What Is An Open Coil Mattress
An open coil mattress is also known as a traditional innerspring mattress. These beds have a network of bare coils, often each shaped like an hourglass. The firmness of open coil mattresses depends on two things: the gauge of the coils and the coil count.
The gauge refers to the coils wire thickness. The lower the gauge, the firmer the bed. The coil count refers to how many coils are inside the mattress. More coils mean more support, and a high coil count also means the mattress is likely to last longer than one with fewer coils. The simple coil design promotes a cooling mattress for hot sleepers.
For more information on firmness and advice on choosing the right feel for you, read our mattress firmness guide.
How Do Adjustable Beds Improve Aches And Pains
Its no secret that raising your head up as you sleep has big benefits for both snoring and sleep apnea. So if you have these problems, keep an eye on adjustable beds because they may just solve your nightly annoyances.
People with lower back pain are typically advised by doctors to invest in an adjustable bed because of the superior support these foundations provide the spinal column. More support for your spine can lead to fewer body aches.
According to Spinal Health, adjustable beds can help relieve a number of back back conditions, including but not limited to degenerative spondylolisthesis, osteoarthritis, and spinal stenosis. If you have any of these issues, then please consult a doctor before ordering your new bed.
Newer adjustable models now have unique lumbar support features where the adjustable base helps raise the mattress to support the lumbar area of your lower back. This helps tremendously if you have lower back pain. Truly amazing technology!
Because adjustable beds raise your feet with the push of a button, youll love this mattress foundation if you suffer from foot pain, ankle pain, or even restless leg syndrome.
Raising the bottom section of the base provides a slight incline, which takes pressure off your lower body. Then whenever you desire, you can lower it back down to a flat position.
Who Needs A Box Spring
There are a few cases in which you would need a box spring:
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King Size Bed Foundation
76 inches by 80 inches
A king size mattress is excellent for couples who are looking for more space. Kings offer enough room to accommodate both you and your partners needs, but they do require a larger bedroom to comfortably fit. Since the standard US bedroom is 11 by 12 feet, a king bed leaves little room around the bed for movement or additional furniture. A master bedroom may be more suited for this size mattress.
When Does My Memory Foam Mattress Require A Boxspring
If the frame or foundation youre using for your bed has six slats or more, you wont need a box spring to support your mattress. However, if the mattress has five slats or less, its possible that a box spring can provide the added support that your current foundation lacks.
Because the memory foam mattress is so soft and malleable, if the slots are spaced too far apart, it may begin to sag through the cracks, losing some of its support and potentially lessening its life.
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What Is A Box Spring Do You Really Need One
What is a box spring? A box spring is a support base for your mattress. Generally, build with strong wood and covered with a cloth cover. In the past, a set of thick gauge springs were used inside the box spring for added support. Modern box springs are referred to as foundations and no longer feature interior springs.
Not necessarily. Box springs are protection found underneath your mattress. They afford your brand new mattress a good layer of protection from the bed frame. A box spring helps absorb the body weight and offer you and your mattress better support.
Box springs are also referred to as bed bases. They do not, in fact, include springs, instead they have a steel grid that is responsible for distributing weight across the surface of the mattress. As of this writing, only high-end mattress manufacturers produce box springs with spring coils in it.
Since it is an added cost, some consumers skip purchasing box springs. Many find buying platform beds beneficial as it eliminates the need to buy a box spring.
For those who intend to purchase the spring free memory foam mattress, then there is no need to buy any box spring to support it. These kinds of mattresses are already very firm underneath. They come with solid surfaces without any springs, grids, or coils around them. Since they are already set fit to the form of the body, there is no need for a box spring.
What If I Already Have A Boxspring
If you already have a boxspring, it likely needs to be replaced. If you put a new mattress on an old boxspring, you run the risk of the boxspring wearing down or breaking, causing the mattress to start sagging. If this happens, it can void the mattress warranty. Additionally, if your boxspring is very old, it might be the old springy type and not the newer foundation type of boxspring. This will change how the mattress feels.
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Reasons You Need To Have A Box Spring With Platform Beds
A box spring with platform beds is an essential piece of furniture for any bedroom. It provides extra support and comfort for your mattress, making it easier to sleep through the night.
Here are five reasons you need a box spring with platform beds in your bedroom:
1. Box springs with platform beds are more comfortable than a traditional bed.
2. They help reduce back pain and other injuries caused by poor sleeping habits.
3. They provide extra support for mattresses, which makes them less likely to collapse or sag over time.
4. They make it easier to get out of bed in the morning because the bed is higher off the ground.
5. They look nicer than traditional box springs and can add a touch of luxury to your bedroom decor.
Your Guide To Memory Foam Mattresses
Memory foam offers one of the biggest breakthroughs in mattress technology of the past 50 years. They provide support for your pressure points like no other mattress in history. You probably know them best for their contouring effectwhich means when you lay down on the mattress, youll sink into the material as it adjusts to the contours of your body.
Depending on your preferences, you can find memory foam mattresses ranging from soft to firm. They also vary in terms of thickness, size, and density.
With all the different types out there, how do you know what type is right for you?
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Do Latex Mattresses Need Box Springs
Both latex mattresses and memory foam mattresses are heavier than traditional mattresses. For this reason, they both require a strong, rigid base that will support the weight of the mattress, your body, and varying indentations over long periods of time. Its important to know that latex mattresses will conform to whatever surface they are on. Box springs have an innate give that will lead to dipping and sagging in your mattress due to inadequate support. So if youre looking for a foundation for your latex or foam mattress, I advise you select one of our recommended box spring alternatives below.
Do You Need A Box Spring When To Skip It Box Spring Alternatives And More
Depending on what type of bed you have, a box spring can either help or hurt your mattress. Use this guide to make your decision.
Designed to support a mattress, a box spring consists of a wood frame filled with either springs or a metal grid. The box spring is encased in fabric and placed beneath the mattress on a bed frame. Some also have supportive slats on the bottom. They’re made to match the sizes of most traditional mattresses, from twin to king.
Once commonly sold as an integral part of traditional innerspring mattress sets, box springs served several purposes until recent innovations began limiting their usefulness. Such purposes include:
- Adding support to the mattress
- Extending the mattress’s longevity
- Lifting the mattress higher so sleepers can more easily get in and out of bed
- Absorbing impact in order to protect the mattress and reduce wear and tear
- Improving breathability and airflow to help sleepers feel cool
- Helping to prevent mold and mildew growth outside the mattress
While many new mattresses do not require or work well with box springs, some still do. Other brands recommend them, but only if a metal frame is used. Still more suggest the use of a different type of bed frame or foundation altogether with their mattresses. We’ll go over who does and doesn’t need a box spring, and how to make sure you’re not using the wrong base for your mattress.
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Reasons To Use A Box Spring
During the era where most mattresses were made with coils, box springs were almost essential. They needed extra support and something to absorb the shock from sitting, lying, and bouncing on them.
Even though the coil mattress trend is dwindling, it can still be beneficial to know when a box spring is a valuable investment. Originally built to add height to your bed and support your mattress, box springs still provide this today, as well as a few other minor benefits.
Box Springs Vs Platform: Key Differences
Platform beds are sturdy, supportive and affordable. They look pretty stylish too, combining a foundation with a frame. They also tend to be lower to the ground with a height of anything from a few inches up to 1ft. So if you struggle to get in or out of bed easily, then a platform might not be for you.
Platform beds typically have a stable surface with wooden slats, and provide adequate airflow for most types of mattresses. However, if you are using an innerspring model, you might prefer the feel of a box spring as a platform bed can be quite firm. Many platform beds also come with added storage drawers built in, which is ideal if youre short on space in your bedroom.
Sleep innovator Purple makes a Platform Bed Frame thats suitable for use with hybrid and foam models, including its own .
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Load Up Mattress Removal
The average cost for junk removal from LoadUp ranges from $150 to $350, with most people spending between $100 and $200 to dispose of a single mattress with this company. This junk removal service is designed for bigger jobs and supplies dumpsters that help with cleanup. This company might not be ideal for the disposal of a single mattress. LoadUp offers upfront pricing and an estimate with prices that claim to be 20% to 30% below average. If you have more junk to get rid of, you could save more by disposing of everything at once.
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Are Box Springs Outdated
Mattresses have come a long way since the days of the traditional innerspring and theres now more choice than ever with memory foam, latex and hybrids leading the way. However, because modern types are not always compatible with box springs, it means this type of support is being used less and less.
Box springs are still an excellent choice when paired with innerspring mattresses though, and many people prefer the feel of them. In short, as long as you have some sort of foundation and its compatible with your bed, thats what matters.
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Box Spring Vs Foundation
These two words are often used interchangeably, but what’s the difference? Both provide support to a mattress, and they look the same from the outside. However, box springs have steel springs that add support and shock absorption. They work very well with innerspring mattresses, as that’s what they were designed for. They’re not ideal for mattresses that don’t have a coil system, so latex or foam mattresses.
Foundations are a more solid frame, made of metal or wood, and encased in fabric. There are different styles, some are designed with slats and some are solid wooden frames without openings. They’re more suited to non-coil mattresses, which tend to be heavier. They can support more weight than the springs of a box spring but don’t have as much flex.
What Are Box Springs And Does Your Mattress Need One
ByDavina Frankspublished 18 October 21
Our guide to box springs, what they are, and the pros and cons of using one with a mattress
Box springs arent the most exciting bedroom purchase, but they can make a difference to how supportive your mattress is, depending upon which type you own. As we explain in our best mattress guide, most models can be used with pretty much any bed frame, but box springs can’t be used with all mattresses. So what exactly are box springs and what do they do? Simply put, they are wooden and coil structures that match the size of your mattress, providing a stable and well-ventilated foundation. They also absorb shock and add height to your setup.
While all of that is straightforward enough, there are pros and cons to using box springs. For example, they arent suitable for use with all mattresses as some, depending on what theyre made of, will be too heavy for a box spring. Here we run through all the essential information you need, including what difference they make, and how box springs compare to other types of bases and supports.
In this feature we also look at whether box springs can be used with memory foam mattresses, traditional innerspring models and the more affordable mattresses in a box.
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Can I Use An Old Box Spring With A New Mattress
If your new mattress is compatible with a box spring, such as an innerspring mattress, you might be able to reuse your box spring if its in good condition. The average box spring lasts about 10 years, which can be longer than a mattresss lifespan. However, the coils inside a box spring will sag eventually, just as the coils inside a spring or hybrid mattress do.
How do you know if your box spring has worn out? Check for damage or any signs of bending, sagging, or bowing across the base. Squeaky coils can also mean that the box spring is losing support.
What Happens If You Use A Bed Base That Is Incompatible With Your Mattress
Pairing your new mattress with the right bed base can extend both its comfortability and lifespan. If you invest in a hybrid, latex foam, or memory foam mattress, which are designed to contour to your body specifically, a mismatched bed base can greatly diminish the value you get from your mattress.
Box springs, for instance, are typically not designed to withstand a mattress as heavy as memory foam, and using them together can cause sagging in the mattress, then back pain for you.
To be completely sure your bed base and mattress are compatible, check with your mattress manufacturer.
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I What Is A Box Spring And What Does It Do
So, what exactly is a box spring?
Exactly how it sounds, box springs are wooden boxes filled with coiled springs that are tied down and covered with cloth to act as a supportive surface for the mattress. Traditional box springs would often come with your spring mattress, sold as a coordinated and matching set. A box spring usually sits on top of a metal frame, with the mattress acting as the final top layer.
Whats the point of a box spring? It serves a few purposes
- It raises the height of the mattress. This can make it easier to get in and out of bed, compared with placing the mattress directly on the floor.
- It provides a solid surface for your mattress to lay on, for added support. When matched up, the coils inside the box spring act as a continuation of the coils in your spring mattress, which absorbs some of the shock. This makes for a more comfortable sleep and it also helps your mattress last longer.
- It improves airflow and circulation around your mattress, allowing for a cooler sleep.
Alternatives To A Box Spring
Theres no denying that most mattresses need something between them and the floor. Yes, you could just have your bed on the floor. However, its seldom a recommended option as it doesnt provide any airflow and lead to hygiene problems.
Many of todays modern mattresses dont need a box spring base. With such beds, what are the alternatives to a box spring? The following are three commonly purchased alternatives:
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Foundation + Metal Bed Frame
One of the most common foundation setups youll find is a foundation and metal bed frame duo. Since basic wood foundations dont have legs, putting it on a metal bed frame lifts your bed off the ground and gives you room under your bed for extra storage. This is a low-profile, basic bed base option and you can usually get both of these pieces without breaking the bank.
