Hello long time first time,
My partner and I are looking at DIY latex mattresses for health and financial reasons. Being both teachers does not make things easy and would like a mattress that has a longer life span.
My partner and I wake up with sore and knotted backs on an older plush coil mattress. We are both primarily stomach sleepers. Both height and weight close to 5’5" and 185lbs.
What would a good configuration be for making a king size mattress?
Thank you
Hey jaynegang,
Welcome to The Mattress Underground 
! Thanks for dropping by and for your question.
Congrats on your new mattress shopping adventure ! Thanks for including your personal stats and a bit of your sleep history for some background details. I am sorry to hear about how both you and your partner are waking with sore backs from your older plush coil mattress. How long has that been an issue? As you may have guessed, stomach sleeping profiles are the flattest of all sleeping positions and require a thinner, firmer top comfort layer to prevent sinking in too far and causing back pain. Your older plush mattress likely isn’t a good fit for you both.
As far as recommending a king size DIY latex mattress goes, you and your partner’s personal preferenceswill drive that conversation. If you are choosing a DIY path for financial reasons, what is your budget? Are you planning an all-latex project or a hybrid mattress? Several of TMU’s Trusted Members can help you design a split king mattress, allowing you each to have separate comfort and support feels, along with comfort exchanges should you need to adjust firmness of the comfort layer(s). You both would benefit from a firmer configuration for your preferred stomach sleeping profile, providing more support for your pelvic area while in a prone position.
Are there nearby showrooms in your area for mattress testing and comparison? It would be helpful for you to test several latex hybrids/ all-latex mattresses if possible as they will feel and respond much differently than your current coil mattress. Here’s a homework assignment for you to help prepare you for your research, these Phoenix articles can help qualify your choices:
“The Basic Functions of a Mattress”: describes the mattress’s Comfort and Support roles and what those mean;
“Mattress Specifications You Need to Know”: review this checklist of component questions you will want answers for evaluating durability potential;
“Finding a Great Mattress Outlet”: explains what to look for when choosing a local manufacturer partner.
Hope this helps to get you started and looking forward to hearing more as your research progresses… 
.
Thanks,
Sensei
Hello Sensei,
I did all my homework and got to make it to a showroom. Naurepedic near Chagrin Falls, OH has a good selection, need to call for an appointment.
They had 2 types of coils, firm and plush. The plush made the mattress with 3" topper a little bouncier. I liked the medium 3" dunlop topper that let me sink it just a tad. Long term I hope this is okay for a stomach sleeper. I also tried an all latex bed. I noticed it did not have any bounce to it which felt different. The medium dunlop on top felt good but could make an argument for firm.
I did not get to experience a talalay topper. Would a talalay topper add a little bounciness if I got an all latex 3x3" mattress?