Well cut back half of the pillow top on hubbies side. Exposed only the layers on top of the springs. The 1/2 in or so of padding on top of the spring section we left alone. I think the top 2" layer is supposed to be the gel infused memory foam under that is 3" of foam wrapped around some other stuff in the middle of it, I thought it might be the latex layer that supposed to be in there. Anyway found some 1/4 wood stuff downstairs, put it under hubbies side for now, between the springs and whatever these other layers are. Can see myself getting some 3" firmer latex in the near future. Weāll test this out for a few nights and see how he likes it. Iāll keep you informed.
Thank you very much for posting pictures. It looks like youāre off to a wonderful start. Did you put that piece of wood or cardboard there, under the suspected latex? Edit: I see you say that yes you put that there in your post. Looks like you used a seam ripper, since I donāt see any fraying?
If it is latex, you might smell it to see if it smells like latex/rubber. Also, it should be pretty heavy. It certainly looks like it could be latex. Iād guess the foam surround to give edge support.
No, thanks to you, phoenix and westcoaster, wouldnāt have attempted it otherwise. Yes we put the wood under his side for now, see if that will be firm enough for a little while. We started out with a seam ripper but either it wasnāt sharp enough or it was too tight to get a proper angle, he ended up using a pocket knife, pulling toward himself slicing the threads as he went along. Went pretty fast actually. The layer in the middle of the foam surround, I think it is latex, I smelled it but it didnāt smell like rubber, and it was very soft. Iām pretty sure weāll be getting two twin pieces of latex in the near future, much firmer than what is on there now. Iām saving all the pieces anyway so we can fine tune things to each of our likings. The two layers that are shown are glued together. I know what you guys meant when you talk about quality of the materials used. If the purple layer is memory foam it is really soft compared to the two toppers I bought last week, and if that middle part is supposed to be latex it is really squishy, not at all what I pictured latex should feel like. Anyhow, got to put the sheets and stuff on and see how it goes, Iāll keep you posted.
Phoenix would know more than I about what the interior foam might be. I suppose it could be a different memory foam or just regular PU foam. The foam surrounding it suggests to me that itās especially soft, needing a firmer foam around the perimeter for āedge supportā.
The purple / blue color is the gel infused for sure.
How thick is the quilted top layer? It looks like it could have another inch or 2 of foam (or wool or something else) inside it, based on the first picture.
Hi Annmarie,
Thanks for the great pictures 
I agree that the āblueā foam with the pieces of gel is the gel memory foam and that the foam inside the polyfoam surround looks like latex to me with a firmer polyfoam surround for edge support.
Iāll be following your mattress rebuilding experiment and further updates with interest!
Phoenix