Len writes:
Hello Pete,
I've been reading some of your blogs and am very impressed with your straightforward advice. I too prefer a very firm mattress without all the soft foam and pillow top fluff, and couldn't agree more about your advice to tone down a firm mattress with a topper if you feel the need to do so.
The only other question would be weather you necessarily recommend that we order the boxspring versus just the top mattress? We currently have a Queen Stearns & Foster box spring. It's about 10 years old, although it "looks" brand new.
Some retail salespeople tell you that if you don't get the "set" and purchase only the top mattress, it will void the warranty. Is this hype or reality and perhaps more importantly does it matter in the performance and longevity of your mattress irrespective of the warranty stuff?
I've actually taken the time to read some of the fine print warranty info and it looks like it would be very easy for a manufacturer to slip out of any replacement at all unless the mattress develops a crater sag the size of the grand canyon! So it seems to me that the bottom line is to just buy a good quality firm mattress that will hold up against sagging (given the state of today's crap manufacturing)--and that's where I need your good help!
All the best -Len
Hi Len,
Old boxsprings, not having any upholstery, often look like new even when they’re old. But, the springs directly under your body have weakened some over the years. A new mattress will conform to those weak spots, which will cause premature wear.
It is true that the warranty of your new mattress will automatically be voided, once you put it on an old boxspring.
Boxsprings don’t cost all that much more than the mattress, so you’d be saving little and risking much. (Penny Wise, Pound Foolish), is the old British saying for that.
The best quality Firm mattress is made by Natura of Canada.
Their Greenspring Firm is really quite firm…hard, really.
My wife and I have had their Ultra Plush model for more than 10 years and it’s still in great condition…with each of us weighing more than 200 lbs…just to give you an example of their quality.
Here’s a link to that line of mattresses, showing their 4 choices of comfort. Even their Ultra Plush model is not too soft. In fact, we added a soft latex topper to ours.
https://www.themattressexpert.com/natura_mattresses.html#/
The best value in latex toppers comes from Latex for Less.
Top Quality, Pure Organic and Hypoallergenic Latex at factory prices….here’s the link for those:
Heads up: this post includes affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally vetted.
Also recommended is a waterproof mattress protector, which prevents perspiration from seeping into the upholstery materials.
Keeping your mattress clean and dry will enhance longevity.
The Sleep & Beyond Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector is my recommendation…the one we use at home.
It sleeps cool and works well.
Shown here:
https://www.themattressexpert.com/sleep_and_beyond_protectors_and_encasements.html#/