I’m sorry I used the term indentations even though I used “slight”. As Phoenix says on Jun 8 @ 16:05 it could be the compression of the quilt top and the thick mattress pad. The mound I referred to could be the result of the center support being slightly higher than the outer edges and the 1/4" plywood I’m using is thin enough to flex to create the center mound. In general, I don’t think it’s a quality issue but there’s always the possibility of a bad batch.
We had a bad experience with an all natural latex mattress from Fibex Inc, an Indiana company, where one or 2 of the 3 layers in a 10" bed failed after 6 years and caused a definite “canoeing”. The company did step up and made an monetary adjustment but we donated the bed soon afterwards because it weighed a ton and was a bear to change the sheets.
By mutual consent, I still have my Eco Terra to do what I wish. I’m contemplating a little DIY and say go to a company like Pittsburg Mattress Co. that’s not to far from me, to see if they can remove the top quilting and replace the existing 3" cushion of 24/26 ILD latex with one with a much firmer layer. The bones of the mattress are good and I might like to try this before I donate the mattress. Have any of your contributors gone through a similar experience or have you run across this approach? After all, this would not be much different than how the Arizona Mattress Co. constructs a mattress per their video. Finishing it off with a zipper in lieu of the bead would be ideal.
If you find a local manufacturer willing to “take a look” inside of your mattress and see if they are able to customize the product, I think that certainly is an excellent option to pursue. Pittsburgh Mattress Factory should easily be able to undo the chain stitch on the tape edge and then they’d be able to assess the inside layer of your mattress. As long as the latex layer isn’t glued down excessively (which it shouldn’t be), they should easily be able to replace the layer with a higher ILD and then sew everything back up with new welting. The wool quilted to the covering of course would stay in place, as that is a permanent part of the quilt panel. I don’t know if they’ll be able to attach a zipper to what you have, as that might result in the border panel being removed from the mattress as well.
Hi poetailor I have a medium Amore Bed with the memory foam (the new model) and the foam holds too much heat. I have spoken with Amore about having it made with the latex top. How has your experience been with the Talalay latex? What firmness did you get? Amore Beds told me the latex had a strong smell which is one reason they switched to the memory foam. I found that odd since latex is supposed to have a lesser smell/off-gassing. I’d appreciate any feedback to help me with my decision making. If I return this one and get the latex they wont give me another return guarantee. Not sure if I should just move on to another mattress. Thanks!
Whether or not this was truly a reason for their design switch, it would not be a common comment for people to complain about the smell of latex, especially as it compares to memory foam, which tends to have the most complaints about odor.
We too didn’t like the heat issues of memory foam but understand the gel infused foams are much cooler.
With regard to the latex, there is absolutely no smell or out gassing as far as we were concern on day one or 6 months later, at least with the latex from the Eco Terra or the one from Dream Foam we had for 30 days (really too soft). My wife’s sense of smell is almost like those drug sniffing dogs and if there was a hit of a problem she would have voiced it.
With regard our Eco Terra with 3" of Talalay and the Liggett & Pratt springs we still have it and I still think the 22- 24/26 ILD is to soft for us and our back issues. When I lay on my back I immediately have some strain/discomfort in the L-5 area but that could be from my back issues in general. Beasue of that I sleep most on one side or the other. We recently did a 2 week experiment with sleeping on an old Comfortaire w/ a 2" Talalay insert (I think 'firm ILD" since it weighed about 25 lbs for the queen size) pumped up to a firm level. In general I think we did a little better, not much shoulder and lower back issues but still some. At this point I’m not sure what we’re going to do w/ the Eco Terra king. Bed shopping is a huge hassle, especially the shipping in and shipping out and as far as local stores go for testing, 15 minutes is hardly enough time to make a decision to spend $1200 - $1800 and to know “this is the one”. Comments I’ve seen like “best nights sleep in 20 years” I take w/ a grain of salt unless they’d been sleeping in a castle dungeon. As I believe I’d posted before, I’ve been thinking of opening the bed up and replacing the 3" of latex with something firmer. One gentleman suggested 2" of Dunlop because it’s generally firmer and 1" of very good gel foam top like copper infused for the heat dissipation. Again, a huge huge hassle and it might not be any great improvement. We have to face the fact that our backs are the problem and not the bed. However, I do have a feeling the Liggett & Pratt coil spring are the problem as they’re not firm or stiff enough and/or there maybe should be some combination of latex and foam.
Good luck with your hunt.
Phoenix - Your comments would also be appreciated.
I’m sorry your Eco Terra isn’t working out for you. I know it can be difficult when you already have pre-existing back issues to select a mattress.
The Eco Terra uses a pocketed spring unit from Leggett and Platt that has slightly firmer and smaller springs along the edge (two rows of 15 gauge steel) that is slightly firmer than the 16 gauge steel springs used in the rest of the innerspring unit. This is generally considered a strong innerspring unit, but it would be that you don’t prefer the more conforming feel of a pocketed spring unit and your back may respond better to something that is slightly firmer, such a double knotted offset design.
For a queen 2" blended Talalay topper around 25 lbs, that would roughly equate to something in the mid 4 lb density area, which would put the Talalay piece you tested in your experiment in the mid 30 ILD range based upon Talalay Global’s approximate density ratings for their blended Talalay.
You certainly could experiment with a firmer piece of latex in your current mattress, should you decide to go that route. It also may be that you desire not only firmer but a slightly thicker comfort layer, It also could be that you prefer a firmer innerspring unit. Unfortunately, and especially with a preexisting back issue, I can’t diagnose what might be an appropriate route for you. I wish I could!
Hi, I also have a queen Eco Terra mattress that I am finding too soft in Medium. What would your recommendations be for a latex topper to give it more support and a little more firmness? I read on here that it’s harder to make a too-soft mattress more firm (easier to make a too-firm mattress softer.) Thank you.
Would you know how I can make my Eco Terra Medium mattress more firm with more support using a latex topper? Which one would you recommend? Thank you. I realize it’s harder to make a too soft mattress more firm than making a too hard mattress more soft. But I am looking for suggestions in specific latex toppers - brand, type, firmness. Thank you.
While you can buy a firmer topper and add it to the current matters, it won’t make the mattress more supportive or fix any deep support or alignment issues because the topper will just bend into the softer layers below. Typically, adding a firmer topper to a softer mattress would work only for those that are looking to give their current mattress a crispier feel so that they don’t sink into it as much and don’t need to fix deep support. You can find a bit more about pressure relief and support, about primary or “deep” support and secondary or “surface” support and their relationship to firmness and pressure relief and the “roles” of different layers in a mattress in post #2 here and in post #4 here that may also be helpful in clarifying the difference between “support” and “pressure relief” and “feel”.
It sounds like Eco Terra’s medium firm option may have been a better choice for you and I suggest that you contact the company to see if they would be willing to exchange it for the other comfort option they offer, If the medium-firm option will be too firm it would be much easier to fine-tune and fix it with a topper without compromising alignment. You can read more about their refund policy here
Depending on your needs if you wish to try adding a topper then there is more information about choosing a topper in post #2 here and the topper guidelines it links to which along with a conversation with a reliable and knowledgeable supplier (that can provide you with good information about how their toppers compare to each other or to other toppers they are familiar with that are available on the market) can help you use your sleeping experience as a reference point and guideline to help you choose the type, thickness, and firmness for a topper that has the least possible risk and the best chance for success.
Another option that I would not recommend would mattress surgery which involves removing and replacing your 3" Talalay comfort layer, or generally other components that are too soft (instead of adding to them) which in most cases can be much more difficult to do.
I know it can be difficult when you already have pre-existing back issues to select a mattress.