Hi rockscreation16,
[quote]First of all, I want to thank those of you who helped me with my last mattress purchase. While that mattress has been great, I think it’s met its end. For me anyway.
Lately I’ve found that that I seem to get better quality sleep on a crappy old spring stiff mattress in the spare bedroom than on my mattress in the master bedroom. When sleeping on my mattress, I wake up having experienced reflux and some back pains. Apparently I’m in need of more support than this mattress is offering.
Btw: I ended up going with the dream foam on Amazon . It was a $699 king if I recall. High density core with talalay latex sub layer and a poly foam comfort layer. I’m not entirely sure of what the density was, but it was supposed to be middle of the road. There was noticeable impression for me almost immediately.[/quote]
Welcome back to the forum and I’m sorry to hear that you aren’t sleeping well on your mattress.
You posted about the mattress you originally purchased in post #21 here and as you mentioned it was the Dreamfoam mattress in a comfort level of 6 which has a latex layer of 24 ILD. While the materials themselves are likely to still be in good condition … it sounds like the mattress just wasn’t a suitable "match for you in terms of PPP.
There is some information about the most common “symptoms” that people may experience on a mattress and the most likely reasons for them in post #2 here but if you are experiencing lower back pains then the most likely (but not the only) cause would be a mattress that is too soft for you. If this is the case then there are some suggestions in post #4 here that may be helpful at least to check if there is something that can help before you consider mattress surgery.
If you do decide to do “mattress surgery” then some of the information in post #2 here may be helpful.
If you are attracted to the idea of designing and building your own mattress out of separate components and a separate cover then the first place to start (and hopefully you’ve read this already since you’ve already purchased your layers) is by reading option 3 in post #15 here and the posts it links to (and option #1 and #2 as well) so that you have more realistic expectations and that you are comfortable with the learning curve, uncertainty, trial and error, or in some cases the higher costs that may be involved in the DIY process. While it can certainly be a rewarding project … the best approach to a DIY mattress is a “spirit of adventure” where what you learn and the satisfaction that comes from the process itself is more important than any cost savings you may realize (which may or may not happen).
For those who decide to take on the challenge then I would normally suggest either using the specs (if they are available) of a mattress that you have tested and confirmed is a good match for you in terms of PPP as a reference point (the same type and blend of latex in the same thickness and firmness levels and a very similar cover which can also make a significant difference to the feel and performance of a mattress) or use a “bottom up” approach (see post #2 here).
You are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components would be the best “match” for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more accurate than your own careful testing or personal experience … hopefully using the testing guidelines in the tutorial post (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
I would make sure you’ve read the mattress shopping tutorial here (which didn’t exist when you were here previously) which has all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice … and know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure you’ve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress that is the best “match” for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for that are involved in each of them and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability, durability, and value.
Since you are considering both memory foam and latex there is more about the pros and cons of each of them and how they compare in post #2 here although as you know they are very different materials that have a very different feel and response.
There is also more 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” that may help with some of the “theory” if you decide on a DIY mattress but this may also be more than you really need to know.
Phoenix