Have you ever gone to a hotel and they told you they only have two queen beds available and as you walk into the room you realize they are full (double) beds, not queens? Queen mattresses are 60 inches wide and roughly 80 inches long, which is at least 6 inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full size mattress. If you sleep with someone the added inches can make all the difference in comfort. A queen mattress is also a good choice for a guest bedroom, smaller master bedroom and for teenagers or single adults that tend to toss and turn a lot.
What are the different types of mattresses? There is the spring mattress core, air mattress and memory foam.
Spring mattress core
A standard mattress consists of innersprings that are made of steel coils. The steel coils are measured in quarter increments. The lower the number, the thicker the mattress, this is referred to as the coils gauge. For example, 14-gauge mattress coils are of better quality than 14 to 15.5-gauge coils as higher gauge coils will give easy under pressure. The connective wires between the coils help the mattress keep its shape. If the coils are not encased, they are not connected and the mattresses fabric maintains the mattresses shape.
During the 19th century the first springs were those used in buggy seats and are called Bonnell coils. Bonnell coils are still used today in lower end beds. These coils are hourglass-shaped and the top and bottom coils are wrapped around a portion of each coil and self-tied. It is not recommended to get a Bonnell coil mattress if you have a bad back. The life span is short, but the cost is pretty cheap.
Some manufactures like Beautyrest pre-compress the coils which will make the bed firmer and allows motion separation between each side of the bed. Pre-compress coils are known as Marshall coils, Encased coils or Wrapped coils and they are tempered as well as wrapped individually in a fabric encasement and are fastened together using a metal clip so they remain organized and effective. With the Beautyrest, high carbon magnesium is added, while the steel itself remains untempered.
Tempering – An innerspring can either be tempered or un-tempered. Tempered innersprings are generally preferred because they are stronger, more resilient and therefore more durable. The tempering process, which involves heating the wire or innerspring unit to a high temperature, can be done electronically or in a tempering oven. The term "double tempered" or "twice tempered" is often used in the industry, but once a coil has been heated to the optimum temperature to achieve tempering, it cannot be tempered twice. Marshall coils are used in making futon mattresses as they are flexible enough to fold and unfold easily. The gauge varies between 13.75 and 17. The durability depends on the quality of the gauge, use and weight of the individual sleeping on it. The Better Sleep Council recommends changing your mattress every 8 -10 years.
The Off-Set coils, Continuous coils or Mira-coils have hourglass shaped coil with a squared head that can be knotted or unknotted. It is made of tempered steel and is a premium quality innerspring unit found in high end luxury brands such as orthopedic mattresses because they provide great support. Knotted Coils – The end of a coil is either knotted or unknotted. Knotting uses more steel and gives the coil more stability. Serta Mattress Company, Serta’s Perfect Sleeper mattress has Mira-coils because they have a hinging effect that appears to be made of one piece of tempered wire and normally has a high coil gauge count between 12.75 and 14.75, but uses less steel and a much thinner gauge of wire.
Air mattresses
Air mattresses have air chambers instead of springs to give you support. Air mattresses can be used for camping to high-end luxury beds therefore the price range varies. Typically air mattresses run about the same price as an innerspring mattress with comparable features. Several companies produce adjustable firmness air mattress in various heights and with several types of foam, pillow tops and digital pumps with memory for individual pressure settings.
Hospitals use adjustable firmness air mattresses that have special control mechanisms that will automatically change the pressure periodically by inflating or deflating several air chambers alternately. This adjustment to the air mattress helps prevent bedsores by changing the pressure points of the patient’s body. The air mattress is either constructed with a simple polyethylene bag or internally baffled, multi chambers of latex with bonded cotton exteriors. The air chambers fit inside a removable two piece cover that looks like the outside of a standard innerspring mattress. The Regency Airbed mattress and base runs around $1000.00 at Sam’s Club.
Specifications:
Queen-Size air mattress and heavy duty pump with patent pending dual individual air chambers
Patented double wall seaming construction
Ergonomically designed dual hand controls with LED displays
Storage pockets in foundation for hand controls
"Whisper Quiet" computerized compressor
Patented tri-zone quilted tack-and-jump pillow top
High profile styling
Dimensions: 60" x 80"
Foundation is 10" thick
Depending how full you fill Air Chambers, mattress height may vary from 10 to 12 inches
Some air mattresses for camping are often filled with foam that expands when filled with air when the air valve is opened unlike conventional air mattresses that need to be pumped to inflate.
Foam mattresses
A foam mattress made out of latex or memory foam conforms to the body’s shape and alleviates the body’s pressure points. Most mattress manufactures offer a line of foam mattresses in which price and quality vary widely. Foam mattresses come with three different types of foundations. The box spring foundation contains an extra heavy duty springs for softer support and a bouncier mattress. The traditional wood foundation that increases firmness and stability and the grid foundation made from a combination of steel and wood for maximum solidity and support. Foam mattresses are known to last up to 20 years.
Manufacturers cover the mattress with upholstery layers adding cushioning and comfort that consist of three parts; the insulator, the middle upholstery, and the quilt. Expanded queen mattresses are also available. With the expanded queen mattress you can increase your sleeping area by 10% while the mattress will still fit into a standard queen size frame or base.
While I can help you with information, unfortunately I can’t accompany you to the store when you go to make your purchase. You will need to do a little work yourself, so read through some online store reviews to get an understanding of what to look out for. With all of these queen mattress options, it is just good to know that you can find a queen mattress that fits your needs and gives you and your partner the “extra room” needed for a comfortable night’s sleep.
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