offer you some food for thought.

    • A stretchable 12" Knit Bamboo and Cotton Zipper Cover seems to be a good choice for what you have in mind with the DIY
    • A 1-inch stabilization base layer is not necessary. Many mattresses do not have it and it is not an issue as long as the spring unit is intact and you have a good foundation under the unit. In your case, a base layer can be used both to increase mattress thickness to fit your cover and also can provide a solid surface that enables the pocketed coil springs to “activate” and function efficiently in case the foundation is not appropriate.
    • The Quantum Edge Elite Bolsa from APM is a 6" pocketed coil spring than the 8" Quantum Edge Elite Pocketed Coil from LMF Coming from the same manufacturer these two units have a different height and number of turns but very similar coil count (1,057 for the 8" vs 1041 for the 6") which means they have the same diameter. They also use the same wire and gauge. However, on Leggett & Platt firmness scale, due to the difference in height the 6" coil unit has a higher ILD of 762 while the 8" has a 531 ILD which means it is less firm and supportive. Thickness and softness/firmness are very related and work together in a finished mattress and once you make changes to one component you may need to make other changes to the other layers to compensate.
    • The choice of both transition and comfort layer will greatly depend on the support layer you‘ll select so
    • I am guessing that you are looking at Costco’s Comfort Tech Serene Foam 2" Mattress Topper which is plush polyfoam The choice of the polyfoam material is in line with your preferences,. but the IFD is not provided which makes it difficult to assess this component both in terms of suitability and durability.

    Whichever core you select, I’d recommend contacting the corresponding company, either Arizona Premium Mattress or Latex Mattress Company which are both experts of our site and ask them for some support with your DIY. Arizona Premium has some polyfoam components they are selling and you can easily find out from Ken if he can procure or has in stock some polyfoam that you might be able to use for your topper.

    All in all, it looks like you have a bit more thinking to do. Let us know how it goes.
    Phoenix

    3

    Thanks for the sincere feedback and more insight. I feel like every time I make a decision or think I’ve got a good grasp on everything I realized I missed something or there’s even more to learn. After reading through your response, I definitely understand the risk. It has taken doing a few sleep trials with a couple of mattresses before I got to this point of being comfortable with a DIY approach. While I did fine one local store that has two options that might work, they have a history of issues on delivery and communication that to me just meant taking a different risk, not really avoiding risk all together. Especially with their mattress was pretty straight forward being 4" of different foams over coils. Additionally the Serta seemed to be the top in terms of comfort of anything I’d been able to try out but also comes with the cost and risk of Serta mattress for sub-par materials that have no future customizable options.

    As for the few things I didn’t mention, I’m 5’11" and BMI is in the 24 range currently.

    That’s good to know on the coils, I’d been leaning to the 8" one mostly due to the models of hybrids I have tried being all 8" coil systems themselves.

    I’m not entirely set on the Serene foam though I have a family member that has a 3" model of it they’re willing to loan me to try out. However I still may move back to a memory foam, just know due to some previous mattress trials that I needed some seperation from the feel of a latex top layer.

    4

    Hi EvanTex.

    You are most welcome and thanks for the additional information.

    My feedback to you was for a normal range BMI. I asked because as you probably know high range BMI people would need to take additional criteria into consideration when purchasing or building a DIY mattress.

    Getting to try the 3" Serene foam topper from your family member to try it out in combination with the 8" coil unit is a great solution that would allow you to determine if you need to make any adjustments to the firmness level that would be a good match. The Memory Foam topper can work well too but of course, it comes with the “dead sand” feeling that you dislike and over the course of the night it changes its feel and its response with pressure, temperature, humidity, and length of time it is subject to compression forces. It can feel firm in some conditions or circumstances and soft under different conditions. You can read more about the pros and cons of memory foam in this article

    Either way whichever direction you decide to go with the comfort layer make sure to find out the mattress information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the mattress durability guidelines here

    Good luck with your in-home testing!
    Phoenix