I understand the need for air circulation under latex mattresses. However, I’ve found the slats to be very uncomfortable (we have used the correctly spaced slats, even with pegbaord). I just want to forget the slats and use a solid base. I have seen the coconut coir rug mats, but I am curious if there are cheaper alternatives. Do you think a wool felt pad (used under rugs) would be sufficient? It would be thinner in than the coconut coir. Thanks in advance!
Hi Bazinga,
I can’t imagine that anyone would be able to feel individual slats through a latex mattress if you have pegboard on top of them so I’m not sure what was happening here but you may have just been feeling the firmness of the foundation itself.
I don’t have any personal experience with using wool felt on a solid surface foundation but I would think it would be OK yes.
Phoenix
We could definitely feel the “scalloping” that the slats created on the bottom of the mattress. Without pegboard they were just shy of 3" apart at the time that the mattress was directly on them. We then re-worked them, so they are a little closer together, and added the pegboard. I think now it is a combination of uneven cuts on the lumber, bowed slats, and taking the PLB cover on and off. The first 4" of edges of the mattress are higher than the rest of the mattress, which I think is because of the above factors and, in particular, having a heck of a time putting the PLB cover back on and trying to zip it up (causing squishing on the sides). I have had it with the PLB cover (who thought it was a good idea to put a zipper on the BOTTOM of a latex mattress!?!? If it’s not supposed to be adjustable, then why include a zipper at all??). But, if I am going to be 100% sure of what is causing the higher edges, then I want to systematically eliminate all variables, with our (non-carpenter made) DIY platform bed being the next item to tackle.
Hi Bazinga,
Putting the mattress directly on the floor would tell you whether the raised edges are coming from the support system under the mattress.
Phoenix
I did last night, and they are still higher, though not QUITE as bad (they just feel more “dense” on the edges, if that makes sense). I just don’t feel confident with our DIY platform either way, and would feel more at east with a thicker layer than the pegboard.
Hi Bazinga,
If it wasn’t quite as bad then that would indicate a potential issue with the foundation.
It may take a few days for the mattress to regain its shape if it was resting on a foundation that was causing the issue as well but if it doesn’t “recover” then there may also be an issue with the mattress as well.
It’s also possible that the mattress has softened more in the middle than on the edges and if the mattress was on an unsuitable or sagging foundation for a longer period of time then this could also be part of the issue as well.
Just out of curiosity what is the manufacturing date of your Nature mattress (it will be on the law tag).
Phoenix
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It was a floor model Nature, and at least half of it had been on the ridiculous PLB latex foundation.
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Manufacture date April 5(?), 2013.
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Since being at our house, it was in the latex foundation no more than 5 nights (I knew that it was a poor set up).
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FMI, besides being a side sleeper, 5’2", 135 lbs, I also use a 13 lbs weighted blanket (weighted with aquarium gravel). The weight comes up to the top of my shoulder at highest, or just above my navel at lowest. This cause really uneven weight/pressure distribution. So this adds a whole other dynamic to mattress interaction that I hadn’t accounted for (the nature is too soft - hips are pulled down too much). As a result, I am going to have to change to an adjustable zoning mattress (either flobed or diy).
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I have advanced Lyme disease so my pain fluctuates and migrates from day to day. As a result, what feels good one week doesn’t always feel good the next. I dread going to bed each night because this has been such a huge problem from day 1. In hindsight, I should have at least gone with an adjustable layer bed, or, ideally, FloBed.
Hi Bazinga,
[quote]1. It was a floor model Nature, and at least half of it had been on the ridiculous PLB latex foundation.
- Manufacture date April 5(?), 2013.[/quote]
That’s why I was asking because it seems that it was about 2 years old when you purchased it (which is older than you would usually see for a floor model) and the foundation it was on in the store could also be part of the problem. It’s could also be possible that it wasn’t a floor model but was a return of some kind although this is less likely if you purchased it from a reputable dealer.
Phoenix
Yes they are reputable. Mattress furniture store, 50 years, but it’s maine, so people don’t want to pay $5400 for a mattress (no joke, that’s the price that was on The mattress- insane). You price it double MSRP and you’re going to
Have 2 year old floor models. Stupid. They don’t take returns of any kind. Was that also the time period they were having quality issues?
That “stupid” for their inflation of the price, and them wondering why they don’t sell?
Hi Bazinga,
MAP pricing (minimum advertised pricing) at the time was $2670 for a Nature queen and $2899 for a set so whoever listed the retail price at $5400 was way off the mark and was just trying to create the illusion that their pricing was better than it really was (this is usually so they can offer their customers a “fake sale” price). There are also many dealers that will sell them for less than the MAP pricing … they just can’t advertise lower prices.
They also carry significant margins at MAP prices so wholesale pricing would be lower than the price you paid and many companies (including PLB) also provide an additional discount on floor models and they would be allowed to replace the floor model every year or so and sometimes more often so a retailer really has no reason to keep a floor model for two years if they can purchase a replacement at a discount.
This would be in the general time frame that they were having some sporadic quality control issues but they weren’t consistent and they would still only involve a minority of their mattresses.
Phoenix
Interesting. We bought the mattress and latex foundations for $1200, so they probably still made some money off of us, but it was still a decent price for PLB (we should have gone with Spindle, or something along those lines in hindsight, though).