If you are like me and have not bought a new mattress in awhile, you will find that things have changed. It is not your grandmother’s big fluffy pile of goose down and feathers any more. You can choose from innersprings to air to foam and pay a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. There are many different kinds of mattresses that you can use with your queen platform bed with storage.

The good old mattress and box springs is still around. However, to be an educated buyer one must know about coil construction and design and numbers of coils. There are several basic types of coil design – hourglass, offset, continuous and pocketed. Coil count used to depend on numbers alone; the more coils the firmer and more sturdy the mattress. Now, while numbers are still important, the buyer needs to be aware of the different types of construction available. The gauge, wire thickness; turning count, how many times the coil is wound; and tempering, the process of heating and cooling the coils are all important factors.

The hourglass or open coil type of mattress has coils connected together by small spiral wire helices but is left unknotted at the end. This type of coil gives good support initially but may not last as long as mattresses with more advanced coil types. The offset coil construction is similar to the hourglass coil with a square head. The squared head will allow for more contour to the body and will be more durable.

Continuous coil types have coils made of one single strain of 18-gauge wire and is often formed into a mesh of coils instead of individual coils. There are generally more coils in this type of mattress and each coil receives less stress. Thus, body weight is distributed over more coils.

The last type is the pocketed coil. Each coil is enclosed in its own casing and works independently of every other coil. The casing keeps the coil from spreading when compressed. The same tension is maintained all of the time. This system tends to be more costly than other coil configurations.

Wire gauge is important. The thicker the wire is the higher the gauge of the wire. Good mattresses usually have a wire gauge of around 13. Also the lower the gauge of the wire the firmer the mattress will be. The higher wire gauge will usually indicate a softer mattress. The wire in good mattresses is coated with enamel or plastic. This coating helps resist corrosion and adds to the durability of the mattress.

The mattress is covered with an upholstery layer. The latest innovation in mattress upholstery is the pillow top that contains a layer of foam or latex and adds to a feeling of softness while the mattress will give you varying degrees of support depending on the degree of firmness you choose. Even firm mattresses can feel soft with a pillow top. One should make sure that the fabric of the upholstery is a good durable quality and the cover is well sewn. In addition, mattress covers are required by law to be flame resistant and better mattresses are treated with scotch guard or Teflon.

Between the coils and the upholstery is a layer called the insulation. This layer is made up of resin bonded synthetic pads, rubberized curled hair like fibers, mesh, or polypropylene netting that keep the material of the upholstery cushion from getting into the coils.

It is recommended that when purchasing a new mattress, purchase a new box springs or foundation at the same time. The three types of box springs are wood, torsion bar and coil. Better box springs have padding over the wood, bars or coils. Make sure that the padding is adequate and will add to the comfort of the entire sleep system. The wood foundation consists of a wood frame covered with fabric. This type of foundation is not suggested because it can reduce the life of a new mattress by as much as 60%. The torsion bar has metal strips formed like a “Z” covered by a padded layer and fabric. The third system is coils and the higher quality coil systems contain a coil count of 81.

Whether you like a soft or firm bed, there are options available. Paying the highest price does not necessarily mean you will get the best mattress for you. Ask to see a cutout section of the mattresses you are interested in. Check the coil count (at least 300), gauge, and coating of the coils. Check the insulation layer to make sure the padding in the upholstery is protected from the coils and that it has the cushion type you want. Consider a new box springs as well as the mattress to add to the life and comfort of your bed.

For more information you can visit rissla.com. This article was brought to you by Dan Rissla, a regular contributor to Rissla.

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