DIY Mattress Plan

Talk To The Experts
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I’m saving up for a mattress that will hopefully last me a long time and be worth the investment. I am short 4’ 10”, lightweight 85lbs. Primarily a Back-sleeper.

Pressure sensitive. Worsened arthritis when on a bed that’s too firm. Neck, shoulder, and lower back pain after sleeping in the wrong position. Low pillow under knees to help. Numb legs if it’s too high. Prone to overheating with synthetic materials. Head of bed incline using risers + pillows under upper body for GERD. Chemical sensitivity, switching to natural organic materials.

Currently making do with an old memory foam mattress by layering blankets underneath and using support pillows by my side.

Here’s what I’m planning on so far after my online research. I’d appreciate an informed opinion on if it will be effective for me and if there’s any alterations that could be made for the mattress build or sleep improvement in general. Along with brand or product recommendations.

I have not tried a latex mattress before, and when buying the toppers from this site there is only a 30 day return policy, no sleep trial. So any advice towards that is also appreciated.

From LatexMattressFactory.com:

2” Soft Talalay Topper

-for pressure relief

2” Medium Dunlop Topper

-transition layer

3” Firm Dunlop Topper

-for alignment

Natural Quilted (Wool) Cover 8”

-wool for extra cushioning

-protect the latex

-they only offer 2” between sizes, I thought this may be good to keep the toppers together while having extra fabric on top so it doesn’t restrict pressure relief

/this part I’m not sure about, so insight on covers would be helpful

I’m not the biggest fan of innersprings after experiencing an old one and just generally don’t like the idea of it. But if it could be equally effective, lasting, and affordable, I will consider it.

Thank you!

@BackScience
@CST
@Arizona_Premium

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Your build looks good, though i won’t have as much experience with all latex beds as the suppliers on here. I do have experience with latex layers, and know that since it’s a layer of rubber it’s very responsive and can give a bit of pushback.

At your weight, you are more easily lifted by the latex, so my recommendation would be to go a touch on the softer side which would look like this from the top down:

2" super soft
1" soft
3" medium
2" firm

Super soft can be found at arizona premium mattress in the blended latex option. What this would do is give you a very plush top, but you would not sink too far to cause misalignment.

Also, i know you said your past experience with innersprings was bad but innersprings come in a wide range of qualities. You’d be surprised the difference in different builds, and the ways they treat the springs. The way springs behave is that they only compress equivalent to your weight and how strong the springs are. While latex gives a bit of pushback and you will be able to feel the fact that the whole mattress is solid latex, springs feel lighter and more dynamic underneath, meaning the nature in which they compress is on a spring by spring basis. It’s hard to explain. They just feel like what they are.
There are also a few very reliable spring bases. Here are some options:

Bolsa edge elite 7/10 firmness
Texas pocket springs quadcoil 7/10 firmness 15.5g
Texas pocket springs quadcoil 6/10 firmness (plush)

My preference is for an 8" spring layer of some sort, with 4" of foam layers on top. Which for you id stack it like this

2" super soft
1" soft
1" medium
8" Base spring

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Thank you very much!! What you described makes sense, I’ll be looking into these spring and blended latex options.

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To add to this, you might want to find the nearest mattress store and visit, then test the different options, see what you like best and look up how it’s built. Even up to a 4 hour drive could be worth it if you can find a store that has avocado mattresses.

When you sleep on your back you want to reach support faster so your spine doesn’t get misaligned, but you are light, so you compress a soft layer in the same way a heavy person compresses a medium layer. Therefore a medium layer would feel to you like a firm layer would feel to a heavy person.

The avocado green box top has 3" of super soft talalay in the box portion, and from what im reading, 3" of soft dunlop underneath. Then strong base spring. Dunlop soft feels a bit firmer than talalay soft. So instead of a 1" layer of soft underneath the super soft, you may could go 2".

You really have to write down every possible combination and imagine exactly how that would feel to you. Because ultimately you live with the bed, others can only do so much. It’s a matter of really figuring out exactly the way you want it to feel, and since its DIY, you can modify it in some ways. I know i modified mine a few times before i found my final build.

First i tried 2" of medium dunlop latex on top of the 3" quadmini (medium transition spring) by texas pocket springs, on top of the 14.75g firm spring. That medium dunlop was too hard and bouncy for me, so if i wanted i could have put a 2" of plush on top and it probably would have solved it. My final solution was a 2" of soft on the top. Im 215lbs at 5’11" so kind of heavy. That’s why i was thinking a build of 2" super soft with 2" dunlop soft could actually hold you up pretty good and not sink in too far.

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I’m feeling pretty confident about your suggestions and looking into getting them. I have a few questions I’m wondering if you can help me out with.

I’m going to get an adjustable Rize Contemporary IV with elevation base, will this build work well with that?
I’m planning on getting a jersey knit cover + wool quilt top cover to go over the whole build (which will be the same size, but taller than the mattress, hoping the slack will help maintain the mattresses soft qualities) and help it stay protected and together.

I looked up those springs and saw a Reddit post where someone’s springs messed with the latex layer above, it seemed to not be the usual experience, but I thought I’d ask if you think it’s necessary to have a protective layer between the springs and latex?

Super appreciate your input, thank you!

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It should work since most adjustable bases have the rail at the bottom to keep the mattress from sliding. Im guessing you really look forward to that massage feature. Ive been looking into full body incline sleep lately and learned so much about it and apparently it heals so much in your body to have about a 6" incline. That’s why i liked this one - Amazon.com

But if you want that massage then there are much more affordable adjustable bases on Amazon that have great reviews. The other day i found one for $379 that has all the same features as the rize.

I don’t think the springs should mess with the latex and it might be good to have the latex directly on the springs because it’s grippy, but if you wanted to ensure there would be no damage, you could use any thin grippy sheet of foam or whatever you want. Maybe a super thin rubber sheet

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I’m actually not crazy about the massage feature, never tried it before but maybe it will feel great!

This is just the best deal for an adjustable + elevation base I’ve found so far that seems pretty reliable. $1525 from Synergy Health Live.

What you linked looks pretty good and more affordable, looks like they don’t have it in a Twin XL which is what I’m looking for now. Please link if you have any recommendations for those.

Thank you for the prompt response!

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https://a.co/d/06ADozKV

Just $250 with the coupon

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Update on how it all went:

I tried the exact setup here and I had to make adjustments.

The Bolsa coils were too soft to keep my back in alignment, so I had to ditch them for an all latex base that I’m trying now. I know there’s firmer coils but since I was on the fence anyways, I chose to give it up. It’s a bummer to have wasted the money, but I’ve heard that’s to be expected with DIY builds. So hopefully this will help anyone with similar stats and needs in the future.

The super soft was adding to the issue of the coils being too soft, sinking my lower back. So in the meantime I actually removed the super soft and put the medium on top of the soft layer which helped! I tried about every combination and that one was the best although I did miss the feeling of the soft on top.

This is my setup now that I’m going to be trying out:
2” soft
1” medium
2” medium
3” firm

And I’m going to see if the super soft works on top after a few nights of trying this, or switching it out with the soft to see how that is.

I went with the ergomotion ascend base, which is great! I urge anyone else getting an adjustable bed to get the castor wheel legs. It makes it so much easier to move around for when you’re doing sheets, vacuuming, or rearranging the room.

Might make a more official update on my build once I’m sure I’ve got it to the best it can be!

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That ascend base is a fantastic component, as inclined sleeping offers many benefits including health benefits. Once you have your support layer worked out, even if it is switching to a PSS, quad coils to create a firmer feel.

Best of luck with it.

Maverick