DIY Dunlop Talalay Mattress

All Dunlop latex used in our mattress is GOLS-certified organic. The primary criteria for GOLS certification are:

• the organic latex content must by 95% or greater.
• no synthetic latex can be used

Additionally, all latex is strenuously tested for harmful substances, VOC's

Dunlop is the original process of manufacturing natural rubbers and remains the optional process for 100% natural and organic latex products. Dunlop is the only process that has commercially available GOLS-certified organic latex products.

We carry the best natural (Organic Dunlop) and blended (Talalay) latex types and price them the same so you can make a choice based solely on the best fit.

Dunlop is more natural, denser, and supportive. Talalay is softer and more consistent but only comes in smaller sizes. For example, a King must be made with glued pieces, and all our mattresses are glue-free, so any King will be made from Twin XL's. All Dunlop pieces are solid.

Some people recommend mixing Talalay comfort layers and Dunlop support cores, but this typically isn't necessary or the ideal use for either latex type.

The primary difference between the two types of latex is centred around the vacuum and flash-freezing stage of the manufacturing process. This step creates a less dense, more consistent latex but with a catch. To compensate for the reduction in density, you need to increase the consistency of the latex mix. That is why most Talalay is mixed with SBR (Synthetic Rubber), and there is no commercially available GOLS Talalay latex.

Both are Talalay latex and both carry Oeko-Tex certification, which tests for harmful substances. The
difference is in latex composition. Natural Talalay contains no synthetic latex: it is made entirely from natural rubber. Original Talalay includes a synthetic component in its blend. Neither is GOLS certified, since GOLS certification is only available for Dunlop latex. In practice, both Talalay options feel
similar. If avoiding synthetic latex content is a priority, Natural Talalay is the right choice. If organic certification matters to you, look at the Organic Dunlop toppers instead.

Due to manufacturing limitations, Talalay latex is not produced in solid King-size pieces. Instead, King mattresses and toppers are made by bonding two Twin XL layers together. Depending on the size and firmness, other layers may also be bonded. If having solid, moulded latex layers is a priority, we recommend choosing organic Dunlop latex.

All mattress 8" or thicker (futons are not included) come with a top-zippered covered and our 180-day layer exchange program. Contact us by phone or email and we will work through what layers need to be exchanged. Once we decide on the layers simply unzip them from the mattress, bring them back to us and we will give you new ones. We can even arrange for freight for out-of-town customers.

Yes, latex has a natural odour. It's not bothersome to most people as it's not a chemical smell, but those with smell sensitives are more likely to notice something. We can air our the components at our factory upon requests. We recommend 2-3 weeks on these cases. Additionally, shredded latex pillows have the strongest odour of all latex products.

A bed frame is a critical component of a latex mattress. The general rule of thumb is that you want a breathable, rigid surface with more support than air.

For 100% latex mattresses, the maximum distance between slats in 2.5" and the minimum slat width is 2".

For hybrid latex mattress, the maximum distance between slats in 3" and the minimum slat width is 2".

Traditional mattress foundations rarely meet the unique demands of latex rubber. However, nearly any bed-frame or foundation can be brought up to the warranty standard with Coir Bunkie Board.

There are several ways to bring an existing bed frame up the warranty standard. Our preferred option is Coir Bunkie Board as it's supportive, natural and breathable. Our next favourite is Pegboard. The thin board with holes in it is fairly inexpensive and readily available at most hardware stores. The third option is plywood. Although very supportive, we strongly recommend some breathabilty. Mould is fairly rare problem but there's a greater that zero percent chance of it forming.