I’ve followed TMU at a distance for years and now I’m prepping my first DIY. I’ve read many, many, many DIYs including some latex-memory foam builds on here but would like some feedback on my plan. I’m 6’0", 140 lbs and my wife is 5’4" 110 lbs with fairly consistent lower back pain. I’m primarily a side sleeper, she’s a back and side sleeper. We’ve been sleeping on an energex + polyfoam, that’s beginning sag. We like the feel of the firmer Tempurpedic mattresses but don’t want to spend those prices.
After far too much consideration, here’s what I’ve been planning:
I’m seeking a dense, semi-sink feel, without getting “stuck” — hence the latex. Given our body weight and sleeping positions, would this be a successful result, be too firm, or not be supportive enough?
Note: I’ve read many of Phoenix’s warnings about building, expectations, subjectivity of feel, PPP, etc., so I am prepared for what I’m getting myself into and potentially expect to buy/swap layers along the way.
I’d say welcome to the forum, but it sounds like you’ve been here a while!
The most common cause of lower back pain is an alignment issue from a mattress that either has a support core that is too soft or comfort layers (or toppers) that are too thick/soft for your body type or sleeping positions but a mattress that is too firm and doesn’t provide good support under the recessed parts of your body (such as the small of your back) can also lead to lower back pain. Is your wife’s pain an all-day kind of pain? Or primarily sleep related?
Because you’re both light weights, it may make more sense to go with a soft latex so you can adequately sink, especially on ones side. Have you tested latex anywhere already to see if soft vs medium is a better fit? Obviously, the benefit of a DIY is the option to exchange layers if the feel isn’t right so testing before buying isn’t a make/break experience.
It’s one of those things that could or could not be an issue for you. If you’re after a softer feel, a thicker layer can help accomplish that. Some lightweight sleepers find that the thinnest possible layer is ideal while others prefer a softer but thicker layer. It’s a detail that will be worked out in your testing for sure
