Hi Redhummingbird,
[quote]Less than a year later the mattress was sagging over 2 inches. They replaced the entire mattress once they saw the pictures. About a year later the mattress was sagging by 3 inches! They replaced the 2 inch top layer which helped with sagging for about 9 months so I was sent another one which sagged again after 9 months. Again about 3 inches.
They replaced the core layer and this time it started sagging after 6 months (I think about 4 actually). It’s sagging over 3 inches and likely more when I’m in it. It’s affecting my sleep as I’m constantly tossing and turning due to hip pain, back pain, etc…[/quote]
Your experience is certainly very unusual (almost unheard of) but without more information it’s not really possible to explain what could possibly be happening.
One possibility is that you have been incredibly unfortunate (like winning a lottery in reverse) and have had multiple defective layers in your mattress as unlikely as that may be.
You can check which layer or layers are defective by putting the layers on the floor and using a straight edge or string across the layer and measuring the depth of any impression in the layers to identify which ones are defective and sagging.
Another possibility when you have the same issue with multiple layers or replacements is that your support system isn’t perfectly flat and is sagging underneath the mattress. You can also check this by removing the mattress to make sure the support surface is perfectly flat and that there are no soft spots, sagging areas, or broken slats in the support system and confirming that the support system itself is suitable for a latex mattress and making sure that any slats aren’t more than 3" apart (and preferably less).
Latex in general is the most durable of all the different foam materials (latex foam, polyfoam, memory foam) but firmness is also a durability factor and with any foam material (including latex) very soft layers will also be less durable than firmer layers of the same material … especially in higher weight ranges. 14 ILD latex for example may only hold up for a few years for those that are in higher weight ranges but it doesn’t appear that this is an issue for you.
I am certainly curious about why your experience is so much different from others that have slept on latex mattresses over the course of many decades without experiencing the type of issues you are experiencing. There would be a reason of course but for now the reason is a mystery to me.
[quote]Like everyone I’m wanting to find a mattress that will be good for my back and won’t sag for years to come.
I’m reluctant to plop down $2400 for a new mattress again. I’m in the process of reading through the excellent mattress tutorial. .
I live about 2 hours east of the bay area and am looking for a reputable mattress company near me. I’m a bit mobility impaired due to a chronic illness and also a bit limited financially but sleep is critical so I’m willing to do what it takes to find a good quality mattress that works for me.
Is the whole latex thing a big hype or did I just get a bunch of lemon mattresses?
Do you have recommendations as to what type of mattress is the most durable?[/quote]
A mattress is only as durable as the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the type of mattress or the name of the manufacturer on the label.
Assuming that the materials in a mattress you are considering are durable enough for your body type and meet the quality/durability guidelines here relative to your weight range … the choice between different types and combinations of materials and components or different types of mattresses are more of a preference and a budget choice than a “better/worse” choice (see this article).
While there is no way to quantify how long any mattress will last for a specific person or predict exactly when you will decide to replace it because it is no longer suitable or comfortable for you (because this is the only real measure of durability or the useful life of a mattress that really matters) because there are too many unknowns and variables involved that are unique to each person … if a mattress is well inside a suitable comfort/support range and isn’t close to the edge of being too soft when it is new (see post #2 here) and you have confirmed that it meets the minimum quality/durability specs that are suggested in the guidelines here then it would be reasonable to expect a useful lifetime in the range of 7 - 10 years and with higher quality and more durable materials like latex or higher density memory foam or polyfoam (in the comfort layers especially) it would likely be in the higher end of the range or even longer and the chances that you would have additional “bonus time” would be higher as well.
There is also more detailed information about the variables that can affect the durability and useful life of a mattress (and the materials inside it) in post #4 here as well.
The better options or possibilities I’m aware of in and around the San Francisco/San Rafael/Oakland/Berkeley areas (subject to making sure that any mattress you are considering meets the quality/value guidelines here) are listed in post #2 here. You certainly have some good options in the general area.
I don’t know exactly which city you live in but there is also a list for the Modesto/Stockton area in post #7 here and a list for the Sacramento area in post #5 here.
Phoenix