What Are Mattress Foundations?

Types of Foundations

• The traditional box spring uses a collection of inner coiled springs that are contained within either a wooden or metal frame. The box spring is covered in either a cloth or fabric. Just as the name implies, box springs give the mattress an added springy feel. A related foundation is the torsion module, which replaces the springs with vertical torsion bars to absorb the pressure placed on the mattress. A slat foundation is built into the bed frame and, unlike box springs, only uses narrow strips of wood across the frame as support for the mattress on top of it. These types of foundations produce the firmest effect of the three.

Rest Benefits

• A primary concern for using a particular mattress is the comfort it gives your entire body when you lie on it. Many people sleep in the same mattress spot, night after night and year after year, which can cause sagging in certain spots that are overused and lead to less comfort when lying in these spots. A foundation will help keep the mattress level and, along with other things such as regularly flipping the mattress, will assist in fending off sagging.

Additional Benefits

• Along with the bed frame, a foundation raises the height of the mattress above the floor, which makes getting on and off the mattress much easier than when the mattress is placed directly onto the floor. The foundation also absorbs a lot of the impact that passes through a mattress when it is used roughly and helps prolong the length of time a mattress can be used comfortably.

Considerations

• Different mattress types are specifically engineered to match certain foundation types. The particular foundation used is therefore a serious consideration because the foundations are not interchangeable, and using the wrong foundation reduces not only the effectiveness of the mattress to provide comfortable support, but may also affect the warranty coverage in the eyes of the mattress manufacturer. Purchase the matching mattress and foundation together so that the mattress will be better maintained. Determine what level of rigidity you need for the mattress to feel most comfortable. Some foundations are also thicker than others, which affects the bed's height and may affect how you can maneuver it around when cleaning or moving.