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