Factory Direct mattress manufacturers - Dallas/Ft Worth

[phoenix]

Hi KayJazz,

Do you have a post that explains the difference between purchasing a 1 piece latex mattress (e.g. no core with separate comfort layers)?

Some of the pages in the mattresses section of the site (some are linked in mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here) talk about different mattress designs and layering combinations. Post #11 here should also be helpful and there is more about the effect of thickness in individual layers or a mattress itself in post #14 here. Two 3" layers can provide more flexibility in the design of a mattress (for example a single layer can only be a single firmness and two layers can use multiple firmness levels) and change the balance between comfort and support. These types of questions can become very complex when you are getting into mattress design and theory because there are so many variables involved and in the end the “theory” involved in any particular design is not nearly as important as which design works best for you in “real life” in terms of PPP anyway.

Do you feel that a 1 piece lasts longer

If you are comparing a 6" core of latex to two 3" cores of the same type and firmness level then there wouldn’t be any significant difference in their durability. There is more about the factors that can affect the durability of a mattress in post #4 here. Outside of comparing materials in in the top 5" or 6" or so of two different mattresses to identify which one uses more durable materials (some materials are more durable than others) … in most cases it’s enough to just make sure that there are no obvious weak links in a mattress (see post #4 here). Many single layer mattresses are also two sided which would add to the durability and useful life of a mattress (see post #3 here about two sided mattresses).

then there’s an option to put on an ‘external’ topper if necessary or can change out that topper more frequently if necessary versus say purchasing a 28/34/28, etc.? I understand that a topper can also be put on a layered mattress, just wanting your thoughts on a 1 layer latex mattress.

A separate topper has similar advantages to a component mattress (with replaceable comfort layers) which is that you can replace a single layer if it softens or wears out before the rest of the mattress without having to replace the entire mattress. A topper will also feel and perform differently on different mattresses though so if you can’t test a specific mattress/topper in person for PPP then it can sometimes be as difficult to choose a suitable topper as it is to choose a mattress. In some cases a local manufacturer can also rebuild a mattress by replacing the layers that have softened or broken down.

Phoenix