Questions before buying a twin DIY latex mattress

Talk To The Experts Sleep EZ
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Hello, I am buying a new twin mattress and have settled on a DIY latex mattress.

I’m around 5’9", 190 pounds. Side sleeper mostly, stomach occassionaly. I currently have a memory foam mattress that sleeps very hot, so cooling is a priority.

I have gone through the research and testing mentioned on mattressunderground, and I think latex is best for me. I noticed when testing mattresses (springs, latex, hybrids) that they all seemed too firm. I always felt like my shoulder didn’t go deeply enough into the mattress. The one all-latex mattress I could find was best, but it still could be slightly softer. It had a talalay topper, though the firmness wasn’t mentioned.

I’m thinking 3" talalay soft, 3" dunlop medium, 3" dunlop firm. I think the best place for me to do so would be foamsweetfoam, which I understand to be associated with Sleep EZ.

I wanted to clarify some questions before purchasing the mattress.

  1. Is there a problem with buying a 100% cotton mattress protector with 300 thread count instead of the Natural Quilted Cover that comes with their mattresses? Aside from cost, it seems like the cotton protector would be softer.

  2. Is a 2 or 3 inch talalay topper recommended based on my body, sleep style, and desire to lower temperature?

  3. Can I use peg board on top of my adjustable twin foundation to provide adequate ventilation for the mattress? The foundation has 3.25-3.5 inch metal slats.

  4. Are the talalay and dunlop both 100% latex?

  5. Foam Sweet Foam doesn’t offer exchanges on toppers. What is the shipping fee from NY if returns need to be made?

I appreciate your help, thank you!

@Foam_Sweet_Foam

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Thank you for considering Foam Sweet Foam for your new mattress! While Foam Sweet Foam, Sleep EZ, and Latex Mattress Factory all offer top-quality latex products, each operates independently and has its own set of policies and offerings.
To address your specific questions:

  1. A 100% cotton mattress protector can be a softer alternative to the quilted cover and will still help with breathability and cooling. However, please note that while our latex mattress covers use wool as a natural fire barrier, other companies may use synthetic fire retardants or different materials for this purpose.
  2. Based on your weight, sleep style, and desire for softness, a 3-inch Soft Talalay topper would likely be a great fit to help relieve pressure on your shoulders.
  3. Using a pegboard on top of your adjustable foundation may not work if the base is adjustable, as the pegboard won’t be able to bend. However, if you do not plan to use the adjustable feature, pegboard can provide additional support since the gaps are larger than 3" but less than 4". The holes in the pegboard will also help maintain airflow.
  4. Yes, both our Talalay and Dunlop latex are 100% natural. Our Dunlop latex is GOLS certified, and our Talalay latex is certified by Oeko-Tex for safety and purity.
  5. You’re correct that Foam Sweet Foam doesn’t offer exchanges on toppers. However, we’d be happy to provide an estimate for shipping fees from New York if a return is necessary. Shipping costs are determined by the size of the box, and for a box measuring 22"x24"x36" (the largest we can accept for a return), the average cost is around $50 from New York. Please note that this cost can vary and may be lower or higher depending on the specific circumstances.

Additionally, if you’re interested in a combination of Talalay and Dunlop for a custom mattress build, we can help place a custom order for you. Simply call us, and we can easily arrange it, as we have done for many customers seeking a combination of both types of latex. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a different cover, ordering the layers separately may be more cost-effective.
We’re always here to help you find the best solution for your comfort and cooling needs. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any additional questions!

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Thank you so much for your reply! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer all my questions. I will make a purchase soon, and will look into the custom mattress option you mentioned. I’m sure the mattress will be great!

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Hello, I decided to order the latex layers from Foam Sweet Foam, order #3341. I went with soft/medium/firm talalay/dunlop/dunlop. It was delivered and I set it up.

I am having some problems that I wanted to talk about. I guess I’m trying to figure out if these issues are normal or considered acceptable. I am only allowed to link two photo galleries in this post, so I’ll try to make it as clear as possible.

  1. I found a large dead bug on the firm layer.

  2. Despite sleeping on only a 100% cotton, 300 thread count mattress protector with no other fitted sheets, I still feel very hot. (purchased from natlallergy, can’t link three sites in one post, sorry about that)

  3. There are chunks missing from the layers, along with tears.

  4. There are yellow-ish discolorations on the layers. I apologize but I did not get a picture of this before setting up the mattress protector.

  5. There are odd circular spots, as if patches were applied to damaged foam.

Photos of 1-5: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

  1. The holes on the firm layer do not go all the way through the mattress. It seems like only half the holes in the talalay layer go through the mattress.

  2. The length and width of at least the medium layer do not appear to be consistent with the others.

  3. There are rough patches on at least one layer, with the surface appearing rough instead of routinely smooth.

Photos of 6-8: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

I do not feel like I have been given latex layers that are new and free of defects. Again, I’m wondering if these are normal features of latex or factory seconds.

Please let me know what you think, I appreciate your help.

@Sleep_EZ

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The blemishes and inconsistencies shown in your photos are completely normal for all-natural latex foam. When latex is poured into a 6" cast-iron mold in liquid form, it bakes like a cake. During this process, air bubbles form throughout the latex. As these bubbles pop, they leave small air voids throughout the layers. Once the 6" core is pulled from the mold, it’s sliced into 2" and 3" layers, exposing these voids. What you’re seeing in your photos are these natural air pockets, which are common and to be expected.

Additionally, when latex is poured and baked, sediments tend to rise to the top of the mold, creating discoloration spots that can range from light yellow to dark brown. These spots are also entirely normal. Some layers will have more blemishes than others, but rest assured, these imperfections do not impact the long-term durability or integrity of the latex foam.

During the production process, the 6" cores are handled by workers as they’re removed from the molds. Occasionally, small tears or rips can occur, and this is another common occurrence in latex foam. We inspect each layer carefully, and any with significant tears are either repaired or sent back to the supplier. However, minor tears or small chunks missing along the edges—like the ones in your photos—are normal and won’t affect the foam’s quality or longevity.

These types of blemishes and imperfections are typical of natural latex foam, regardless of where you purchase it.

Regarding the bug you mentioned, I can confidently tell you it is not a bed bug. Based on the photo, it appears to be some sort of light bug or beetle. We have a contract with a pest control company, and they inspect our warehouse weekly to ensure it is free from bed bugs and other pests. Although we take every precaution, it’s possible for small insects to get into the product during the manufacturing or packaging process. It’s also possible that the bug got into the box during transit and ended up in your home that way, or something along those lines, there’s just no way to know. Rest assured, we are well-trained to identify bed bugs, and I can confirm with certainty that the beetle in your photo is not a bed bug.

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Thank you for your thorough reply, I appreciate you clarifying that the layers are not defective.

I was more concerned about the bug being present at all and any others that may emerge over time. It’s good that your company takes precautions, but it is still unsettling to experience.

Concerning the intense heat I am experiencing, would you recommend your pocket coil 6" layer instead of the firm and/or medium dunlop layer? I would think that your wool mattress protector may help as well.

My other option is to simply get a fan for the bed like the Bedjet 3 or bFan. I like the comfort of the mattresses, even though my back is taking some time to adjust.

Thank you again for your help.

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Perfectly Snug is another option for cooling your sleep surface down. You can place it like a topper on your FSF mattress.

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Hi Wed,

Thank you for sharing the photos, and a big thank you to @Foam_Sweet_Foam for the informative and detailed replies.

I just wanted to quickly chime in to help dispel any lingering concerns about finding the “large dead insect on the latex layer.”

Rest assured, the insect you found is definitely not a bed bug. Bed bugs are much smaller, rounder, and different in color. From the photos you provided, the insect appears to be a Click Beetle or possibly a Carpet Beetle, both of which are harmless and commonly found indoors. Click Beetles, in particular, have an elongated and flatter, dark brown or black body, which is clearly visible in your images (Additionally, bed bugs have small, thin legs, while this insect seems to have legs tucked under, characteristic of beetles rather than bed bugs.)

It’s likely that the beetle entered your home accidentally, possibly through openings or attracted by light sources, and its presence is unrelated to the latex foam layers. These types of beetles do not pose any risk, and it’s more than likely that it got in after the vacuum packaging was removed.

I’ve personally visited Foam Sweet Foam’s production facility multiple times and can attest to their meticulous cleanliness and high standards. They follow regular sanitation protocols, making it very unlikely that the beetle originated from their facility.

I hope this clears up any concerns and helps put your mind at ease!
Phoenix

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I have never seen a bug like this before. When setting up my mattress, I layed out the bottom half of a 360* zippered mattress protector on my frame. I then unboxed the mattress layers, unrolled them onto the mattress protector, and immediately sealed it with the top half.

The bug came from the factory.

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Wed, I recently purchased a latex mattress from DIY Mattress and came across your post from 2-years ago. Before finding this, I wondered about the types of possible imperfections I may encounter in my Talalay ad Dunlop layers. I have perfectionistic tendencies and must admit I would not be happy to encounter what you did with your purchase.

I understand such imperfections as tears, repairs, discolorations, etc are natural, common and do not impact long-term durability so these should be expected. What I wished I could see on the various MUG Trusted Members websites is information about these inconsistencies so as not to be surprised and caught off guard.

I’m new here and this is my first post. I’ve been reading many posts here as well as on Reddit to help me identify the type of mattress I want and its components. I’m excited about my purchase although I can’t say I will be thrilled to encounter the issues you faced with your purchase.

I will say I understand handmade products will never have the consistencies of machine-made wall-to-wall carpet compared to hand-combed, hand-dyed in small lots, hand-spun, hand-knotted wool in the art of rug-making. Its the dye variation, imperfections and inconsistencies that give each hand-crafted rug (from start-to-finish) its unique character. While I realize I’m comparing apples to oranges here since the latex will be encased and its blemishes concealed, I got to admit just knowing they’re there will trigger my OCD tendencies of perfectionism.

I imagine once I sleep on my new mattress and feel the comfort I greatly anticipate, my thoughts about the hidden imperfections will fade with each night of hopefully blissful sleep.

I do have questions for you, wed, if you still visit the discussion forums here: how do you like your mattress now that it’s been a couple years? How does it feel? Is it what you hoped for? Do you have concerns or disappointment?

One of the things I hoped to see in the discussion forums here is feedback from customers after some time has passed.

I hope nobody here minds me finding an older post and dusting it off for a moment to learn more.

Thank you all for your dedication and contributions - it’s all extremely helpful which gave me confidence to submit my order.

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I just wish to add additional info/feedback to my original and first post ever (in case anyone is researching DIYMattress). I received my new Twin Size latex mattress from DIYMattress.com and each 3” latex layer is in stellar condition without rips, tears, patches, discoloration, etc. My layers look like the layers I’ve seen online on various websites sans imperfections. It’s what I originally expected (before reading this post) and hoped for (after reading this post).

@DIYMattress
@Sleep_EZ

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