Latex Mattress Frequently Asked Questions

Latex rubber is an all natural material derived from the sap of the Rubber Tree, Hevea brasiliensis. The trees are a renewable and sustainable resource, found plentifully in places such as Sri Lanka and other parts of southeast Asia, where plantation management assures resourceful access to latex for generations to come. When shaped and molded into bed mattresses using various forming techniques, it yields a resilient and unique sleep surface which is naturally antimicrobial, resists mold and mildew, is antifungal, and is not tolerated by dust mites and other allergens. It does not settle or pack down over time, and sleeps cool in summer and warm in winter because of its inherent breathability and open cell structure. It is extremely durable, unlike many other petroleum based foams which tend to degrade and discolor over time, and has a lifespan of over 20 years with undue deterioration. Also, there is a distinction to be made between natural latex rubber, and the man made synthetic version, which is a petroleum based product. Some people claim that the synthetic version can produce "off-gassing" of petroleum based chemicals, but little is know about this. The synthetic version of latex is almost indistinguishable as far as feel, thought the synthetic material is not quite as soft as the natural.

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Latex has unique properties that make it different from other sleep surfaces. It tends to be more elastic, responds faster to body shifting than many "memory foam" materials, and will not bucket or indent like many pillow top mattresses, due to body impressions. Because it is not made from petroleum based materials, and is a naturally derived resource, there is no need for concern about off-gassing or leaching of chemicals from the mattress. A Latex bed assists in improving circulation by softening pressure points without the "caved-in" feel, and tends to provide a "hovering" kind of sensation rather than a settled in or nestled feeling. There are no metal coils to contend with, no leaking air bladders, and no remote controls.

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Among many of the characteristics of Latex is its ability to effectively dissipate heat. This is due to its open cell structure and the fact that it is less dense than memory foam and other bedding materials, which some people find warmer than other sleep surfaces. In fact, many folks end up researching Latex beds for the sole purpose of finding a bed which does not "sleep hot". Using moisture repelling materials such as Cool-Max fiber in the bed covering is also a big factor, though. If you are using very high thread count sheets, with counts of 500 or higher, this author says "get rid of them". They provide minimal ventilation, typically are very heavy, are hard to care for in general (they stay wrinkled even after vigorous tumble drying) , and provide no more benefit to a hot sleeper than a nice set of 300 thread count cotton sheets.

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All manufactured latex is formed using either a pouring or injection molding process. Within the mold, hundreds of small steel pins point upward, and the latex is poured around these pins. The end result is a mattress with hundreds of small holes which penetrate through the entire surface. These holes provide added flexibility to the material, provide ventilation, and prevent the mattress from tearing if rolled or folded. They also affect the feel of the mattress, helping to make the material more pliable and softer.

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Certainly there are many resources for purchasing a latex bed, and in many forms. There are companies who take a "green" approach and offer organic latex (never been in contact with chemicals, including bleaching agents, soaps, pesticides, VOC's, etc.), and other companies who combine the latex with bells and whistles such as memory foam, air bladder combinations, wool topper pads, many of these options being commensurate with higher prices, too. If you are purchasing a latex bed for the first time, simpler is better. To save money, one option is to purchase a latex bed which has at least a 6" slab of latex on top, and a supportive base layer of high density foam, so that the entire bed has a substantial height similar to other recognizable mattress styles. Most bed frames are designed to accommodate mattresses at least 8-10" tall to fit aesthetically against the headboard and footboard. Other options include enjoying a piece of the Talalay blend as a topper piece above a layer of firmer latex to provide a softer finished feel, while offering good support underneath, so you don't feel like you're being swallowed up in a giant hot dog bun.

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It is probably fair to say that since there are so many unique materials available to embellish the top of a bed these days, that it is wise to consider some that offer functional benefit to what you are buying. Most latex bed manufacturers offer at least a basic cover which is usually a stretch knit material, or a terrycloth type fabric. It is a thinner material which does not add unnecessary "fluffiness" to the bed, but rather allows you to be closer to the latex material underneath. Folks who like a firmer, more resilient feel, will appreciate this material for its simple, functional nature, and you may feel less of that "caving in" sensation by not having layer upon layer of various materials between you and the good stuff. When you start upgrading to more sophisticated models, such as a pillow top covering quilted with such materials as wool or cotton, or other filler material, although it may add a degree of "sumptuousness" to the bed, you may be spending money on unnecessary embellishments that keep you too far from the latex to provide you the great benefits that were after to begin with. Bottom line, avoid overkill. Latex beds vary greatly in price. A 12" thick piece of Natural latex in a mattress is probably not going to provide any more benefit than a 6" piece. But you will certainly pay for it. Get the best materials for your need. But keep it simple in design.

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Latex is highly elastic, even in cooler climes. Since memory foam material is temperature reactive because of its higher density, it aggressively responds to lower temperatures by becoming much stiffer, the colder it gets. Of course, it reacts equally as fast to a warm body, but in very cold environments, this may take some time. Expect latex bedding to be more reactive and responsive, even during colder times of year, or if you prefer to keep your ambient room temperature a little lower.

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We provide free UPS Ground Shipping for all of our Natural Latex products. There are no hidden freight or shipping charges. Our latex beds are packaged in an innovative vacuum packaging method. When your order is processed for shipping, the mattress is gently rolled (the rolling process will not harm the product in any way, and this method has been field tested and used for many years for a variety of bedding products by our factory), and double bagged using heavy plastic. A vacuum system is used to remove air to temporarily reduce the thickness of the bed during the shipping process. It is then sleeved into a heavy duty corrugated box, and shipped. When you receive the bed, you may need a second person to bring the box inside your home, as the delivery is handled in the typical "to the front door" manner that UPS would deliver any other package. The UPS driver will not help you setup or install your new Latex bed. It is very easy to do, and there is absolutely no assembly required. Bring the package to your bedroom, and CAREFULLY remove the outer box by peeling it off by hand. Do not use knives, boxcutters, or any sharp objects. Tear open the plastic bag and remove by unsleeving it from the mattress. The bed will immediately start to return to its original shape. This process takes about an hour before it is complete. Place the mattress onto your existing boxspring, foundation, or platform. Have another person get on the opposite side of the bed. Grab the mattress and "plop it" up and down several times to help shift the covering into the desired position if it needs straightening up a bit. The mattress is ready for use immediately.

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A high capacity vacuum system is used to remove air first from the mattress as it is laid flat in its shipping bag. This does not harm the latex components or the fabric covering in any way. It is then sleeved into a heavy duty corrugated box, and shipped. Bring the package to your bedroom, and CAREFULLY remove the outer box by peeling it off by hand. Do not use knives, boxcutters, or any sharp objects. Tear open the plastic bag and remove by unsleeving it from the mattress. The bed will immediately start to return to its original shape. In tests we conducted ourselves, the mattress returned to its original shape and size within 3-5 minutes, and may take up to 1 hour to fully "reinflate". Place the mattress onto your existing boxspring, foundation, or platform. Have another person get on the opposite side of the bed. Grab the mattress and "plop it" up and down several times to help shift the covering into the desired position if it needs straightening up a bit. The mattress is ready for use immediately.

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If for any reason, our Latex beds are not what you expected them to be, you may return it within 6 months of the date of purchase for a full refund. No other Latex bed company offers this kind of straightforward Return Policy. That's how sure we are that you will absolutely enjoy your new Latex bed. We advise that you save the original packing materials if you believe you may want to have the option of returning it. We have very few returns (less than 2%). If you do decide to return your bed, however, contact us first for shipping instructions (1-800-313-2591). There is a small return ship fee of $75. which is collected only after your mattress is returned. A credit of the entire amount of your purchase less $75 is applied. You may keep any freebies such as a pillow or other items, however. The end result when you consider that the pillows have retail value of $70-100, is at least a wash on your end.

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We have been in the bedding business for 12 years, and we have sold many different kinds of beds from futon mattresses to memory foam, and have researched even more, including air beds, water beds, and hybrid beds with every imaginable kind of specialized foam and advanced fiber in the industry, and one thing has clearly stuck out to us. Most consumers start out enthusiastically searching for a bed for one basic reason...they want something comfortable that is reasonably priced. The bedding industry is so highly competitive these days, however, that most manufacturers are forced to add endless features (we call them "bells and whistles") to new models to outdo the next guy's lineup. The end result are products that are just simply overbuilt, in our opinion. A good example of this is the Tempur-Pedic Grand Bed, a $7,000 high end bed with a silk and satin top, 7 layers of different kinds of specialized foam, and high-tech "air channels" to provide ventilation. One customer of ours (we were one of the largest Tempur-Pedic dealers in the country) told us that she "needed a stepladder to get into her bed".

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Moreover, how much of the "good stuff" (in our case, natural Latex material) is required to make a comfortable bed? The answer is not an easy one. Our first task was to determine what people wanted from a Latex Bed. We knew lots of people were looking for them, and lots of people were aware of the unique properties they have. Over the last couple of years, we reviewed dozens of retailers product lines, looked at many different beds with many combinations of latex with different densities and thicknesses at shows, and talked to industry reps about their opinions. We test drove a variety of Natural Latex mattress configurations,and finally distilled everything down to what we thought would be a simplistic lineup that offered generous comfort at a reasonable price, with the benefits of Latex being the primary consideration, and all without padding, or "piling on", the product with unnecessary layers of ingredients that separate you from the wonderful qualities of natural latex.. We offer 2 very simplistically designed models, and that's it. The price you pay includes shipping and a really nice Latex pillow. We think they provide a good range of comfort choices and maximize the benefits of Latex, with some functional features built in.

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We offer a 20 year Pro-rated Factory Warranty with every bed we sell. This means that the warranty covers you for a full 20 years, with full replacement value for the first 3 years, and after that, the warranty is pro-rated, meaning the amount the warranty covers at the beginning of year 4 is 67% of the original purchase price, and this decreases by 4% every year until the end of the 20 year period. The warranty is comprehensive, and specifically covers any manufacturers defect, and also specifically addresses body impressions and rutting, something which does not happen with Natural Latex, but customers want to feel comfortable about having this addressed in a warranty. Liquid spillage or stains of any kind voids the warranty (we highly recommend using our waterproof mattress protector, which is a complimentary gift shipped with every bed we sell).

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We provide a 20 year Factory Warranty, but this author has seen Natural Latex beds which date from the 1970's, still pliable, flexible, a little worn from use, but amazingly intact. When treated with proper care and used in a typical household environment, it can be reasonably expected to last 20-30 years, especially if you use a protective water proof barrier on top of the mattress.

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Standard fitted sheets will work well with our 6" and our 8" All Natural Latex Mattress. There's no need to buy deep fitting sheets, as most sheets these days are cut to fit mattresses 8-15 inches in depth. Our advice is to wait until you get your bed, try the sheets you already have, and if they don't work, purchase sheets. Remember to avoid really high thread count sheets, such as 500 or 1000 thread count. They sleep hotter, are heavier, and require extra care such as ironing. Get a good 300 thread count sheet, and you will be very happy.

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We evaluated a material called NuForm, which is a homogenized blend of latex and memory foam, and were not impressed with its characteristics. It seemed to feel spongy and crusty, and did not seem to favor good qualities of either memory foam or Latex, so we decided not to include it in our line. Because people have the option to choose from a vast selection of memory foam beds and a more limited selection of Latex beds, we believe them to be different in their characteristics, and we prefer to keep our line distinctively Latex oriented.

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Our beds are manufactured and assembled in a facility outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The Natural latex material we use is imported from Sri Lanka. Other components such as our outer coverings are made in the U.S., and our water based adhesives are derived locally as well. When you call and speak to us, our offices our based in New Orleans, Louisiana, where our Habitat Furnishings operations are based.

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