Help me build my mattress

[Sensei]

Hey Josephine,

Welcome to TMU’s forum . Thanks for your question.

I currently have a medium natural talalay 3" topper on an 8" poly foam bed-in-a-box mattress. I added the topper a couple of years ago to make the mattress more comfortable. I would like to replace the mattress with a couple of layers of latex to “build” something more comfortable.

Congrats on your new DIY mattress adventure ! What size mattress will you be constructing and what is your budget?

The main issue I have with the mattress is the “fumes”. I have been waking up with shortness of breath and am pretty sure this is due to the mattress. After I first got it and had the problems, I replaced the cover on with a cotton mattress and wrapped it in polyethylene and thought it would fade. Due to my living situation, It has been in storage for a number of years and in March I started sleeping on it again and the breathing issues started again.

I am sorry to learn that your BIAB polyfoam mattress still has some off-gassing issues. What mattress is it and how old is it now? How was it protected while in storage, besides with the replacement cover you describe above? Have you discussed your breathing reactions with your physician?

I really like the latex but am on a budget. A while back I tested some mattresses at Foam Sweet Foam and practically fell asleep on one in less than a minute, it was so comfortable. That mattress had two layers of talalay medium on top of 1 dunlop firm, and 1 dunlop x firm. I’m looking possibly at getting 2 Sleep on Latex layers, both firm, or maybe a medium and a firm and putting my talalay topper on that… (Does SOL offer MU discount?)

SOL does not offer a TMU discount, as they chose to leave the trusted member community. You may considering checking out one of these TMU’s trusted members offering DIY components, there is a listing of them here for your review.

I would also be open to ordering a budget mattress but am wary of fumes and VOC’s as I am very sensitive. I saw the Novoform ComfortGrande at Costco has good reviews but am hesitant. Any suggestions or recommendations?

The Novoform Comfort Grande mattress is a memory foam model, which would be quite different in response than the all-latex DIY that you’re considering. For concerns about potential VOCs and sensitivities, review this Phoenix postregarding product safety and certifications. CertiPUR-US is a testing standard that tests for harmful substances and VOC’s and is used for polyurethane and memory foam materials. The latex you are likely to find should be either Oeko-Tex certified or Eco-Institut certified. Hope these ideas help to get you started and good luck .

Sensei