Here’s the DIY latex hybrid plan I’m currently leaning toward. Would love feedback on the overall construction/firmness.
I am 160lbs and sleep in all positions, including stomach frequently. My wife is 100lbs and sleeps in all positions, frequently on her side. We seem to like a relatively firm supportive layer with a soft top layer, with the Avocado Green Pillowtop being some inspiration.
Top to bottom:
Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Mattress Protector
Mainly for a little extra wool directly under us for temperature regulation and feel
Considering whether to keep this medium across the whole mattress or potentially split the firmness for my wife’s side
8” Texas Pocket Springs QuadCoils
15.5 gauge with firm sides
Bed frame
Planning to replace the current slats with more closely spaced 3/4” plywood slats for solid support
I’ve also considered adding upholstery padding as a zoning option for my side to get more back support if needed, inspired by another post.
I’m currently planning to get both latex layers from Latex Mattress Factory. They seem to offer the best prices, firmness we need, plus the option for organic. We have looked closely at APM as well, but I’m leaning toward LMF right now.
All in this puts me right under $1500 for a queen.
For your weights, the 8" 15.5-gauge Texas Pocket Springs are going to feel plenty supportive without being a brick, and that 2" Soft Talalay over 2" Medium Dunlop combo is a classic for getting pressure relief while keeping your hips from dipping on your stomach. The only tweak I’d suggest considering is taking up Latex Mattress Factory’s option to split that 28 ILD Dunlop layer down the middle; at 100 lbs, your wife might find a 2" Soft Dunlop (or a 20-24 ILD) on her side gives her shoulders a bit more give when she’s on her side, while keeping the 28 ILD on your half to keep your posture aligned when you’re on your stomach. That 12" APM bamboo cover will house the whole 12" stack just fine, and swapping to closely spaced 3/4" slats is a great move to prevent coil sagging.
Thank you! That’s exactly the kind of feedback I’m looking for.
It feels like I’ve put together a decent plan, but want to make sure I’m not missing anything.
Re: the split firmness, that’s the one thing I keep thinking about. LMF has a 30 day (extendable to 60) return period and a pretty reasonable $45 return fee. But they said if you order split firmness and have it glued together, it’s no longer returnable. That’s why I’m considering going with all medium first, and then swapping if she finds it to firm. She says she prefers firmer, and some of her best sleep was camping on a couple inches camp pads on the ground. But then at same time I see a lot of advice to split the firmness levels, so I’m most unsure about that.
Well, your proposed setup with soft on top then medium before the coils would still feel very supportive. I think 2" soft then 2" medium on top of coils is just right to where you engage the coils and also get enough pressure relief. It doesn’t seem to make sense to me to have much taller of a stack of foam than 4" because to me it negates much of what the coils are there to do. That exact build is what I would recommend for anyone considering DIY for a latex mattress.
Handupmattress.com had a queen size avocado luxury medium firmness for 900 the other day but I guess it got purchased. Currently they have a queen awara latex mattress for 425 before shipping.