1.     What are the standard sizes for mattresses?

Twin (Single) Full Queen Eastern King California King

Width 38" 54" 60" 76" 72"

Length 74" 74" 80" 80" 84"

Please remember that mattresses are made of very pliable material and will vary 1” in dimensions. Often, they are made ½ “-1” undersized. Please note that bed frames are made several inches longer to accomodate comforters and thick bedding layers.

2.      How tall or thick are the mattresses?

Mattresses vary from low profile, typically 8-10” in height or thickness. Today, many new over-stuffed or pillow top mattresses can be up to 18” in thickness. Special application, ie hide-a-bed mattresses can be 4”-6”. Box springs are usually 8-9" in thickness. New, low profile boxes are approximately 5" thick. Please take care to measure your bed for height before you go to the store ....much has changed thses last few years.

3.      Will my regular sheets fit on these new pillow-top mattresses ?

New, sheet sets are typically designed for mattresses up to 9-12 ” thick. Thicker mattresses, including pillow-tops require deep-pocketed sheets and extra deep-pocketed sizes, going over 18" sometimes. Please go to a linen store to check these out. Please tell the sales person your mattress thickness.

4.      Is it possible to get a comfortable orthopedic mattress, yet be not too hard?

Yes. The newer thicker, highly upholstered quality mattresses can provide back support, and yet allow for the curvature of the body and support the spine properly. We suggest that a firm underlying coil be used, or a firm very high quality, high density (foam) core be used. Consult your doctor or orthopedic professional for their recommendation. Please note that the word "firm" is often misused in the retail world. There are five basic firmness levels in our industry; extra firm, firm, luxury or medium firm, plush (softer). and ultra plush. Also note that pillow-top mattresses, having sewn-on extra upholstery layers will generally come in luxury firm to ultra plush firmness levels.

5.      How do I protect myself against unscrupulous mattress makers and recovered product ?

We suggest that you purchase only new product from retail members of the California Bureau of Home Furnishings. Always check for the white law labels sewn into the mattress border cover. It identifies the manufacturer and the new content of materials used. Please note that red and yellow tags are used for recovered mattresses. Do not hesitate to call The Bureau of Home Furnishings to see to it that the manufacturer is in good standing and has been inspected. Always remember that there are many, reputable manufacturers out there that take great care in assuring you of good quality.

6.      What is innerspring coil count? Is it important?

The coil count refers to the number of compression springs on a full (double) sized mattress. Over the last few years, some manufactures are using the queen as the count standard size. Firmness or stiffness of a mattress can be created many ways, often greatly influenced by the innerspring stiffness. Coils can be made in different diameters and shapes. Newer designs of smaller diameter and larger count are thought to be a little more conforming to the irregular shape of the body. Often these high-count innerspring units must be made of smaller wire to avoid making them too stiff. Another advantage of these higher count spring sets (typically 500 + in full). is that the spacing between the springs is smaller, thereby reducing the body impression hole from forming in the spring. It is important to test the mattress and weigh these design features with price, since the entire mattress system, spring and padding layers perform the actual function of support with comfort. Please note that in checking coil count, take into consideration that some high quality mattress designs use solid polymer foams for the border called encasement, and reduce the size of inner spring. The counts will be lower ..yet of very high quality!  There is NO substitute for coming to the store to test the beds. Every body is different, and therefore, beds will feel differently to different people. If you have a sleep partner ...please take them with you.

7.      I was always told that the more firm the mattress the better...is this true?

Not necessarily. The best performance of a mattress set of any design is where the spine is well supported, yet where allowance is made for the curvature of the body. The object is to keep the spine relatively straight on a side profile (naturally curved for back or stomach sleeping). If a mattress is so firm that the body cannot sink in to it and allow the spine to assume these shapes, morning backache can occur, the feeling you get if you've ever slept on the floor. These days, most orthopedic professionals will recommend some sort of upholstered layers or pillow top mattress with a firm under support system. Please consult yours.

8.      What type of box spring is best?

There are many designs of boxes made today. We refer to rigid structures, made of wood frame or sheet metal or metal wire as rigid or semi-flex foundations. We refer to flexible boxes as true box springs. There are both “Z” wire type box springs and compression box springs. The heavy compression springs becoming rare and are acutually a softer feel. The "Z" are thought to be tougher and stiffer, yet use less steel.  All of the flexible types of boxes or foundations take shock and deflection. In a sense, they prolong the life of the top mattress, and soften the feel slightly. Flexible box springs generally cost a little more than rigid types, but are usually much less in cost compared to the mattress itself. Both basic types are popular and can be the right choice for a particular application. Also note that all-wood foundatons do cost less, but can sometimes have a tendency to squeak over time.

9.      What is body foam or visco?

Viscoelastic polyurethane foam was invented in the U.S. by a quality fam manufacturer for use on NASA's space shuttle. The material does not spring back like most poly foams and moves slowly and laterally to flow around you body. The result is more material to displace your weight over a larger area ....better support. The material can be used in all-visco polymeric beds or as a layer in an innerspring or air floatation style mattress. It has a unique feel and must be tested to see if you like it. It is important to stress here that there are many quality grades of this material. Some grades will flatten out over time. Discount warehouses and many sleep stores may have grades that may not hold up. Please ask many questions.