DIY Build: 6'2" 255lbs, Side Sleeper, Hot Sleeper

Mattress Talk General Mattresses Questions
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Hello,

I’m trying to figure out a first DIY build and would really appreciate the community’s input!

I am 6’2" 255lbs and I tend to sleep very hot, even if a freezing cold room. I am also a very sensitive sleeper, so sensations like scratchy sheets or the slights pressure tend to disrupt my sleep.

I currently sleep on a European Sleep Works (Berkeley, CA) mattress that consists of 8" pocketed coils of 1.8mm diameter (approx 15 gauge), followed upward by 1/4" latex (skrim), thin (approx 1/2" microcoils) glued to 1.5" 32ILD latex, another layer of 1/2" microcoil glued to 1.5" 18ILD latex, all wrapped in a quilted cotton and wool encasement, where the wool cover fill layer is about 1/2". When the mattress is fully assembled and zipped, it is way to hard for me (probably drum effect). When I unzip the mattress there is some relief from the firmness, but not enough to be comfortable. Completely removing the quilted cotton and wool top, and just covering the layers with a fitted cotton sheet is far more pressure relieving, but way too hot directly on the latex (the latex layers are talalay).

I’ve also had other mattresses in recent years - tempurpedic breeze (slept way too hot), intellibed serenity (hammocking), and plush botanical bliss (too hard).

I’ve been looking into TPS Quadcoil (probably 15.5 gauge) topped with the quad mini and then some to be determined comfort layer. I’ve seen enough comments online about the TPS either begin much firmer than expected or spreading too much if not properly encased, and its making me hesitant to pull the trigger.

What are folks’ latest experience with TPS coils? Are they too hard or too spreading? How did you mitigate these effects?

Given what I wrote above, what sort of comfort layers do folks recommend?

Given my tendency towards being a sensitive sleeper, is it perhaps wiser to avoid DIY to take advantage of mattress companies’ return/comfort policies?

Thank you!

Given what I wrote above, is the 15.5 quadcoil with quad mini a good approach, or is there a better solution? If I find 3" of talalay to be too hot, and almost not pressure relieving enough, what sort of comfort material would provide substantial breathability.

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I’ll give my experience with the quadcoil and quadmini.

When I did DIY I bought the 14.75g with the thought that I’m basically adding 5" of comfort layer, the quadmini 3" and this extra soft layer of latex and memory foam hybrid I bought from a factory but they don’t sell usually to the public. I was just visiting that day and randomly asked. At the time I believed some had issues with the 15.5g being too soft in combination with the quadmini so that’s why I got 14.75g

If I had to guess the firmness of each base spring, I would put the 15.5g at 6.5/10, the 14.75g at 8/10 and the 13.5g at 10/10.

The quadmini is equivalent in firmness to a 3" medium layer of latex though its properties are far different. It is conforming, but also very supportive, and at the same time more settled while latex is always trying to push you back up. Id rate it a 5/10 firmness in practice while a 3" medium Dunlop can actually feel like a 7/10 because of how much it’s pushing you up.

My setup with the 2" super soft latex/memory hybrid foam, quadmini, and 14.75g quadcoil is pretty firm but surprisingly easy to sleep on.

I am also a sensitive sleeper like you. For example I bought cheap cotton fleece sheets the other day and the frizzles all over the material was bothering me. I threw them away and went to ross and bought cotton percale instead. Im not even comfortable with pure tencel or rayon because of how slick it feels. Percale is slick but with a crisp matte finish so that’s my favorite but I’m rambling.

The thing about this is that you’re 250lbs, so about on that line to where it makes me think you might do better with the 14.75g but what would affect this most is if you had really muscular back chest and shoulders. If your weight is more evenly distributed then 15.5g.

I know people have said you can always make a firm setup softer, but in this situation you want the functionality of the quadmini. You really don’t want to have to place more than 2" of material on the coils. Some use 3 but that does too much to impact their contouring in my opinion.

If you were to pick the 15.5g as your base layer, you could firm up it’s function a little with a pad.

Considering spreading, if you purchase the correct height mattress cover that is not an issue. The issue comes when your cover has too soft sides and is too tall for your build.

It’s really up to you whether you want 3" or 2" on top so just know my opinion isn’t everything and people have preferences. My preference would probably be for something more neutrally responsive than latex for a top layer.

If I were to start a step 1 after learning what I know now, I think I would do exactly this given the available options:

15.5g coil
Quadmini
And this as the foam layer:

Or this if your wanted an even softer more memory foam like feel that does not soften with heat you could try this:

The serene foam you do want to air out. It has a stronger smell. This will be like 70% memory foam and 30% latex. It’s called serene for a reason, it’s very nice

Energex is a specialized foam designed to be extremely durable while only slightly softening under warmth, while memory foam drastically softens. So this foam maintains its resilience similar to latex, but without the pushback while still offering pressure relief like memory foam. So this would feel like 70% latex and 30% memory foam

And for the cover, I would pick the new luxury wool cover from pocketspringstore. That is a great plush temperature regulating feel on the top.

What’s great about this is that it’s not actually all that crazy expensive all things considered, and it helps you figure out what exactly makes you most comfortable.