subject: Foam Mattresses: Choosing The Right One For You
[print this page] More and more people are aware of the benefits derived from using foam mattresses. Several people have already made the switch but some are still undecided. To help you make the right decision, here are 4 things that you need to be aware of when looking about this type of mattresses.
1. Density
2. Firmness
3. Resilience
4. Tensile
How do manufacturers grade foam?
1. Density
The weight of foam is the density of its materials (in pounds) for every square foot. The higher the concentration of chemicals in the mixture the more visco-elastic the foam is. The density of good quality foam is between 4 and 8. A high density foam will definitely last longer than a less dense one. However, some manufacturers who want get higher profits usually add clay to the composition making the foam denser. This however, does not improve the quality of foam but only makes it heavy and easy to crumble. So make sure that you only buy from credible retailers.
2. Firmness
For foams to have just the right amount of support, they should have just the appropriate level of firmness as determined by their ILD Rating. Ideally, foams should rate between 10 and 16. Those that rate below 10 or go beyond 16 would either be too hard or too soft.
3. Resilience
Foams should have the ability to spring back easily once pressure is released. A test used to determine the resiliency of a ball involves a steel ball that is dropped from a height of 36 inches. Highly resilient foams will cause the ball to rebound easily which shows how durable they are when compressed.
4. Tensile
This property determines how far foams can be stretched before it breaks apart. This is measured in pounds for every square inch of foam. However, this property does not apply to all types of foam, especially memory foam.
Why make the switch from spring mattresses to foam mattresses?
Spring mattresses used to be the only choice that consumers had if they wanted to have a comfortable sleep. But when foam mattresses were released in the market, people were given a much better option. This recent addition to the mattress industry promises to give all the benefits that spring mattresses can give plus so much more. Good quality foam mattresses can provide utmost support and overall comfort to help everyone get that much coveted sleep.
So, now that you know what to look for when choosing a mattress you can rest assured that you can find one that is right for you. The 4 things mentioned are very important factors to be considered.
