Mattress Types and Construction
 
Mattress Types

There are many different types of mattress: pocket sprung, open sprung, orthopeadic, memory foam, latex and combination mattresses.  Each mattress type has its own merits and some types of mattress cannot be successfully used with some types of bed, so please ask for our advice if you’re not sure.

Pocket Sprung Mattress
The most luxurious in feel, offering ideal body support and comfort.  Individual pocketed springs are linked together in a honeycomb pattern.  They move individually as they compress and expand enabling them to adjust separately to your body shape and weight.  
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Open Coil Sprung / Bonnell Sprung Mattress
A less expensive alternative to the pocket spring.  The open springs are all hinged together preventing spring noise and spreading the bodyweight evenly over the complete surface of the mattress.  Bonnell spring units come in gauges which relates to the thickness of the wire used to make the spring unit, the thicker the wire the firmer the spring unit, the gauges range from 12.5 gauge (firmest ) 13 gauge (medium / firm) to 13.5 gauge (medium).
Orthopaedic Mattress
An Orthopaedic mattress is a bit of a misnomer really, it is simply a term used by bed manufacturers to indicate that the mattress is firm.  Typically an Orthopaedic mattress is constructed using a firm (12.5 gauge) spring unit, the word Orthopaedic doesn’t actually mean it is good for backache.  It is important to choose the right bed for your own personal needs, some so called Orthopaedic beds are in fact quite luxurious but still have a firm support spring, where as some are very firm indeed which could be too firm for your needs!.
Memory Foam Mattress
The old style cheap foam mattresses with which many of us are familiar are about as far removed from the modern hi-tech foam mattresses as the old horse hair mattresses are from our modern sprung mattresses.
Revolutionary Memory Foam mattresses today are made from sophisticated closed cell foam that reacts with body heat and the weight of your body to form the contours of your body.  
Click here for the full “NASA” space mattress history.
Combination Foam Mattresses
Many memory foam mattresses are being made as combination mattresses.  These mattresses are constructed with either an open coil or pocket spring unit with layers of the memory foam incorporated within the layers of upholstery.  The spring unit allows air to circulate through the mattress and the layers of memory foam contour to the shape of you body, giving a luxurious feel to the traditional pocket or open coil mattress, giving the best of both worlds.  Combination mattresses tend to be a little cooler than ones made with solid block foam.
Latex
Latex is a naturally derived biodegradable product produced from the rubber tree.  Latex is hypo-allergenic, and breathes to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Bacteria, mildew, and mould cannot live in latex.  Latex is very robust and can last up to 30 years. Both orthopaedic and anatomically supportive latex mattresses will promote good circulation and will respond and contour to your body shape.  It is cut with grooves and air pockets which allows the latex to move and shift according to precise weight movements.