Why you need a good box spring_Feature

Why Boxsprings are Important

Why Box springs are Important

Are you in the market for a new mattress? Chances are you’ll want a new boxspring to go along with it. Your mattress needs a flat, even surface to rest on. If you have a platform bed or plan to put your mattress directly on the floor, a boxspring isn’t necessary. If not, make sure you’re buying something that can support you and the mattress. Most box springs aren’t up to the challenge.

Then and Now

The term ‘box spring’ is a bit of a misnomer these days. When they first came on the market, boxsprings normally consisted of a wooden base with multiple coils on top attached to a metal frame. It was thought that this additional coil system provided extra comfort and support.

Some companies still manufacture these traditional box springs, but now most produce a wooden structure with slats on top that run horizontally across the width of the box. A vertical support slat runs down the middle. Even though these boxes no longer contain springs, the name stuck around.

This modern version is intended to do three things:

  1. Provide a flat, even surface for the mattress to rest on.
  2. Helps reduce overall wear-and-tear of your mattress.
  3. Elevates the mattress higher off the ground or bed frame.

Experiencing an uneven sleep surface? Your box spring may be to blame

Sometimes, customers purchase a mattress from us and call back a few weeks later with concerns that their sleep surface feels uneven, sinking. One of the first questions we ask is, “what is supporting the mattress?” The majority of the time, the support system is to blame, not the mattress itself.

Buying a high-quality mattress is vital to a quality night’s sleep, but if it doesn’t have a sturdy, uniform surface to rest on, you won’t be comfortable.

So what does a bad box spring look like?

The BAD

Whenever we deliver a new mattress to a customer, we offer to take away their old bed and recycle it if possible. Sometimes, we’ll take things apart to see how and why they failed.

Recently, we took a boxspring away for a customer and removed the fabric to reveal the underlying structure. What we found was upsetting, yet all too typical in today’s market. Take a look at the picture on the left. The wooden support slats are a good 6″ apart or more. This wide spacing creates dips in the mattress, making the surface feel uneven. The flimsy cardboard layer added on top cannot compensate for this, no matter how what they may tell you in the store.

The end result of a box spring like this one? A sleep surface that sags, does not offer uniform support, and will not last.

The GOOD

Here at Bedrooms & More, we want our products to last for as long as possible. The quicker a product fails, the sooner you’re back on the market spending money. With most mattress companies, that’s the goal. That’s good for the manufacturer, but not for the you. We are always striving to do what’s right for the customer; that’s why we have our bed springs made to our exact specifications.

The photo on the right shows one of our standard box springs before adding fabric. Looks a little different, doesn’t it? That’s because we space our slats approximately 2″ apart (not 6″ or more)! This provides even support across the whole mattress, so you don’t get that uncomfortable sagging. This way, your mattress lasts longer and you stay sleeping comfortably.

Good_Box spring

The Verdict

It’s easy to see why box springs are important. You’ll want to make sure your next boxspring has slats spaced closer together providing a solid sleep surface that lasts.

If you’re in the market for a mattress with a boxspring, ask about the spacing of the slats. Ideally, you want no more than 2-3″ of space between each slat to provide the necessary support.

Still have questions? We offer a class every Saturday morning at 9:30 am on How to Shop for a Mattress. Get full details here.

One thought on “Why Boxsprings are Important

  1. Marcella Van Oel says:

    Hi,
    A few years back we purchased a flippable mattress from you. Still happy with it. However, I chose the less tall box spring option and now we would prefer a taller size support under the mattress. What would you suggest? And would you take the other one away with the purchase of a new one?

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