In recent months, members of our Furniture Concepts team have had the privilege of attending some of the premier national and regional summer camp conferences.  

Conferences like the CCCA National Conference and the ACA National and Regional Conferences gather the leadership of many of the country’s most successful camp and conference centers.  Administrators we have spoken to have been teeming with optimism and have been sharing their excitement for the year-round opportunities many camp and conference center are experiencing. 

Many camp and conference centers have been expanding their capabilities to include adult programs, worship programs and family programs that allow them to be open 10 – 12 months a year.  Traditionally, camps were a place where parents dropped their kids for a week or two over summer, now those same parents are becoming customers of these same camps. 

So how do you decide which type of mattress to buy? Why do the prices span such a wide spectrum from suspiciously cheap to crazy expensive? 

In Part I of this three part blog series, we compared buying mattresses from what turns out to be a pretty extensive menu.  It starts with the mattress core. Next is the mattress cover.   

Here are a few basics of mattress covers for commercial and group living environments:

• Nylon for mattress covers is referred to as either as generic “nylon” or by brand name like SoFlux. Nylon has many advantages including stain, bacteria, fungus and fluid resistance. It has a soft touch and feels pretty much like a residential mattress under bed sheets. Nylon allows for more “breathing” which results in a cooler night’s sleep.
• Cloth covers are typically a pinstripe cover usually comprised of cotton or a ploy-cotton blend.  Cloth covers are the least popular cover type for commercial installations due to its susceptibility to stains, bacteria and fungus. Residential mattresses typically have cloth covers because it is highly breathable and comfortable but cloth is not recommended for commercial applications.
• Vinyl is a multi-ply laminated textile with a coated surface. As a mattress cover, vinyl is a highly durable due to its highly fluid, bacteria and fungal resistance. There are a wide variety of vinyls that differ in stretchability, softness and comfort. Due to its ability to stretch, vinyl is resistant to tearing and punctures. Newer technology in vinyl has given rise to premium brands like Correct Tick, a very soft and pliable vinyl that is far more comfortable for sleeping than traditional vinyls that tend to be stiff and hot during sleeping.  That being said, traditional vinyls are still a cost-effective and durable solution for both group living and healthcare applications.

One glance at Google and it is quick to see that the world of contract / commercial mattresses is complex and pricey. With prices ranging from about $25 all the way up to $200 for each mattress, how do you choose the right mattress for your facility?

For camp directors, making sure that bedrooms are ready for the next group of visitors can be an endless battle. 

Once beds and storage pieces are in place, choosing mattresses that are the right cost, function, and comfort can be daunting.