Buying a bed

[bigboy529]

OP
If you go test beds take along your own pillow, a sales trick in the bed industry is to give you a very expensive pillow when you test beds, later with your own pillow at home that same bed will feel a lot different.
Weight rating is very important, if you weigh 120 kg and pick a bed which can only take 110 kg it will only last a year or 2.
Extra lenth is worth it IMHO, it used to be quite a mission to find extra lenth sheets etc. but these days it doesn't seam to be a issue anymore. Depending on your house and bedroom size, just make sure that extra lenth will fit. Especially if you are renting, rather don't go for the extra lenth since they build bedrooms smaller and smaller these days, a normal bed can hardly fit in some places.

 

[Joeboy69]

I have a King extra length that I will replace end of the year. The base is 2 hard top units.

Given the comment earlier in he thread about bases with drawers in, I’m thinking now of building a base and then just put mattress on top.

Why is this a bad idea?

 

[Marsie27]

I have a King extra length that I will replace end of the year. The base is 2 hard top units.

Given the comment earlier in he thread about bases with drawers in, I’m thinking now of building a base and then just put mattress on top.

Why is this a bad idea?

An issue could be that the manufacturers apparently won't offer a guarantee/warranty on the mattress unless you use its matching base. In the past I have had mattresses with sprung bases, but these days they all seem to be a piece of chipboard covered with fabric, unless you have the kind with wooden slats, but those tend to be the cheaper ones that use foam mattresses.
As I said earlier, it makes no sense to me that we can't buy decent mattress and base sets with drawers. All I get is eye-rolling when I ask as if I was asking for something totally irrational.

 

[Joeboy69]

An issue could be that the manufacturers apparently won't offer a guarantee/warranty on the mattress unless you use its matching base. In the past I have had mattresses with sprung bases, but these days they all seem to be a piece of chipboard covered with fabric, unless you have the kind with wooden slats, but those tend to be the cheaper ones that use foam mattresses.
As I said earlier, it makes no sense to me that we can't buy decent mattress and base sets with drawers. All I get is eye-rolling when I ask as if I was asking for something totally irrational.

Didn’t think of the warranty angle.... nothing wrong with existing base so I could also ask for a new mattress from same company I guess

 

[Temujin]

An issue could be that the manufacturers apparently won't offer a guarantee/warranty on the mattress unless you use its matching base. In the past I have had mattresses with sprung bases, but these days they all seem to be a piece of chipboard covered with fabric, unless you have the kind with wooden slats, but those tend to be the cheaper ones that use foam mattresses.
As I said earlier, it makes no sense to me that we can't buy decent mattress and base sets with drawers. All I get is eye-rolling when I ask as if I was asking for something totally irrational.

Re mix/match bases/sleigh beds etc... Very few manufacturers design mattresses on sprung bases. Off the top of my head, Rest Assured, Sealy and Serta ranges had many(not all, but the high end stuff). If a mattress is desgined to work with its base, taking mattress only will void the warranty. As for slated bases(generally sleigh beds), any mattress you put on it will void warranty, does not matter which brand, the coils/pockets/foam whatever its made of pushes through the gaps. If you buy a slated base, you need to head to hardware store and buy a bed sized piece of chipboard, problem solved. As long as mattress designed for a solid base is on a solid base, no one will void your warranty. If they try, its then legal action time. ie, If they were able to void warranties cos your solid base isn't 'their' solid base, you'd never be able to buy a mattress only and they as a manufacturer would be out of business.

'Storage bases' are what you're looking for, some flip up with heavy duty spring actions, others have draws. They are around, but believe it or not, not very popular, generally, they are made to order, 'special' one off orders which probably explains the eye rolling.. they're not kept in bulk as no matter how much you/I/and other think they're logical and practical, they just never sell, simple as that. (If going in store, spot the older 'experienced' sales peeps and head for them, they know what you're talking about, the youth are idiots and lazy)

 

[shooter69]

I bought this one last year, and it now has a a deep pit in the foam where I sleep. I went for the heavyweight option but I’m only about 85 kg’s

Now thinking of upgrading, nothing worse than a mattress you’re not happy with.
Maybe I just got a dud one

That is weird. My bed is still perfect. Sounds like you have a dud or did not turn your mattress as per the instructions.

You have a 2 year guarantee on the bed so maybe give them a call and have the mattress replaced.

ps. I have only turned it about 3 times in almost a year where the instructions says you should turn it monthly.

 

[Ancalagon]

Re mix/match bases/sleigh beds etc... Very few manufacturers design mattresses on sprung bases. Off the top of my head, Rest Assured, Sealy and Serta ranges had many(not all, but the high end stuff). If a mattress is desgined to work with its base, taking mattress only will void the warranty. As for slated bases(generally sleigh beds), any mattress you put on it will void warranty, does not matter which brand, the coils/pockets/foam whatever its made of pushes through the gaps. If you buy a slated base, you need to head to hardware store and buy a bed sized piece of chipboard, problem solved. As long as mattress designed for a solid base is on a solid base, no one will void your warranty. If they try, its then legal action time. ie, If they were able to void warranties cos your solid base isn't 'their' solid base, you'd never be able to buy a mattress only and they as a manufacturer would be out of business.

'Storage bases' are what you're looking for, some flip up with heavy duty spring actions, others have draws. They are around, but believe it or not, not very popular, generally, they are made to order, 'special' one off orders which probably explains the eye rolling.. they're not kept in bulk as no matter how much you/I/and other think they're logical and practical, they just never sell, simple as that. (If going in store, spot the older 'experienced' sales peeps and head for them, they know what you're talking about, the youth are idiots and lazy)

I heard that if you use a mattress on a solid wooden base, the mattress cannot "breathe" and the chance of mildew increases.

So it sounds like a bad idea to put chipboard between the slats and the mattress because then your mattress might literally rot.

 

[Temujin]

I heard that if you use a mattress on a solid wooden base, the mattress cannot "breathe" and the chance of mildew increases.

So it sounds like a bad idea to put chipboard between the slats and the mattress because then your mattress might literally rot.

No different than being on the base it was to be sold with... if you're worried about that, most mattresses now are manufactured(especially the foams) with all sorts of special antibacterial doohickies and whatnot, hell, some even kill mosquitoes that fly close to them

But yes, obviously a slated base would increase air circulation, instead of 5 sides airing, now 5.5 sides would 'air', but you do risk the mattress warranty depending on mattress and width of slates, eg a 5cm diameter pocket coil will push through a 5cm gap in slates, giving you no support and damaging your mattress... and must say, over a decade+, never dealt with any mold/mildew complaints or problems

 

[Ancalagon]

No different than being on the base it was to be sold with... if you're worried about that, most mattresses now are manufactured(especially the foams) with all sorts of special antibacterial doohickies and whatnot, hell, some even kill mosquitoes that fly close to them

But yes, obviously a slated base would increase air circulation, instead of 5 sides airing, now 5.5 sides would 'air', but you do risk the mattress warranty depending on mattress and width of slates, eg a 5cm diameter pocket coil will push through a 5cm gap in slates, giving you no support and damaging your mattress... and must say, over a decade+, never dealt with any mold/mildew complaints or problems

I think if they sell it on a base, the base is generally designed to provide some air circulation to the mattress.

 

[Temujin]

I think if they sell it on a base, the base is generally designed to provide some air circulation to the mattress.

Its a pine box with a sheet of thin wood(now plastic board) on to, stapled in... thats it, nothing else... only 'circulation' it gives is after you accidentilly put you're foot through it when rotating mattress

 

[Ancalagon]

I tried out a few beds today at Mattress Warehouse but ended up buying a bed from beds online.

Problem with the Mattress Warehouse is that the prices are higher and they don't have the same selection as beds online.

I bought a Sealy Crown Jewel Ruby medium queen extra length. Pretty excited to get a new bed, I think it will be a big upgrade.

 

[Temujin]

Awesome, thats should have all the bamboo bacterial fancy stuffs etc, very nice choice... let us know how it works out after a few weeks

 

[Ancalagon]

Will do. Yeah it has the bamboo cover, wool stuff, gel memory foam cooling layer, pocket springs etc.

The thing is, Sealy has 3 beds that are all very similar and range from R12600 (mine) to R17600. But, there appears to be only minor differences between them. Things like different spring types. They don't state the spring count, so I am not sure if the more expensive ones have more springs. The thing is, they are part of the same range, so I would expect them to have the same spring count.

Based on the marketing material that I read, I just couldn't justify getting the more expensive one.

EDIT: Something else interesting. I tried out a few medium/gentle firm beds. They were all considerably softer than my current bed. Because I inherited it from my mother, I think she probably bought something quite firm, and it is too firm for me.

 

[Polly101]

Will do. Yeah it has the bamboo cover, wool stuff, gel memory foam cooling layer, pocket springs etc.

The thing is, Sealy has 3 beds that are all very similar and range from R12600 (mine) to R17600. But, there appears to be only minor differences between them. Things like different spring types. They don't state the spring count, so I am not sure if the more expensive ones have more springs. The thing is, they are part of the same range, so I would expect them to have the same spring count.

Based on the marketing material that I read, I just couldn't justify getting the more expensive one.

EDIT: Something else interesting. I tried out a few medium/gentle firm beds. They were all considerably softer than my current bed. Because I inherited it from my mother, I think she probably bought something quite firm, and it is too firm for me.

Gel ftw

I also have a sealy with the special antibacterial bamboo and a plush topping

best thing ever! I love my bed

 

[wolverine_dcp]

Went to Dial a bed today and i seriously liked this bed out of all the beds. Very soft and worth every cent.

https://www.dialabed.co.za/shop-by-brand/king-koil/king-koil-cascade-mattress-standard-length#

 

[Ancalagon]

Gel ftw

I also have a sealy with the special antibacterial bamboo and a plush topping

best thing ever! I love my bed

I didn't get a pillow top because they don't last. They collapse.

There is a great website called sleeplikethedead.com - has LOTS of info!

 

[Polly101]

I didn't get a pillow top because they don't last. They collapse.

There is a great website called sleeplikethedead.com - has LOTS of info!

Mine's about 5 years old, still going strong

 

[saor]

Just got this:

 

[GoB]

Hi everyone,

I've been sleeping on the same bed since the beginning of 2010, and my mom had it before that. I inherited it from her after she died.

This morning I woke up with lower back pain. I have replaced my pillows recently - they are memory foam contour pillows.

Could it be the mattress? If so, can someone tell me about buying a bed? I mean, what do I look for? How much should I expect to spend? Where is a good place to buy from?

Also don't rule out your pillow... my contour memory foam pillow causes stiffness after about a week.

A real pain if you get it to get rid of existing pain and it becomes the main cause.

This happened every time I tried using it - I've found a normal down pillow which can be shaped to be best.

 

[Ancalagon]

Also don't rule out your pillow... my contour memory foam pillow causes stiffness after about a week.

A real pain if you get it to get rid of existing pain and it becomes the main cause.

This happened every time I tried using it - I've found a normal down pillow which can be shaped to be best.

My pillow(s) could still be an issue, but I think that it was time to replace my bed.

Firstly, it was my dead mother's bed. Imagine what would happen if I brought a girl back home and she found that out? Instant mood killer.

Second, when I tried out medium firm beds in the shop, my current bed is a lot firmer than them. So, I think that will be bad for me because I sleep on my side. According to what I have read, side sleepers like me need beds that are a little softer.