Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, shoppers looking at mattresses ask our mattress experts this question all the time. Whether in our North Georgia mattress stores or on our website, “Do I need to replace my box spring?” and “When should I replace my box spring?” rank as a few of our most frequently-asked mattress questions.
These days, the internet is practically overrun with mattress reviews, unboxing videos, and testimonials. While it’s amazing that you can research mattresses to your heart’s content, there’s very little helpful information out there about bases, foundations and box springs. It’s almost like no one realizes that having the right foundation is critically important to both the comfort level and lifespan of your mattress.
There’s already far too much confusion about foundations and box springs in general, so today we are going to clear that up for you. For instance, the mattress industry and mattress retailers often tell shoppers that they absolutely must replace their foundations or box springs when buying a new mattress. While this is generally advisable and probably a good idea, this suggestion is merely the simplest answer — not always the right answer for you.
Have you ever asked any of these questions when mattress shopping? Do you really need to replace the box spring with the mattress? Or are you just being sold? When should you replace your box spring, and when is it okay to keep your old one?
Perhaps these questions are exactly why you’re here! By the end of this short article, you’ll be equipped to know when to replace your box spring, when you may not need to, and whether you need to replace your box spring when you buy a new mattress.
When Should I Replace My Box Spring or Foundation?
If there is any kind of damage or wear to your box spring or foundation – cracks, tears, bowing, bending, or even creaking – it’s time to replace it. You can ruin a perfectly good mattress (and a perfectly good night’s sleep) by setting it on a faulty foundation. This holds true for mattresses of all types — hybrid mattresses, various foam mattresses, inner spring mattresses and anything in-between. Remember, not only does the mattress base support your weight and that of potential spouses, kids and pets, but also that of the mattress itself. As such, your foundation needs to be able to easily support hundreds, maybe even thousands, of pounds.
Same goes for if your box spring is ancient. In fact, the name “box spring” comes from back in the day when springs inside the frame were built to exert upward pressure on the mattress. This was meant to work in concert with the springs in the mattress itself. Nowadays, most people use the term “box spring” as a catch-all term for foundations and bases of all types, but this is technically incorrect. If your box spring is old enough to actually include metal coils, it needs to go. There are better options these days, and most modern mattresses aren’t made for this kind of foundation anyway.
Lastly, old-school box springs with wooden frames generally have a shorter life span than modern foundations with metal frames. Historically, the lifespan of box springs has mirrored that of traditional inner spring mattresses — usually between 5 to 10 years. As a result, it has become customary to replace wooden box springs with the mattress as a precaution. Why? Because even if there is no visible wear on a box spring, there is still the potential for invisible wear due to time and regular use. And just because you can’t see damage or wear on your old foundation or box spring, doesn’t mean it won’t show up on your brand new mattress.
All of this is especially important if box springs have been exposed to tons of use, extreme temperatures or humidity. Nobody wants their new mattress sitting on a moldy, musty, or mite-ridden foundation. Newer foundations with metal frames are generally more durable than wooden box springs, but aren’t immune to wear either.
When Is It Okay to Keep My Old Box Spring or Foundation?
Now you understand why the mattress industry automatically assumes new mattress shoppers need a new foundation or box spring. Are they being 100% truthful and accurate? Nope, not quite. But still, chances are pretty good that you’ll be better off replacing your old box spring or foundation.
If your old box spring or foundation meets the criteria below, it might be okay to keep it for a bit longer:
- No damage or excessive wear
- Not more than 3 to 5 years old
- Is a newer foundation design without springs or coils
- No exposure to extreme temperatures, humidity, excessive dust, etc.
- Supports/slats are close enough together to support modern mattress designs (more on that in a minute!)
Do I Need to Replace My Old Box Springs When Replacing My Mattress?
For reasons we discussed above, it is probably wise to go ahead and buy a new foundation, base or box spring when buying a new mattress. This is the default suggestion you’ll get from most mattress stores and manufacturers, and this is the right answer for most people. If you replace your box spring when replacing your mattress, there are no doubts about whether your old box spring is a good fit for your new mattress. It’s also naturally the most convenient time to replace a mattress foundation since you’re already moving mattresses around.
However, as with many of our frequently-asked questions, the real answer to this question is “it depends”. Honestly assess our guidelines above about when to replace and when not, and you really can’t go wrong.
Here is one final thing to consider. Is your new mattress a hybrid, foam, or similar type mattress like Purple or Tempur-Pedic? If so, you need to also be aware of each brand’s recommendations for mattress foundations. Many manufacturers of non-inner spring mattresses advise against using old-school box springs or foundations with slats or supports that are spaced too far apart. This is because mattresses with foam base layers can squish between these supports, damaging the structure of your new mattress. This is not good for the mattress, and it is not good for your sleep.
Usually the acceptable gap between slats or supports is between 2 and 3 inches, however, each brand is different. So be sure to investigate before settling for just any old mattress base. If your new mattress is something other than a traditional inner spring design, you might need a newer foundation made with modern mattress designs in mind.
Visit Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet for Even More Helpful Mattress Resources!
Keeping all these things in mind, you’re now ready to replace your old box spring or foundation — or not! For more informative mattress resources, check out the helpful mattress and sleep articles below.
