Introduction  

Welcome to the next generation of "How to buy a mattress".  Over the years this site has been dedicated to educating the consumer on how to make the best purchasing decision when buying a new mattress set that was manufactured by the leading mattress manufacturers and sold through a local retailer.  This next generation of "How to Buy a Mattress" will show you how to buy the same quality components as the top mattress manufacturers in the world and assemble your perfect sleep system at a fraction of the price. 

In years past all of the middlemen between the mattress component manufacturers and the consumer have made these top quality components out of reach for most consumers.  Quality foam mattresses can range from $3000-$5000 for the best foam combinations. The big secret mattress manufacturers and retailers won’t want you to know is that you can buy these same exact components at a fraction of the price through a foam wholesaler

Why choose foam over everything else on the market?  

So, Why build a sleep system from foam components?

·  Foam components offer a greater range of comfort and support levels that cannot be obtained with coil, air or flotation systems. Many people with Fibromyalgia, arthritis, and circulatory issues have only found comfort with foam combinations.

·  Combining components allows you to use the full life of the product.  Most comfort layers on today’s most expensive mattresses only retain their comfort for a few years.  With a sleep system made from combined components you can unzip your cover and replace the comfort layer as often as you like.  This is very important with memory foam and latex combinations.  Most memory foams last 5-10 years where latex can last 20-30.

·  Component buying takes the guesswork out of purchasing a mattress.  When you buy each foam component you will know the manufacturer, density, ILD (firmness), and the factory warranty of each component that you place in your sleep system.

·  Foam mattresses are truly the only independent sleep systems on the market. With a solid base foam mattresses will not have motion transfer between sleep partners.

How do you start?  

First you will want to choose your support system. Your sleep position will dictate which support system is right for you.

Side Sleepers- People that sleep on their side need a very conforming support system that will evenly distribute their support along the entire length of their body. Too firm of a mattress for a side sleeper will create pressure points in your hip and shoulder.  These pressure points will make a person toss and turn during their slumber.  Eventually you will fall asleep but will awaken with circulatory issues like their arm falling asleep or their hip bothering them.  Most of the time these circulatory issues are followed by lower back pain.  The lower back pain is usually because the pressure in your hip will force you to twist your body slightly to relieve the pressure.  This twisted sleep position creates the lower back pain.

Suggestions for support combinations for side sleepers-

1.      6” of 28 ILD Talalay Latex

2.      3” of 28 ILD and 3” of 36 ILD Talalay Latex

3.   6” of 36 ILD Talalay Latex

4.      3” of Medium Firm Support Foam (P1836) and 3” of Firm Support (P2530)

5.   3” of 28 ILD, 3” of 36 ILD and 3” of 44 ILD Talalay Latex

Back Sleepers- Back sleepers can sleep on almost anything level.  Most back sleepers enjoy a firm support and prefer a softer more luxurious surface.

Suggestions for support combination for back sleepers:

1.      3” of 28 ILD Talalay Latex and 3” of 36 ILD Talalay Latex

2.      3” of Firm Support (P2530) and 3” of Extra Firm Support (P2550)

3.      6” of 28 ILD Talalay Latex

4.      6” of 35 ILD Talalay Latex

5.      6” Of Omalon

6.      3” of 28 ILD latex

7.      3” of 35 ILD latex

8.      3” of 28 ILD, 3” of 36 ILD and 3” of 44 ILD Talalay Latex

Stomach sleepers- Stomach sleepers need a very firm support.  Too soft of a support system will allow a stomach sleeper’s back to sway down into the sleep system.  This sway will kink the lower back and create lower back pain.  Normally neck pain follows as your neck starts to get effected by the same downward sway. To prevent this sway you will need an extra firm support.

Suggestions for support combinations for stomach sleepers

1.      3” of Firm Support (P2530) and 3” of Extra Firm Support (P2550)

3.      6” of 36 ILD Talalay Latex

5.      3” of 36 ILD Talalay Latex and 3” of 44 ILD Talalay Latex

Combination sleepers will have to find support combinations that are listed in both groups.

Choosing a comfort layer for your sleep system

The comfort layer is the top most layer of your sleep system. The depth of the comfort layer will be 3” if you chose a support system that totaled 6” above. The thinner 3” support systems have a much firmer support and a 4” depth of comfort is usually needed to prevent feeling like you bottom out. Your comfort layers will inherit all of its support from your support system.

After choosing the depth of comfort you will then need to decide on the comfort material that will best fit your needs.

Memory foam

·         Slow release

·         True memory foam is body heat activated and will become softer as your body temperature gradually increases the temperature of the foam

·         Reacts to high pressure areas relieving pressure points

Latex

·         Quick springy release

·         Comfort and support are consistent even in colder temps

·         Pinhole design and open-celled structure provide breath ability through air circulation

·         Superior comfort life, maintaining its original comfort for years to come

·         Naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial

Adding a comfort layer to a non-foam support  

First consider the construction of your regular mattress.  Some mattress sets are designed for side sleepers and some are designed for stomach sleepers.  To determine what type of mattress you own you will have to see if you can feel the material between the support and the comfort layer. A mattress that is made for a stomach sleeper will have hard compressed pads or steel bands across the support system to prevent the support system from conforming to your body.  A mattress that is designed for a side sleeper will have a plastic mesh or other conforming material over the support that will allow the coil to conform to your body. You can make a mattress designed for a stomach sleeper suitable for a side sleeper but you cannot make a mattress that is designed for a side sleeper firm enough for a stomach sleeper.

Hard pad and steel bands- hard pads are there to prevent a stomach sleeper’s back from swaying down into the mattress. Hard pads can also help to keep back sleepers back uniform while they are asleep. Unfortunately for a side sleeper these hard pads create pressure points in the hip and shoulder that will create sleep related issues.  Side sleepers would need a comfort layer added to this type of system that will lift your body off of the hard pad to relieve the pressure points.  Most side sleepers would add a 3” or 4” comfort layer if they have hard pads or steel bands in the in their mattress.  Back sleepers shouldn’t have any sleep related problems related to hard pads most are simply looking for a more comfortable sleep surface.  Adding a 2” or 3” comfort layer for a back sleeper should add the luxurious feel most prefer.  Stomach sleepers usually prefer these firm pads.  Most of the time a stomach sleeper looking to add a topper will have some curves to their belly to consider.  A thinner 2” pad can accommodate small bellies.  Stomach sleepers tend to have issues if they decide on too thick of a comfort layer unless their support system is extremely firm.

Plastic mesh- Sleep systems for side sleepers will not be designed with any hard pads.  Instead they will have a plastic mesh or other pliable material.  The idea here is to allow the support and comfort layer to conform to your body.  When adding a comfort layer to a regular mattress with a pliable support, including air and flotation, you can get away with a thinner comfort layer.  Side sleepers can get away with a 2” or 3” topper.  Back sleepers can also add a 2” or 3” depending on your comfort preference. Stomach sleepers should not be on this type of mattress at all.  Not even with a topper.  If you are on a mattress that has a pliable support and you are looking to make it firmer you can’t achieve this by adding a topper.  You will need to switch out to a firmer less conforming support system.

Where do you buy these components?

You can purchase directly from memoryfoam.com if you would like these components shipped right to your door!!.