| We recently purchased a new Hot Tub and Gazebo | | | | at all. Plus we have room for a bar and stools in there. |
| from Cal Spas in Minnesota. The purchase was not | | | | Preparation and Additional Costs |
| something we planned, just something that caught our | | | | Here are a few things to consider in your decision they |
| eye when visiting the Minnesota State Fair. As a result | | | | either provided additional cost or hard work on my |
| we learned a few things that would have made our | | | | part. |
| purchase smarter. In the end we're pleased with the | | | | Electrical: You'll most likely need a dedicated 50 amp |
| decision but its easy to say now that all the work is | | | | circuit with a breaker box in plain view of the tub. In our |
| done. In this article I'll outline the information I wish I had | | | | case this meant digging a 36 inch deep trench from |
| considered when making this purchase. I hope it helps | | | | the garage to the gazebo (50 feet) so the electrician |
| you in your decision. | | | | could run the conduit. The cost of the electrical work |
| The Tub | | | | was about $1000.00 and I had to dig the trench myself. |
| This isn't going to be a detailed rundown on what to | | | | My buddy did his own electrical and still spent $500.00 |
| look for in a good tub or who to buy it from. I'll leave | | | | in parts so keep that in mind. |
| that to the other articles out on the internet. There are | | | | Cement: I also needed a new cement slab to |
| two points I'll make of things I may have changed. We | | | | accommodate my tub and gazebo. We put in a 14x15 |
| purchased the top of the line system, the only thing it | | | | slab to accomplish this. What I did not consider was |
| lacked was an LCD monitor and DVD player. | | | | that cement has gone way up in price since my last |
| So what would I change? | | | | 10x10 slab. We spent almost $2000.00 for the labor |
| Well after using it for a season I find that the multitude | | | | and materials to have this poured. What I also did not |
| of jets is irrelevant for me. I am more of a soaker and | | | | consider was the work of removing the grass from |
| actually prefer that the jets aren't all blasting. Its too | | | | that area. This took three days of exhausting work |
| much noise and I don't like the splashing. So I would | | | | cutting strips of sod and hauling them to the disposal |
| look for something at a better price point and give up | | | | site. |
| some of the fancy jets in favor of more common | | | | Gazebo: What I did not consider and was not told by |
| ones. | | | | the sales rep was that immediately upon erecting the |
| A friend of mine paid 1/2 of my cost for a more basic | | | | gazebo, we'd need to stain it to seal the wood from |
| unit and he couldn't be happier. | | | | the weather. This is a 12x12 structure I hadn't |
| So where would I put this money? | | | | considered staining. Let me just say it was a day of |
| I would ALWAYS splurge and get the stereo and | | | | hard work which will need to be done at least every |
| speakers built into the tub. My wife insisted on this and | | | | other year. |
| it added quite a bit to the price but I wouldn't want it | | | | Additional Items to Consider |
| any other way. The tub uses a marine radio/CD player | | | | A few additional items you may want to consider |
| with water proof speakers and a remote controller on | | | | purchasing. |
| the top side of the tub. You can easily hear the music | | | | Cover Helper: The covers of these hot tubs are not |
| and I even ran a TV in through the Auxiliary so we | | | | easy to move around by yourself. This is especially |
| can hear the TV through the tub speakers. My friend | | | | true in a Gazebo. They sell cover helpers which are |
| who didn't buy this feature is left with setting up | | | | lever type devices that life the cover mechanically and |
| elaborate wiring and remote control extenders to get | | | | put it behind the tub. Unfortunately for me my wife |
| his stereo to play outside. | | | | wants the tub against the wall so we're stuck either |
| Another feature I'd suggest is fiber optic lighting. There | | | | using 1/2 the tub or man handling the heavy cover. This |
| are a bunch of small lights around the top of the tub | | | | is my pet peeve about tubs. So if you have the room |
| that change color. At first glance it looks like this would | | | | or consider making the room, this will make your spa |
| just be to make it fancy. Try the tub at night and you'll | | | | much more enjoyable. |
| find they provide a great deal of light which makes the | | | | Portable Utility Pump: Tubs have a gravity drain at the |
| tub much easier to use. It also helps when messing | | | | bottom but these can take all day to drain a tub. My |
| around outside the tub with CD's Drinks Towels, | | | | neighbor was smart and purchased a utility pump or |
| Chemicals etc. | | | | sump pump at the local Home Depot or Menards. This |
| My friend again, is stringing rope lighting. | | | | drained the tub in about an hour and let us get to work |
| So in a nutshell on the tub, consider the stereo and | | | | cleaning and refilling fairly quick. After borrowing his I |
| fiber optics and if necessary go with less jets to cover | | | | went right out and picked one up for about $70.00 For |
| the cost. | | | | those of you who've drained a waterbed without a |
| Gazebo Information | | | | pump you'll know why this is a good investment. |
| My wife insisted on a Gazebo surrounding the tub and | | | | Hose for adding water: Just like with my waterbeds, I |
| for years I put off the purchase because I didn't want | | | | prefer to purchase a special hose for adding water to |
| to spend another $7000.00 on a Gazebo. Once we | | | | the tub. I keep it inside so it stays clean and not frozen. |
| took the plunge I'd say that for the Minnesota winters | | | | Tubs evaporate water at a surprisingly fast rate so |
| I'd have it no other way. I have neighbors that freeze | | | | plan on adding water once a month or so. |
| climbing in and out and maintaining their spa. Ours is like | | | | In Home Jacuzzi Tubs |
| another room in the house and is quite warm in the | | | | When we built our house we splurged and added one |
| winter due to the heat from the tub. | | | | of those large two person Jacuzzi tubs with six jets. I |
| Now a word of advice. | | | | thought we'd be in heaven and was reminiscing of |
| My buddy purchased an 8x8 Gazebo that basically | | | | nights spent in the Jacuzzi suites in a hotel. What I |
| encloses the tub with no extra space. They climb up | | | | didn't consider is the following and because it these |
| stairs and go through the windows of the gazebo to | | | | things, it functions more as an ornament to make the |
| get in the tub. On a showroom this looks like a fine | | | | bathroom look grand. |
| arrangement. Well this winter his wife climbs in, closes | | | | Filling: These things take time to fill, by the time its filled |
| the windows to keep the cold out and finds herself | | | | do you still need or want that bath? |
| trapped in the gazebo. They had to damage the | | | | Hot Water: Filling these will drain your water heater |
| windows getting it open due to the condensation that | | | | down unless you've planned for extra capacity. I find |
| froze the window shut. My smart wife insisted we | | | | that the water for my pre bath shower isn't very |
| purchase a larger gazebo. We went with a 12x12 that | | | | warm once I've filled the tub. |
| had racks and storage for chemicals and towels. It | | | | Cleaning: Ok so I'm lazy but just like a hot tub, you |
| also has built in lights which are a bonus. | | | | have to clean the tub and jets and the larger the tub |
| The important thing to note about this decision is that I | | | | the more work it is just to keep the dust out. |
| enter the gazebo through a sliding door, not the | | | | I hope my thoughts have given you something to |
| window. If anything freezes it will be the windows by | | | | consider and plan when making a large purchase such |
| the tub not the ones opposite the room and the sliding | | | | as a spa or gazebo. All things considered I'd do it again |
| door. Additionally its just nice to have a new room on | | | | if I moved but I'd be a little smarter and save money |
| the house and the cost relative to the benefits isn't bad | | | | and effort. |