after two weeks of studying this excellent website, I proceeded to purchase a mattress to replace my ten year old innerspring mattress.
I ended up buying this latex mattress at (160cm, 200cm) dimensions: FINE GRAY - Dunlopillo
I asked the store and they told me it’s all natural Talalay latex, with two layers of equal ILD. We liked it a lot.
Now the question becomes whether it can be placed on our current bed which has an IKEA LONSET slatted base: LONSET slatted bed base 70278706 | IKEA Greece
I measured the gaps between the slats and they are only 3cm so that should be fine.
I’m mostly worried about a bigger gap that can be found at the beginning and end of the frame. The gap between the last slab and the end of the bed is 12.5cm, but there is a wooden support (can be seen in the photo) in the middle of the gap (but lower than the slabs). Could these gaps harm the mattress in any way?
I know that this flexible slats might make the mattress a bit more bouncy, but I think we don’t mind that. If it bothers me I will strongly consider buying a different base.
I just wanted confirmation that the current base will not harm my new mattress!
Thanks a lot for all the info on this great website!!! It was great company during my quest!
Welcome to The Mattress Underground all the way from sunny Greece
Thanks heyall, I’m glad you have found our website useful. and that you asked this question as there are a few additional aspects that you may want to consider. Your Fine Gray mattress is indeed 100% NR Talalay latex from Dunlopillo luxury line. Good to hear you are happy with the comfort level and performance of the mattress.
You are right! Most Latex mattress manufacturers require foundations with gaps between slats of 2 ½" (6.35 cm) or less than 3". I am assuming that the Ikea Lonset Slatted bed base is still in good working condition and is still up to its “original” specs offering a sturdy surface for your mattress. While the gap between slats for this base generally conforms with size requirement, the larger gap (5" /12.5 cm) inconsistency at the feet/bottom (especially) may present some issues both in terms of mattress durability and warranty.
The mattress head area would not be under much mechanical stress (unless you have the bed accessible from all sides) but the footer section of the mattress where the larger gap is may give signs of wear and tear much sooner than the rest of the mattress especially if you like sitting on the footer edge of the bed This may or may not be an issue depending on your BMI and how often you sit on the bottom edge of the bed.
In terms of voiding the warranty, it would be best to have Dunlopillo confirm (in writing if possible) that the Lonset flexible slatted is appropriate to use with the Fine Gray mattress and that the larger gap won’t void the mattress warranty. Dunlopillo’s website states at #5 of their warranty terms “Warranty is effective whether the mattress is purchased with matching foundation (eg flat-based divan), or either mattress or foundation is purchased separately. However, the use of an improper foundation may cause damage to the mattress and void this warranty”
In terms of mattress performance and comfort, I’d keep in mind that in some cases … especially with thinner foam core mattresses … flexing foundations are designed as part of a sleeping system (e.g. a 6" latex mattress that would otherwise be too firm that is put on a flexible box spring to add more “give” would be an example). The thicker the mattress … the less effect the flex underneath will have. Your lonset is also zoned (which has some give and the middle being firmer to help with holding up the heavier pelvis region while it can “allow” lighter wider areas like the shoulders to sink down more) but in general … at least in North America … foam core mattresses (including latex mattresses) are designed with a firm rigid and non-flexing foundation in mind.
If you are testing a mattress that is designed to use a flexing foundation and you have tested it this way (or vice versa), then using the same type of foundation would be necessary to duplicate the performance and feel you experienced in the store.
If you tested with a firm, even, non-flexing foundation then you can use any firm nonflexing foundation that provides even support and is suitable for the weight of the mattress and people on it. For a mattress that needs some “shock absorption” but not so much the type of flex that adds to how the mattress performs and feels … then any semi-flex foundation that provides suitable strength and shock absorption would be fine.
Assuming that you get the “Go for it” from Dunlopillo then using the Lonset will be fine as long as it has not weakened and is still up to its “original” specs. Some rigid slat foundations for example will last decades and they certainly don’t need to be changed when you buy a new mattress that is designed for a rigid foundation to help keep the mattress level (and improve alignment) and act as a shock absorber rather than allowing the mattress to “bend” too much into a possible weakened area which could shorten the life of the mattress and alter the way the mattress is designed to perform.
