Our spa/hot tub is in need of a new cover due to damage from a tree-limb
that fell during a storm. The existing cover is the original that came with
the spa 3 years ago. It was fine but in addition to the new hole, the vinyl
and seams were starting to tear, and it was starting to smell.
We are faced with spending about $300 to order the same exact thing, or more
depending on upgrades to the insulation, vinyl, etc.
So I had the idea to build one using 1/4" plywood to make 2 tapered boxes
that would be hinged in the middle and filled either with sheets of
insulation and expanding foam, or entirely of expanding foam.
My concerns would be the total weight, and moisture. The existing one is
not light, so I want the new one to be about the same weight. And for
moisture, I know it will need extra protection and maintenance.
Comments? Questions? Advice? Ideas? Suggestions?
Insane?
Thanks in advance,
Scott
My original hot tub cover deteriated over time, due to sun exposure and the
neighborhood cats. Here is my solution and it has worked well for me for the
past two years. First part is 3/4 inch thick floating insulation cut to fit
the tub. I got a large chunk of 4 inch thick closed cell styrofoam and
hollowed out the bottom surface to lock on the contours of the top of the
tub surface. I then covered the foam with adhesive-backed fabric (top and
bottom, all the way around). I then sealed the fabric with several coats of
poly. For the very top layer, I use a roll-up type sun shade made from
bamboo (extra weight to keep the foam from blowing off and a cat barrier).
The bamboo shade is held down with small bungee cords.
For each use, I roll up the bamboo and stand it in the corner. (I have some
hooks where I can also use the bamboo for an extra privacy curtain or
sun/wind screen.) Lift the foam top and set it on the bench near the tub.
The floating foam gets draped over the bench back. This may sound like a lot
of work compared to a vinyl cover, but it is fast and easy - even the kids
do this with no problems. My tub may be smaller than yours and my solution
may not be applicable to your situation, but the ply sounds like overkill
and heavy. If you want to continue with a wood solution, explore the
possibility of door skins (light weight 1/8 inch ply).
Good luck!
"fins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Our spa/hot tub is in need of a new cover due to damage from a tree-limb
> that fell during a storm. The existing cover is the original that came
with
> the spa 3 years ago. It was fine but in addition to the new hole, the
vinyl
> and seams were starting to tear, and it was starting to smell.
>
> We are faced with spending about $300 to order the same exact thing, or
more
> depending on upgrades to the insulation, vinyl, etc.
>
> So I had the idea to build one using 1/4" plywood to make 2 tapered boxes
> that would be hinged in the middle and filled either with sheets of
> insulation and expanding foam, or entirely of expanding foam.
>
> My concerns would be the total weight, and moisture. The existing one is
> not light, so I want the new one to be about the same weight. And for
> moisture, I know it will need extra protection and maintenance.
>
> Comments? Questions? Advice? Ideas? Suggestions?
>
> Insane?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Scott
>
>
>
We went with the basic spa from Lowe's. It's made by Gatsby but has the
Jacuzzi brand name on it. It has been great for 3 years. Only problem was
a failed temp sensor that they UPS'ed under warranty. It's easy access to
work on.
I would recommend a 240v circuit so that you can have heat & pumps at the
same time.
Scott
"CWNoah" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A little OT, but this seems like as good a thread as any...
>
> The wife and I are planning to buy a spa, and have been evaluating many
brands.
> Anyone have one they like well enough to recommend? What do you like and
> dislike about yours?
>
> A couple of weeks ago, we had a rep from Thermospas come by for a site
> evaluation. I hit him with several negative reviews from epinions.com, and
he
> said he'd never heard of any of those complaints. He said he'd get
answers,
> local reference customers for us to visit, and get right back to us. I bet
he'd
> never be heard from again. So far, I'm winning the bet. ;^)
>
> Thanks for any advice,
> Charlie Noah
>
> "fins" <[email protected]> writes:
>
> >Our spa/hot tub is in need of a new cover due to damage from a tree-limb
> >that fell during a storm. The existing cover is the original that came
with
> >the spa 3 years ago. It was fine but in addition to the new hole, the
vinyl
> >and seams were starting to tear, and it was starting to smell.
>
>
fins wrote:
>Our spa/hot tub is in need of a new cover due to damage from a tree-limb
>that fell during a storm. The existing cover is the original that came with
>the spa 3 years ago. It was fine but in addition to the new hole, the vinyl
>and seams were starting to tear, and it was starting to smell.
>
>We are faced with spending about $300 to order the same exact thing, or more
>depending on upgrades to the insulation, vinyl, etc.
>
>So I had the idea to build one using 1/4" plywood to make 2 tapered boxes
>that would be hinged in the middle and filled either with sheets of
>insulation and expanding foam, or entirely of expanding foam.
>
>My concerns would be the total weight, and moisture. The existing one is
>not light, so I want the new one to be about the same weight. And for
>moisture, I know it will need extra protection and maintenance.
>
>Comments? Questions? Advice? Ideas? Suggestions?
>
>Insane?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Scott
>
>
>In a word YES...you are insane... lol The cost to build one is darn close to the cost of buying a commercially made cover...
>
I live in Maryland and do have (2) new, unused, covers that I would be
willing to let go for "peanuts" ..Came with my hot tub 5 years ago and
was NOT the correct size...manufacturer replaced it with the correct
one ..not once but twice ???? No way was I offering to box the second
one up and lug it to be returned...
One is "about" 72 by 80 the other is about 82 x 82 FROM Memory if
anyone is interested I can actually measure them .... Peanuts BTW
means dirt cheap... suckers take up a lot of room in my basement...
Bob Griffiths
Bob Grifffiths.
> Our spa/hot tub is in need of a new cover due to damage
> I had the idea to build one using 1/4" plywood to make 2 tapered
> boxes that would be hinged in the middle and filled either with
> sheets of insulation and expanding foam, or entirely of expanding
> foam.
I have a hot tub I built myself and have tried a few different options for
the cover.
The first was simple tarp. Ugly, and it blew off every time we had a little
wind. Obviously I had to find a better solution.
The second attempt was a simple plywood cover hinged in the middle, and
covered with vinyl. This did not work well at all. The constant heat and
moisture from the tub warped the plywood in many directions within a matter
of weeks.
My current cover is built with a framework of 2x2's, hinged in the middle,
with 1-1/2" thick rigid foam insulation. then everything is covered with
vinyl inside and out. This cover has worked well for the last three years,
but over time the foam itself has absorbed more and more moisture. So, it's
getting rather heavy to take on and off of the tub.
I've been considering rebuilding the cover again, and have thought about
using a single piece of 4" foam insulation, coating that with fiberglass
cloth and resin to keep it water tight. I suppose it would be just as easy
to wrap the foam with plastic, and then cover that with vinyl.
Anthony
Hot Tub Plans: www.mountain-software.com/hot_tub.htm
Bob, mine measures 81 3/4 by 92 3/4. If you get a chance to measure that
would be great, but it sounds like they may be too small for mine.
LMK,
Scott
"Bob G. " <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> fins wrote:
>
> >Our spa/hot tub is in need of a new cover due to damage from a tree-limb
> >that fell during a storm. The existing cover is the original that came
with
> >the spa 3 years ago. It was fine but in addition to the new hole, the
vinyl
> >and seams were starting to tear, and it was starting to smell.
> >
> >We are faced with spending about $300 to order the same exact thing, or
more
> >depending on upgrades to the insulation, vinyl, etc.
> >
> >So I had the idea to build one using 1/4" plywood to make 2 tapered boxes
> >that would be hinged in the middle and filled either with sheets of
> >insulation and expanding foam, or entirely of expanding foam.
> >
> >My concerns would be the total weight, and moisture. The existing one is
> >not light, so I want the new one to be about the same weight. And for
> >moisture, I know it will need extra protection and maintenance.
> >
> >Comments? Questions? Advice? Ideas? Suggestions?
> >
> >Insane?
> >
> >Thanks in advance,
> >Scott
> >
> >
> >In a word YES...you are insane... lol The cost to build one is darn
close to the cost of buying a commercially made cover...
> >
> I live in Maryland and do have (2) new, unused, covers that I would be
> willing to let go for "peanuts" ..Came with my hot tub 5 years ago and
> was NOT the correct size...manufacturer replaced it with the correct
> one ..not once but twice ???? No way was I offering to box the second
> one up and lug it to be returned...
>
> One is "about" 72 by 80 the other is about 82 x 82 FROM Memory if
> anyone is interested I can actually measure them .... Peanuts BTW
> means dirt cheap... suckers take up a lot of room in my basement...
>
> Bob Griffiths
>
>
> Bob Grifffiths.
>
Thanks for the input. I'm starting to think I should just suck it up and
buy a new one and spend my sawdust time on something more worthwhile!!!!
Scott
"HerHusband" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > Our spa/hot tub is in need of a new cover due to damage
> > I had the idea to build one using 1/4" plywood to make 2 tapered
> > boxes that would be hinged in the middle and filled either with
> > sheets of insulation and expanding foam, or entirely of expanding
> > foam.
>
> I have a hot tub I built myself and have tried a few different options for
> the cover.
>
> The first was simple tarp. Ugly, and it blew off every time we had a
little
> wind. Obviously I had to find a better solution.
>
> The second attempt was a simple plywood cover hinged in the middle, and
> covered with vinyl. This did not work well at all. The constant heat and
> moisture from the tub warped the plywood in many directions within a
matter
> of weeks.
>
> My current cover is built with a framework of 2x2's, hinged in the middle,
> with 1-1/2" thick rigid foam insulation. then everything is covered with
> vinyl inside and out. This cover has worked well for the last three years,
> but over time the foam itself has absorbed more and more moisture. So,
it's
> getting rather heavy to take on and off of the tub.
>
> I've been considering rebuilding the cover again, and have thought about
> using a single piece of 4" foam insulation, coating that with fiberglass
> cloth and resin to keep it water tight. I suppose it would be just as easy
> to wrap the foam with plastic, and then cover that with vinyl.
>
> Anthony
>
> Hot Tub Plans: www.mountain-software.com/hot_tub.htm