FAQ

We offer a one week trial guarantee for all our standard size futons, mattresses, and bed bases. This means you get to try your bed for a whole week to make sure it is the right choice for you. Rest assured knowing that you can get a refund or exchange for the product if you are not completely satisfied.

This trial promise includes sharing the freight costs: if you have paid for delivery, we will pay for return freight to our workshop.

The 7-day trial is extended to all futons, mattresses, and bed bases on this website in the full price list and itemised on the pages. We cannot offer trials on non-standard bed sizes, modified beds and products, and custom-designed beds.

At Futonz, we stand behind the quality of all our products. Our futon mattresses have a 5-year warranty on materials and workmanship. Our bedside tables, bed frames and latex mattresses have a 10-year warranty for materials and workmanship.

Our organic latex mattresses are made from 100% pure, sustainable, and organic latex. Organic latex is made from organic rubber milk sap, sustainably tapped from Hevea Brasiliensis rubber trees. Organic latex is a renewable resource that is grown in organic plantations.

To turn the latex sap into latex beds the latex milk is expanded and aerated in a vacuum chamber, and then heat-cured. This creates the latex layers that we use, a product that can last over 30 years with reasonable care.

We offer different densities and thicknesses of organic latex to provide comfort and support customized to your needs.

Organic latex is an amazing ‘super’ material, naturally produced and perfect for sleeping on. We have tried synthetic alternatives but they do not perform as well as latex. We offer a ten-year warranty on materials and workmanship for all of our organic latex mattresses, so that you can be confident in the quality of your new mattress.

Organic latex mattresses have excellent postural and weight support properties. This means they contour to your body shape without sagging. Unlike spring mattresses, the density of latex is consistent and self-supportive which promotes a horizontal or ‘level’ body alignment. Orthopaedic doctors and chiropractors often recommend latex beds and many people have given us great feedback about how our beds have eased a variety of aches and pains. If you think your current mattress is not contributing to your well being and health, we can suggest what mattress may best suit your personal requirements, and we offer a 7-night trial.

With normal care, our latex mattresses can provide over 30 years of great sleep. Pure latex rubber is an extraordinary material, which keeps elasticity and density without sagging.

Good sleeping environments are warm and dry. Our latex mattresses perform perfectly in this kind of environment. Even in humid conditions, latex mattresses are very good. Latex is bacteriostatic, which means it is naturally free and resistant to mould. We use organic New Zealand wool in our covers because of its ability to regulate temperature. Wool is warm and dry in winter, and cool in summer. Wool regulates humidity and allows air circulation. This means moisture does not build up while sleeping which gives a dry, fresh sleeping environment.

Our latex beds may help people with allergies or breathing problems caused by dust or synthetics (like asthma aggravated by dust mites), because latex has a long life without degradation, and because dust mites are unable to live in the latex.

Latex mattresses do not require turning, like other mattresses. The density of pure latex is not affected by temperature, which means the mattress support and comfort remains consistent without sagging or dipping.

Futon refers to bedding traditionally used in Japan and Korea, where they are still extensively used and popular. ‘Futon’ is the phonetic English of a Japanese word that means ‘bedding’. It is written as 布団, 蒲団or ふとん in Japanese, and 후톤 in Korean. Traditionally, futons were made of natural raw cotton, wrapped in a cotton sheet. Modern futons still use raw cotton with a cover made to fit that is tied or zipped. Western futons supplement the natural raw cotton with other materials such as wool or latex for additional support.

At FUTONZ we use ‘futon’ to mean any mattress that contains layers of raw cotton. This includes our Traditional Futon, made completely from natural raw cotton, as well as our modern Futon Range. Our modern futons have an outer layer of wool, and then two thick layers of natural cotton. But it is the middle or ‘core’ material that makes the density different; giving the futon a soft, medium or firm feel, with enough support for most people to sleep comfortably on.

The centre of our Latex Core and Latex Wool futons have a 50mm 100% pure and organic natural latex layer. Our natural cotton covers are made from a durable, light cotton canvas material (100% cotton).

Futons are quite different in feel and materials compared to our Natural Latex Mattresses which are all made from pure latex rubber (and do not contain cotton). Give our futons a go with our 7-night trial!

The Wikipedia entry on Futons includes more information about futons.

Futons have many benefits:

• The qualities of natural fibres:
  • Insulating – warm in winter; cool in summer.
  • Breathes well – allowing air to flow through the fibres.
  • Natural – made from healthy and non-toxic materials.
• No metal – free of electro-magnetic stress – wooden slat bases, futons and natural mattresses create a sleeping environment free from electro-magnetic conductivity.
• Good postural support – the combination of solid slats and layers of natural fibres provides a very stable bed. This provides comfortable support for healthy spine alignment.
• Versatility – with timeless natural style, futons and slat beds are readily adapted to a wide range of sleeping styles and traditional to modern decors.
• Easy to transport and store.
• Environmentally friendly – FUTONZ slat beds are manufactured using only New Zealand grown plantation timbers. We do not use native timbers, nor do we use imported rain-forest timbers. Our slat bed bases are finished in environmentally friendly natural oils and waxes.

A futon can last as long as a conventional mattress, given the correct maintenance i.e. used on an appropriate slat bed base and turned regularly. As a rule of thumb, expect a futon to last 5-10 years. After this time futons can be reconditioned by adding more layers of cotton and/or wool.

Our solid slat bases are suitable to use with any futon except the Traditional Futon (this is made to go directly on the floor).

If you have an existing frame you would like to use with a futon, please contact us for suitability or any questions.

We provide outer Futon Covers that can easily be taken off and washed.

Please don’t take off the inner futon cover – the tufted one with ties. This is what keeps the layers of cotton and wool in place. The layers of natural fibre from which Futonz futons and natural mattresses are made are encased in a cotton cover which is then zipped closed and hand-tied (tufted) to complete the futon. It is not intended as a removable cover. It is designed to be easily reconditioned in the future, a quick and cheap procedure – but one best undertaken by us. If you have any questions please contact us.

We make removable, machine-washable protectors and coloured Futon Covers.

To clean, treat your futon as you would any other mattress. It can be surface wiped with a slightly damp cloth, but never wet through or soaked. You can protect your futon with a removable mattress protector that can be taken off and laundered.

Futons require turning at least once a week to air the mattress, maintain the cotton loft, and avoid sagging. Traditional futons are best rolled or turned every morning.

A futon’s loft can be invigorated by putting the futon in the sun for a few hours on a dry day.

Most of our futons have a special ‘core’ or middle layer which will last for years (the latex core can be used for over 30 years). Cotton settles naturally over the years and gradually becomes firmer, which should be anticipated when choosing a futon mattress. We can return futons to a softer feel through reconditioning (covered immediately below).

Futons can be cheaply and quickly refreshed, usually by supplementing the loft with extra cotton and/or layers of wool. Sometimes a new cover is required. Please contact us and we will be able to help with your specific futon.

At Futonz we only use timber grown sustainably in New Zealand renewable plantations. Our pine bases are made from Pinus Radiata, strong and flexible wood with a broad clear grain. All of our king and super king size beds have a pine centre rail for optimum strength. Our macrocarpa bases are made from Cypressus Macrocarpa, a slower-growing wood with a very durable finish in a warm hue, and with a fine-grained texture. We use natural Haarlem oil (also called Danish Oil or Tung Oil) to help protect it from scratches, dirt and stains.

We do not usually recommend flexi-slat bases with our futon mattresses. But we offer flexi-slat bed bases that work well with our latex mattresses.

We also sell a variety of different flexi-slat bed systems including rubber pockets, plastic caps, tensioner slats, plastic sliders, and laminated beech slats – usually to replace worn or broken flexi-slat systems.

We often replace worn flexi-slat systems with ‘fixed slat rolls’. If you are concerned about worn out flexi-slats, find your bed is sagging (due to weak flexi-slats), has too much ‘give’ or is uneven, we can usually reconfigure your base with new fixed-slats made from natural pine.

(Tip! Wondering if your flexi-slats are in need of replacing? You can tell if your flexi-slats are the cause of a sagging bed by putting your mattress on the floor for a night’s sleep. More comfortable? Perhaps it’s time to replace your flexi-slats).

Our wooden frames come with a ten-year guarantee on materials and workmanship. However, if the base is treated with care it will last for decades.

Please contact us if you have any preferences, special requirements or other modifications you would like to make to your bed before purchase. We make the futons, latex mattresses and slat bases to order, so we are able to offer some flexibility and customisation.

• Sizes and Thickness – We can extend or reduce our standard sizes of mattresses and most bases to fit your requirements. This includes: lengthening mattresses and bases; reducing the height of bases from the ground, or extending the height of the bases legs within design tolerances.
• Materials. We are able to make mattresses in a combination of materials you choose. This could be all natural materials (no synthetics); extra latex (to make your mattress more soft or firm) or a modification of the type and amount of latex in a standard mattress to your preference.
• Cover. We have a range of breathable covers from flexible bamboo to natural cotton that accommodate most sleep preferences. We strongly recommend a breathable fabric with a moisture and air permeable under layer to ensure a fresh and dry sleep environment.

We are happy to discuss any potential options with you and advise on the materials and design to best suit your sleep preferences. Please note that for custom bed designs payment is required in full upon order, and we cannot offer a trial period.

All the latex used in our futons and latex mattresses is 100% organic latex. The latex we use is grown in a plantation in Sri Lanka that follows sustainable and organic growing practices and does not use synthetic additives or fillers in the production of their latex. We are more than happy with the quality of the latex they provide and are happy to support an eco-friendly, ethical and developing business.

We use organic New Zealand wool in our latex mattress covers and pillows. It is 100% natural and does not contain chemicals or fire retardants. However, it does compress faster than poly-wool blend so we do not recommend it in the futon mattresses for most people.

If you want your futon to be made with organic New Zealand wool instead of poly-wool blend please contact us and we will be happy to help!

We recommend a poly-wool blend of 40% poly and 60% wool for use in futons. We find this gives the best balance of long-lasting thickness with the natural temperature and moisture regulation of wool. Wool without a poly blend will compress quicker and eventually felt.

It may be stating the obvious, but we suggest you choose the kind of mattress that you are most comfortable sleeping on, unless a medical practitioner has given specific advice. Firm is not always better for health or back pain. Soft is not always more comfortable throughout the night. Peoples’ mattress preferences often change over time.
Make sure you buy from a retailer that will let you take the bed home to try, and return it for a refund or swap if it’s not suitable. Trying a bed for 10 minutes in a showroom is quite different from a whole night’s sleep.

Futonz offers a 7 day trial on our entire standard range.

Chiropractors and orthopedic surgeons regularly recommend either futons or latex mattresses (for different reasons) for muscle, joint or back pain. The most frequent cause of back pain seems to be caused by a bed that’s sagging in the middle, but if you have sleep discomfort we recommend asking a specialist what kind of mattress is most likely to help you before deciding on one.

If you buy from Futonz you can be confident that you will get:

An amazingly comfortable bed!
Best value for money (for the quality and amount of materials we use, and workmanship, we keep our prices the best in New Zealand)
Top quality materials (Organic latex, Natural Cotton, NZ grown pine and macrocarpa timber)
Peace of mind with a 5 year or 10 year guarantee