Hello all, & thank you in advance!
All was going well with my DIY latex mattress build, but not so much now, & I am seeking info, before I shell out more $$ on a latex topper that may not function properly, that I can’t return.
Backround: I bought a home, backwoods rural, out of state, no internet currently, that I am not living in full time, due to medical issues. Perfect time to update bed for new home. Started with 3" firm topper & case from SOL in top of 3" 50ILD 2.6lb foam, just needed a tweak for comfort, as we prefer firm. Called SOL, explained that I tested my firm 3" by folding it in 1/2 to make it 6" of firm, with the case on, & that it was just about perfect & asked if I purchased another 3" of firm if it would feel/behave the same as the folded firm piece with the case on. I was told “no” & that I should purchased the 3" medium, I questioned this twice, during the same call, girl was insistent that medium would work and firm would not.
Purchased the 3" medium, with case. It arrived timely, but it took us 3 weeks to get it to the other house to test, and a week of sleeping on it, it feels like NOTHING at all. The medium SOL latex I received is literally as soft as a 10 ILD 1.8lb foam-it expands fine, no dips, or sags, but there is zero support, it just squishes to nothing as soon as you put any weight on it. I am small, under 125lbs. Even if I fold this ‘medium’ 3" topper in 1/2 with case on, it is too soft & not supportive, it doesn’t behave properly, it expands, but zero latex support & certainly not medium firmness.
We rolled it up to return, put in truck, but I wanted to keep the case, since I’d be ordering a 3" SOL firm anyway, so we unloaded it to remove the case. In our rush to get back to the city, hubby forgot to reload the topper, just loaded the case. Yes we argued about the very expensive mistake.
Fast forward, hubby ordered a 3" SOL firm online, with case, arrived timely, we took it on our next trip to the house, the 2 3" firm toppers are just about perfect. We decided to try the ‘medium’ on top, & also in the middle, we thought it might perform differently, but it doesn’t, it expands & looks like a 3" topper, but just does NOTHING AT ALL-just compresses & you can’t feel it, feels no different than laying on a comforter, though it has the weight & height & everything.
I’ve read some people having issues with SOL ‘soft’ being too soft, but not the ‘medium’. I’ve also read that the guarantee only covers 1.5" dips & sags & that this is mostly standard across other brands as well.
When I lay it flat on plywood, with case on, or off, there are no dips/sags, it fully expands to proper height The topper just doesn’t “do” anything like other latex we’ve had, despite it’s weight. Only thing I can discern is that it is somehow faulty, it compresses too much, but nothing that would be covered by a warranty. It has been slept on for about 9 nights total.
I do not know what this would be called. I also want to avoid this for my future purchase.
I need to purchase a medium topper for the uppermost layer, but perhaps another brand. ??? I’ve read there is much variation in the ‘medium’ firmness between brands. I am seeking info on other’s experiences with medium firmness 3" toppers. I am seeking a medium that behaves like a MEDIUM, or a medium that leans firm, something that does not bottom out under a 125lb person. Also am seeking decent return policy/test window. It will be placed over 6" of firm latex.
I have no idea how else to explain that the medium SOL topper we have just doesn’t behave like latex, despite no sag/dips & having the weight & height.
I have extensive experience with various upholstery foams & ILDs, the best I can describe is that it behaves like 10ILD 1.8lb poly foam, even when folded in 1/2, making it 6".
Even our cheapo Ikea 8+ yr old medium latex, at the end of it’s useful life outperforms this topper without contest.
Suggestions? What would this behavior be called? I’m beyond frustrated & do not know how to avoid a situation like this for my next purchase.
Wanted to add, we are very pleased with the 2 SOL firm 3" toppers, and the cases are just lovely, but the difference between the firm & the medium has hubby & I cranky & bickering about what to do. Thanks
Dunlop latex can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and it’s up to the Vendor to determine what is the consensus for what is Soft, Medium or Firm. For example, we get most of our Dunlop from Lien a in Vietnam. Their D-95 density is what would usually register in the Extra Firm range however upon testing we have determined that it’s really a standard Firm feel and we should know after specializing in latex for more that 25 years. Same is true for the D-85 which we designate as Medium but other manufacturers D-85 could easily fall in the Firm category. I can’t answer what SOL is doing in comparison but a Medium feel should not be a night and day difference from the Firm. Perhaps a mistake was made on their end or their rating system is just different from the norm. I can help clarify if you send me a picture of any markings or stamps on the topper in question.
Thank you Ken,
There are no markings or stamps on the 3" SOL medium topper slab itself. There was only “medium” written on the receipt & paperwork, and a shipping weight on the shipping receipt was lighter than the other 2 (firm) we purchased from SOL. I’m not at the property to double check any other parts of that slab.
Mostly now, I am trying to avoid the same expensive mistake again-I don’t understand how it can look/smell/expand like latex, have the weight of latex, no dips/sags, but just bottoms out like a 10ILD 1.8lb poly foam. This is my 1st problem & most expensive loss out of 20+ yrs of upholstery. It’s giving hubby & I a lot of pause. It’s our fault we didn’t ship it back in time to get refund or exchange, & killed the budget for the rest of our bed.
I don’t believe SOL sells any other type of foam so it must have been just a mistake on their end. I would reach out to them directly and explain the situation and see if they are willing to replace it.
Good advice. I took it. THANK YOU! I should have just done that in the 1st place!