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