Pulled the trigger on my DIY. The 12" build I ended up going with:
(Bottom to top)
6" blended Talalay core (2 Twin XLs to make a King) from diy mattress .net
3" medium talalay from LMF
3" soft Talalay from Sleep EZ
Was going to use the cotton mattress cover I also ordered from diy mattress .net but it was way too small.
I measured it 72 x 76 instead of 76 x 80 like a King is supposed to be. I emailed them about it (only contact I could find other than the chat option) and they sent me a how to video. Good video, doesn’t fix that it’s too small. Tried again barely even fit the cores using part of the sides to fit. Absolutely too small. Remeasured and asked to return it
So I picked up a king zippered mattress encasement to assemble it. Tight fit but not impossible like the small mattress cover.
Slept on it… And it’s too firm. I need SOFT. I’m a side sleeper and princessy soft is what’s comfortable for me.
I went softer than usually recommended for my weight (240 lbs 5’2"). I used all talalay which feels softer in general. I only used soft and medium layers. I don’t know how this went so badly.
I’m gonna get a bigger encasement so it’s not so tight, maybe that’ll help a little bit but really don’t think it’s gonna do much.
Top layer is already soft Talalay ILD 20 and past return/exchange window
Can’t exchange the medium LMF layer for soft, I returned a too firm mattress earlier this year, only one return or exchange per year
-I’d have to pay the insane shipping costs both ways to exchange the cores. 150 each way
I’m worried about adding another layer due to how heavy it is. It’s currently 202 lbs adding all the individual pieces together. But I will consider another layer as an option if it would help.
How do I fix this without spending a ton all over again? How to make my build softer?
Hi Kea12312.
There are a lot of experienced DIYers here in the forum and I hope they chime in.
Do you know the ILD for either one of these foams, by chance? *Ah! I see the top layer is 20 ILD. Very soft indeed.
Have you tried removing this encasement and sleeping directly on the foam (with bedding, etc of course)? I’d be interested to know if this softens up the experience for you.
Did you have the opportunity to test any latex beds prior to your DIY?
There are a couple of ways to troubleshoot here. I’d start with what the bed feels like without the zippered encasement.
Replacing the medium layer for another soft layer could be an option, or adding a memory foam topper to your current set up could also be an option.
What does the bed feel like if you lay on just the comfort and transition layer, without the base layer?
NikkiTMU
The medium LMF is 28 ILD. (You didn’t ask but the core is 32 ILD)
I will try sleeping on it with just a sheet
I only really tested the hybrid latex mattress I ended up sending back but in that case I think the coils were the issue in making it too firm. I got sample boxes to feel the different firmness before I ordered and have tested out toppers
I really don’t like memory foam. The sinking in and motion transfer issues when you have a bed partner especially. I had the soft topper on a hybrid memory foam temporarily while I waited for all the DIY stuff to come in. It did make it softer (not to where I need it but not as firm as my current build)
FYI, A mattress that is 72 in x 76 in is a RV short king mattress, perhaps either you ordered the wrong king size or they sent you the wrong “king” mattress cover. Check you order invoice. I dont like when businesses dont respond to emails, sometimes they do get busy, but I would hound them until you get a response, it may have gone into a spam file.
I’m guessing they were just busy because I emailed again and they finally responded. Said it was approved to return it. So I edited that part
They don’t have an RV King option just regular and California so that wasn’t the issue.
Not mad cause it does say in their return policy page they don’t do return/exchanges on the covers since they’re made to order so I was ready for a no, sorry. Glad they made an exception with it being too small.
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Always love when the outcome is good. I guess things happen and someone measured wrong or it did not stretch as expected, but whatever the case, they took care of you and that is what is important! Kudos to DIY for doing the right thing. Good customer service and everyone goes to sleep happy.
Absolutely.
And like I said using a zippered mattress encasement worked as a same day solution to the problem it was just tight.
Took the encasement off and it is little softer just laying on the latex itself like Nikki suggested. So I’m ordering a Wyoming King encasement so no tightness but still having the waterproof peace of mind and something between the latex and frame
I can’t return/exchange the medium transition layer so I’m debating on adding another soft layer… Not sure if that would solve it or not. Not sure what I would do with the medium layer if I didn’t use it