The cotton/wool encasement and matching foundation cover was delivered on Monday and the Talalay comfort layer was delivered yesterday. The dimensions of my DIY foundation was exactly 60"x80" and 5 1/2" high. The foundation cover was a really tight fit. The problem is the corners of my foundation are not rounded off enoughā¦so I will eventually have to take it back outside and give the corners more of a radius with a sander. I built my foundation using 2x6s on edge; added a 2x2 ledger 3/4" down from the top of the 2x6s along the 80" dimension, screwed in 1x4s spaced 1 1/2" apart to the top of the ledgers. Also added a 2x4 down the center running in the 80" dimension and have three 2x2 legs equally spaced supporting the 2x4 to the floor. The foundation is heavier than I wanted, but the only way I can think of to have made it lighter is to have used 1x6s instead of 2x6s. Not sure that would have been sturdy enough though. Probably would have.
The cotton/wool zippered encasement seems to be of good quality. The three layers fit in fine, but I did have to work the corners and edges some; which I expected having to do based on my research. Final configuration starting at the bottom is 3" Dunlop 38 ILD, 3" 28 -30 ILD, 3" Talalay 22-24 ILD. All layers are suppose to be all natural. The Dunlop is suppose to be made by Latex Green, and the Talalay by Radium. I will say that the Talalay appears to be some very high quality stuff. Very impressed with it. It is definitely more springy than the Dunlop, so Iām glad I went with Dunlop on the bottom two layers.
When I unwrapped the Talalay, both my wife and I thought it felt really soft; which got me thinking it might be too soft. However when you lay on it, it is very supportive. Latex mattress layers are some weird stuff. Weird in a good way though. Just really hard to accurately describe. The Talalay especially feels soft and supportive at the same timeā¦ We have been sleeping on the two bottom layers for over a week and both of us thought that setup was too firm. We slept on the completed mattress last night and both of us thought it was comfortable. My initial thought this morning was that Iām glad we went with the Talalay 22-24 ILD instead of the 28 ILD Talalay. It doesnāt appear that the 22-24 ILD Talalay will be too soft. Also, IMO; latex does not sleep hot or even warm. I would describe it as being temperature neutral.
Wanted to add that my wife commented this morning that she did not feel me moving around much. IMO, the latex has significantly less motion transfer than an inner spring.
You are correct ā this is normal for fitting the layers within a cover.
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When I unwrapped the Talalay, both my wife and I thought it felt really soft; which got me thinking it might be too soft. However, when you lay on it, it is very supportive. Latex mattress layers are some weird stuff. Weird in a good way though. Just really hard to accurately describe. The Talalay especially feels soft and supportive at the same time[/quote]
The best word Iāve heard to describe this sensation is ābuoyant.ā Your description is good as well!
Talalay latex is generally the most breathable of all foams and doesnāt possess the viscous properties of visco-elastic foam.
Latex is generally very good at motion isolation. Visco elastic foam tends to be the best. Marshall innerspring units tend to be the best spring unit at motion isolation, but of course this will change with every comfort layer that is placed upon the finished mattress.
Iām happy that your new setup is working well for you, and Iāll look forward to any future comments down the road.
The Talalay 23 ILD top layer still does not feel too soft. I think the 28 ILD would have been too firm.
We went to a Latexco sales event open to the public in Hartwell on Saturday and bought enough latex for two 9 1/2" queen beds. The latex is Dunlop blended, which is not what we were wanting for ourselves, and the selection was limited and no ILDs provided; but the prices were too good to pass up. Will configure one bed for my daughter and do another for a guest bedā¦or maybe make one 12" one and use the left over layers for toppers. Bought two twin xl 2" toppers for the girlās college bedsā¦for $36. If you bought at least 9" of latex they threw in a pretty decent zippered stretch knit cover for free. The latex pillow prices were so good we bought twelve. Will resell or give away the extras as gifts. The Lanoodle pillows are really nice.
Six of the layers we bought were compressed and wrapped in plastic for about two years, and I was worried they wouldnāt regain their original shape. The sales people assured us they would. Sure enough, when we opened them up they expanded nicely. Our only choices were firm and soft. The firm is really firm and will make great base layers. The soft pin core is a good middle ground softness. The two soft wave layers we bought though, are really softā¦plush. If you flip them and put the flat side up they are a little firmerā¦so that is an option.
Those are really some incredible values. Even though the feels arenāt what you would have picked out for yourself, those layers will make great mattresses for your guest room and your daughter. Flipping the wave layer over is a common practice ā nothing wrong with that!
Thanks again for your update. Iām glad you were able to take advantage of that sale.
Ended up configuring a 7ā5" mattress for my daughter using the Latexco latex we bought. 5" of firm and 2.5" of soft. She thought the 2" wave layer was too soft so we took it out after one night. Will use that layer as a topper on another bed. At $16 per inch of thickness and a free encasement, her bed only cost $120. I can barely tell the difference with the wave layer being in or out. She only weighs 120 lbs so I donāt think it matters one way or the other, but itās kind of fun to experiment. Throw in one latex pillow for $15 and thatās a pretty decent sleep system for the price.
Daughter said she didnāt sleep as well last night with the wave layer removed so it looks like the 2" wave layer is going back inā¦with wave side down.
As they also might say in the UK, āResultā¦delayed!ā :woohoo:
One thing to keep in mind is that it takes time to adjust to any new sleep surface, what I like to term a period of retrogression (like in resistance training when you start a new program and you are sore for the first few weeks). I would try and convince your daughter to spend a few weeks on a consistent configuration and then objectively analyze her level of comfort.
I think going with the wave side down is the right move, as she thought it was too soft with the waves up. Itās nice that you have the ability to customize with all of the components you were able to purchase.
My daughter is really liking her latex mattress, and my wife and I are really happy with ours. Canāt ever recall having a mattress where I went to sleep with a stiff neck or a little lower back pain, and woke up feeling fine. We also really like the latex pillows. My wife likes the LaNoodle, my daughter prefers the solid one, and Iāve been switching back and forth between the two. I canāt decide which one I like better. Both feel good.
Thank you for the update on your latex mattress componentry adventure. Iām glad that everyone is sleeping well. Iām also glad that you are enjoying your pillows.
Isnāt it nice when you have a choice between two things that are great?
