Help me (250lb side/back sleeper) dial in my DIY mattress!

Mattress Talk Needs & Personal Preferences
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I am a 250lb 77% side 23% back sleeper. I used to bounce between 180-220 but now it’s more like 225-275. My old mattress was a Sealy open coil that lasted DECADES. Unfortunately my girlfriend of the last 5 years is 350lbs. It warped after a couple years of us together. For the past 2 I’ve slept on a BeautyRest Silver (the Costco version I think) - BRS900 Medium. For the first several months it was okay (but prone to lumping), now it’s terrible and I think even the coils are shot.

I am looking for a more durable bed. After researching and laying on several premade models I think I want a DIY latex hybrid.

I am making this bed for me but will share it on occasion. Right now my thinking is…

8" QEE Bolsa coils
2" medium Dunlop
3" soft talalay

I am planning to gut the BRS900 as an enclosure with a cotton cover as wrap.

I have concerns though. After weeks of research this seems like a decent pick for me, but…

  1. Should I go for medium talalay given my weight?
  2. Is using 2 latex layers the way to go or should I use 1x 3" medium talalay?
  3. Should I opt for a thicker Quad Coil or 6" Caliber Edge over 8" QEE?
  4. Should I mix in any (thin) HD foam/memory foam for comfort or support?

Originally I had planned to go 3" soft talalay, 3" medium dunlop, and 6" caliber edge to support both of us but I want this bed for me. I’d prefer it if it holds up well when she sleeps on it too (she’s a rotisserie chicken, mostly stomach sleeper, and does a little “flop” when she transitions). Thus I was thinking this + maybe even a layer of LUX-ish foam on top of her side to firm it up/better distribute weight.

This BRS900 is horrible. It’s “1.5 inch” of padding is basically 0.25" and it’s just uneven coils, a scrim, and a decent cotton top. One big concern I have is after opening this mattress to determine what makes it so awful is that the coils shift - which for me means one+ is poking right into my back as I side sleep and for her leaves a crater where they spread like the red sea. I debated on reusing the coils thinking a better transition layer would keep them tighter but I’m worried A) these coils do more harm than good, and B) if I get a non-quad coil they will separate like this mattress does.

Any and all advice appreciated!

–

For reference,

The BeautyRest BRX1000-IP had the best initial feel to me when shopping. I worried it would quickly break down and wasn’t worth the price.

The Nature’s Spa Medium (Hybrid) was my first time laying on latex. It was very firm, but not uncomfortable. Even with a 2" soft talalay topper it wasn’t soft enough for side sleeping (great for back though). The salesman said it was “D70” and the “Plush” was D50 (which felt too soft - I immediately wanted off of it). Supposedly 4" of Dunlop on 13.75ga coils.

Other than a couple of cheap open coil ones that reminded me of “home”, nothing felt right. I’m not in the place to suffer the old school mattress and want something that’s going to last 6+ years and fit like a well-made glove.

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Excuse my newbie question: is gutting the 2 yo BRS900 to save money, or is this common practice (repurposing)? Also, is there easy access to the innards of the BRS900, e.g., a HD zipper? Just curious as I am going to build my own too. Thanks.

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It isn’t really a cost saving measure it’s to see if (~16ga) 8" coils will work best or if I should go with heavy duty ones. I worry the 6" 13.75ga for example will be too firm for side sleeping. No returns on most coils + high shipping.

The BRS has no zipper but the only thing sealing it is a “roll” where the top and sides meet. I exposed the seam and used a box cutter to gently press against a few threads - cut one side and the other comes with. I ordered a seam ripper to do the rest more quickly and without worrying about damaging the parts I’ll keep.

My plan is to get an organic cotton mattress cover to pull over everything. Tight tops apparently reduce the contouring/plushness of soft comfort layers. I also do not know what my final mattress height will be so I’m keeping it flexible.

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@Arizona_Premium @Latex_Mattress_Fact1 @Sleep_EZ @DIYMattress

Any input from the experts? I totally get building a comfortable mattress for heavier people with different sleep styles is difficult - especially 350lb stomach and 250lb side/back as it stretches outside of the normal range for advice - however I am hoping to order everything by Black Friday and feel confident in decisions by then.

I’m mostly looking for common pitfalls/things I may be overlooking or missing, but any advice on point is welcome!

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Feel bad you’re not seeing replies. I’m in your shoes, a bit…

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Hi caseydwayne and welcome to the forums and thanks for the inquiry! We don’t normally recommend latex and coil hybrids for folks 250 pounds and up because it’s liable to lead to back pain from a lack of support. If you have to get a latex and coil hybrid, I’d say 6" coils have a better chance of working for you, but I doubt they’d be sufficient for your partner. You might want to consider the 13" organic latex mattress from Sleep EZ - https://sleepez.com/product/organic-latex-mattress/

The organic and natural mattresses (the Select Sleep mattresses) are our flagship products. They’re fully customizable, meaning you can order the mattress to be as soft or as firm as you’d like. They’re also fully adjustable, meaning you can change the softness, firmness, back support, pressure relief, etc. AFTER you get the mattress in your home. To be more specific, the 10” is our most popular, and these mattresses normally go out with three 3" layers of different firmnesses - normally the softest layer (or the cushion & contour layer) is on top and the supportive layers are on the bottom. This helps ensure our customers get the right balance of contour for their hips and shoulders but also support for their lower back. If you start with a certain setup and find that it’s too soft, you can unzip the cover and rearrange the layers to get a firmer feel out of the mattress, or you can exchange a layer to make it softer. Additionally, latex mattresses typically last 20 years. If, in 5 or 10 or 15 years you decide you want a softer or firmer mattress you would only have to buy a new layer instead of an entirely new mattress. Lastly, if the mattress starts to break down in 15 – 20 years, it’s normally the top layer that breaks down first, and at that point you can likely just buy a new top layer of latex instead of a whole new mattress and get an additional 8-10 years out of the mattress.

Furthermore, queen, king, and cal king mattresses are available with what we call “split layers,” which means you can have us cut the layers down the middle (from head to foot) so that you can have a different feel / firmness on your side versus your partner’s side, and you can adjust each side independently over the 20 year lifetime of the mattress. About 95% of our mattresses go out with all split layers from top to bottom, and we get zero complaints on being able to feel the split and we get zero complaints about the layers shifting or anything like that, even if you sleep right on the middle of the mattress.

If you’re wondering how to pick the layers for this mattress, you can go to the natural or organic mattress page, click the green button that says “Build Your Mattress Now,” then click the gray oval that says “Personalized,” and you’ll be able to enter your information. The website will then make a personalized recommendation based on your information (the layers in the mattress diagram will reflect the recommendation after you click the “Apply” button. Please note that our initial recommendations have a 90% success rate (we only have a 10% layer exchange rate) so there’s a 90% chance that the recommendation turns out to be your perfect setup!

Although it’s not likely that you’ll need to rearrange layers or exchange layers, you certainly have the option to adjust the mattress according to you and your partner’s specific needs and preferences, both in the short-term and long-term. We have a 90 day exchange and return period, so you can exchange a layer within the first 90 days for a flat-rate $30 fee for the first exchange and the full cost of shipping for any subsequent exchanges. We will ship your layers first, and we will ship them with extra plastic that you can use to package your current layers, and we will ship it with a pre-paid Fed Ex return label. Also, if you will please call us when you are ready to ship your layers back we will schedule a free Fed Ex pick up for you. You will have 30 days after its arrival to return a layer of your choosing, so you’ll have plenty of time to try a few different combinations with the layers you have and the layer we will be sending you so that you can get your comfort and support levels just right.

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Hi olindacat and welcome to the forums and thanks for the inquiry as well!

I don’t know enough about that mattress to answer your questions on it, sorry about that! My guess is that the components are glued together and the mattress cover doesn’t have a zipper on it, so it’s pretty likely that you’d end up destroying the mattress by cutting the cover off and separating the components.

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Hi olindacat,

I’m somewhat familiar with the BRS900 and the BeautyRest Silver Series mattresses. I have friends who were drawn to this series, hoping to benefit from the well-known BeautyRest legacy, at a more modest price point, but unfortunately, their long-term experiences haven’t always lived up to the legacy brand expectations. Additionally, online, independent reviews for this line tend to be all over the spectrum.

I think it is great that you’re thinking of building your own mattress, but regarding gutting a 2-year-old BRS900, I would be very cautious. While repurposing mattresses is something some people do, the BRS900 isn’t typically designed to be disassembled easily or reused for other purposes.

Unlike higher-end models, such as the Black Series, which may have more durable materials (than the BRS series), the BRS900 is built with more budget-conscious components like lower-quality foams and springs.

Unfortunately, there’s no simple way to access the innards of a BRS900 with an easily removable zipper, as it’s not designed for that kind of disassembly.

If you’re looking to repurpose it, your best bet might be to consider using it for a guest room or as an extra bed, where you’re not relying on it for long-term comfort or support. Repurposing the materials for another project could be quite challenging, and the durability might not be up to your expectations if you’re trying to build something new.

Additionally, it’s important to note that rebuilding or constructing a DIY mattress is never as easy as it might seem. Mattress engineering involves a deep understanding of how different layers and materials interact to provide support, comfort, and durability. It’s always a good idea to consult with experienced mattress professionals who understand mattress construction and can guide you in selecting the right materials for your project. Trusted Members here at the Mattress UnderGround, as well as established independent mattress manufacturers that you might find locally are your best source for this sort of project.

Seasoned mattress professionals are going to seemingly get quite personal, asking questions about age, height, weight, sleeping position, preferences, bed partner and a host of other nuanced questions to fully understand your needs, past history, likes and dislikes and successes and failures.

Ultimately, if you’re planning to build your own mattress or bedding system, it might be worth considering starting with higher-quality materials to ensure it lasts and provides the support you’re aiming for.

This is not to suggest you might not be capable of creating a successful mattress system on your own, but as with any project, highly skilled professions can cut through the noise and get right to the point.

Good luck with your project!

Maverick

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Based on your info it sounds like you will need a dual firmness setup which is something we do every day. From the bottom to the top I would recommend a Firm dunlop base core which is 6" then I would do 3" of Firm Talalay for your side and Medium Talalay on the other side for the top layer. Talalay will give you a little more cush on top that dunlop and also will offer better air flow. Here is a link to model I am referring to - All Natural Dunlop / Talalay Combination Latex Mattress, Latex Mattresses-Talalay and Dunlop, All Products, Let me know if you have any questions.

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Hi Maverick!

I’m not the OP on this, but I’m sure he/she read your thoughtful response. I did as well, ut have just been taken over by life!

I actually want to do something of a build, and tha might better be done by as you say professionals.

I’ll post separately so as to avoid hijaacking the OP’s thread.

Thanks again.