Waterbed frames were made extra strong to handle the weight of all that water. People who came of age during the late '60s may remember the undulating and warm embrace of the waterbed. Waterbeds -- though around for centuries in different forms -- graced many apartments, college dorms and the homes of the adventurous after grad student Charlie Hall invented one for his master's thesis in design in 1968. The original waterbeds sat on the floor or on a brick-and-plywood makeshift frame until furniture manufacturers starting churning out heavy-duty wood frames to support them. While you cannot convert a waterbed mattress into a standard one, you can convert a waterbed frame to hold a conventional mattress without a lot of fuss and muss. Attach a hose to the waterbed mattress to drain it. Insert one end of a garden hose into the fill-drain hole in the waterbed mattress. Set the hose on the floor through the house and out through a door or into the tub to drain it. Make certain the hose end is lower than the mattress so that it drains thoroughly.
Screw the cap on to close the fill-drain hole on the mattress. Fold up the mattress to remove it. It may take more than one person for this part, depending on the size of the mattress, as they are unwieldly to maneuver, especially when cold. Remove the plastic liner inside the bed frame if it has one and if desired. It is not necessary to remove it, unless you do not like its look. This only applies to waterbed frames with hard sides. Set a conventional all-in-one mattress inside the waterbed frame the same size as the waterbed mattress. Twin, full, queen or king waterbed frames -- even those with hard sides -- can accept a new mattress with ease. Slide the mattress so one end abuts the top or bottom of the frame. Measure the distance between the end of the mattress and the frame. After installing a new mattress into the waterbed frame, you might end up with six inches or more between the mattress and the frame, because waterbed mattresses are generally a tad longer than conventional mattresses.
Measure the width and depth of the conventional mattress as well. Cut a piece of foam to fit the dimensions measured. Insert the foam at the foot or head of the bed, as desired, between the conventional mattress and the frame. Add bedding to fit the mattress. You may want to use a small sheet to cover the foam, or make your own cover to fit over it. Once the bedspread is in place, the foam cannot be seen. Placing the foam at the head of the bed allows the pillows to rest upon it, giving the mattress an extra bit of length. Things You Will Need Tape measure Garden hose Foam rubber 1/2 inch thicker than the space Conventional mattress Tip Warning References The Atlantic: The Rise and Fall of the (Sexy, Icky, Practical) Waterbed Photo Credits Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images Suggest a Correction Waterbeds come in two varieties and each has its own sizing. A hardside waterbed has wood sides that form a frame, which serves to contain the vinyl safety liner and the water filled mattress bladder.
When measuring the size of a hardside waterbed mattress, you measure the inside of the waterbed frame. Because the length of a King, Queen and Twin hardside waterbed is greater than that of standard mattresses, hardside waterbeds are sometimes distinguished as California King, California Queen and Super Single. King Waterbed: 72" x 84" Queen Waterbed: 60" x 84" Super Single Waterbed: 48" x 84" It is impossible to use standard sheets on a hardside waterbed due to the difference in sizes between conventional bedding sizes and hardside waterbed sizes. For this reason, waterbed sheets can be very difficult to find at local retailers. Please don't drive yourself crazy trying. Our Waterbed Sheets are reasonably priced and constructed with great quality and craftsmanship. A softside waterbed mattress looks just like a traditional innerspring mattress, and comes in the same sizes. When you purchase a softside waterbed you can enjoy all the warmth and comfort of a hardside waterbed, without the hardside rails!
To keep the mattress from sagging between slats on platform beds, we suggest using our 2 ½" hardwood Mini Foundations. Ergo & Adjustable Bases These Ergo or Adjustable Foundations are made for ultra flexibility, moving up or down under your head and knees for a customized sleep experience. A 14" tall platform frame supports the mattress directly while also providing extra storage underneath the bed. Is a Stanard Foundation (see above) split in two for moving into your home with tight spaces, hallways or staircases. Now our Doctor's Choice Euro Top mattress is available as a waterbed replacement mattress. This mattress is specially sized to fit inside a waterbed frame. It does not include a foundation (box spring) because it is designed to sit directly on the waterbed base. One of the key components of a Doctor's Choice mattress is high-density foam that measures 1.8lbs, as opposed to other mattresses that are only 1.1-1.5 lbs. in density. This difference helps ensure "pressure point elimination," especially in the hip and side areas of the body.
Additionally, it increases the durability of the mattress, so it lasts longer. Because Denver Mattress makes all of their high quality mattresses themselves, in their own state-of-the-art facilities, they are able to offer factory direct savings of up to 50%, compared to other major mattress brands. This is why Denver Mattress is able to provide a better mattress, made from better materials, for a better price. Another feature of the Doctor's Choice mattress is the Foam Edge, which lets you take complete advantage of the full, edge-to-edge, sleeping surface. This means you never have to feel like you're sliding off the side, or sinking into the middle, again. Doctor's Choice mattresses utilize Pressure Response coils engineered with alternating right-turn and left-turn construction. This creates a perfect balance for spinal alignment and back support. While you sleep, the mattress adjusts to your body, and reduces capillary cutoff, improving spinal alignment. This results in reduced tossing and turning, so you get a better nights rest.