Creating a home for my Hot Tub

[Sigarms]

There was no way to fit it into the gazebo. After some head scratching, Ron figured we could lower it on some boards and slide it in. That worked out great!!!!

You know Eddie, since following your thread and looking at the demensions of the hot tub and looking at your structure being built, I was actually tempted to ask if it (hot tub) would fit in there or how you were planning on doing it beforehand.

I just figured you already had it figured out and I was curious to see how you were going to do it

Glad it worked out.

 

[KentT]

Looks great, Eddie, as we've come to expect from any project you tackle...

What's your preliminary reaction to staining the HardiePlank? I'm seriously considering building my garage with HardiePlank siding, rather than "fake logs" if I think I can get the stain to match close enough. I ordered a set of samples for the Woodperfect stains that you can get pre-stained, but I haven't tried them out yet to see what I think. You were experimenting with Min-Wax stains, as I recall. What did you end up using?

 

[EddieWalker]

We're extremly excited about the stained results on the Hardi siding. Only time will tell, but so far, it's very impressive looking with nobody being able to guess what it is who doesn't already know.

I did about 20 different samples with verying results. Actually, they all turned out terrible except for the Min-Wax Gel stains. After buying the one quart sizes, I saw smaller ones for sale at Walmart for around $6 each.

It only comes in the one quart size and runs around $12 at Lowes and Home Depot. I looked bigger sizes, but didn't find them.

It's just like the name describes it, a gel. It's thick like Jello, and you brush it on. It's important to start at one end of the board and work your way across. If you try to go up and down a row of boards, you will get a line where the old stain overlaps the new stain. We called that part of the learning curve.

It takes a full day to dry. Then we brushed on a coat of Helmmans Spar Urithane. I'm sure I spelled that wrong, but you shouldn't have any trouble finding it. This is to protect and seal the stain on the Hardi siding. Our is a satin finish, but you have others to chose from.

From what I'm told, this is the stuff you use to stain a metal or fiberglass exterior door and is designed for the elements. Nowhere does it say it's ok or designed for Hardi products, so this is where the big question exists. Will it last and for how long? I can't say, but will update the site when we notice any fading, peeling, chipping or other problems.

Here's a few more pics of the gazebo. You might recognize some of the people in the first picture, as they are all members of TBN!!!

Eddie

 

[KentT]

Thanks for the feedback, Eddie. I'll try to find a small can of that Min-Wax gel and try it also... it may offer more color choices too!

 

[WayneB]

Wayne,

Our winter temps are in the 30's and 40's with allot of days getting into the 50's. It lasts about two months and then winter is over. We're looking forward to being in there when it's cold out, but I'm not sure about the run back to the house after getting out!!!

Right now, it's so nice out that it's not even cold when we get out. We take our time drying off and even hang out on the porch to cool off a little before going inside.

Eddie

When it gets to the 40's up here it is tee-shirt weather. For the past two weeks it has been in the low 20's each morning. Several people up around us have hot tubs and use them only in the fall winter and spring. We had one for a number of years but I had problems with the pump and decided to remove it. The kids would go into it around 105 degrees and then jump into a snow bank and immediately back into the tube. Now that will stop the heart for a second or two. You have done an excellent job on the installation Eddie, hats off to the two of you for all the work you are doing!

 

[Spiveyman]

...I thought a piece of cedar would look nice, so I cut some up with my chainsaw, then sanded, stained and sealed it.

Eddie, that shelf is awesome! I'll give you credit, but some day I'm going to have to rip that idea and use it. That looks very cool. One question though, you said you "cut some up with my chainsaw." Are you just talking about the cut-to-length cut or did you make the cut all the way down the log to make the shelf side cut with your chain saw?!?! If it's the latter, I'm really impressed. Looks like you used a table saw those cuts are so perfect.

The whole thing just looks great. I'll have to say though, I had the same reaction Bird did to that radio "above" the tub.

 

[EddieWalker]

Kent,

I tried two of the gel colors, but only liked the one we used. Off the top of my head, I think there is about 8 or 10 to choose from. They are in a light yellow can if you have trouble finding it.


Wayne,
Snow sounds like fun for all of an hour or two, then I want it to go away!!!

Thank you for the kind words.


Spivey,
Glad you liked the shelf. I have another that's just about ready to stain, but Thanksgiving got in the way. After the holiday, I can get the shop dirty again.

I have a stack of Ceder logs that are all 8ft 6in long. I just rolled on off the top and lifted one end so it was off the ground. Then I cut it in half the whole length with my chainsaw. Some parts are pretty straight, others have a curve to them. Then I cut those two halves in half again so that I had four quarters. I then looked over each quarter and picked out what was straight and nice looking. There is allot of waste, but most of the ceders are already dead but still standing when I take them out.

I used 4 differnt sanders plus a sanding bock and hand sanding to get it smooth. I really doing this too, especialy the weird shapes on the log.

Eddie

 

[elalexander]

Hey Eddie. I haven't seen any "action shots " of your tub but while I had my camera out today I thought I'd snap a few of our tub and backyard before supper. After dinner we like to jump in and tonight my better ahlf tells me we are going to watch idol

It does seem the colder the better as long as the tub is not to far from the house while the snow is flying.

EL

 

[EddieWalker]

EL,

With all that snow on the ground, I can sure see a gazebo in your future!!!!

A suprise for me has been how hard it is to get into the hot tub. I'll stand there in front of it with my robe on, and not want to take it off. I hate the cold and tend to dramatize the pain I'll suffer just before getting into the hot water.

Getting out is easy. My body tempature is warm and it's nothing to dry off and walk to the house. I'm still hot when I'm in the house and have to take a cold shower to cool off.

We're in there several times a week. It's been a great way to relax at the end of the day, or just do nothing during the day.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Just when I thought that I'd be able to get some work done on the projects that I want to get done, another surprise comes up that changes my priorities. One of my clients bought a brand new, endless swimming pool. It's rather large and the only way to get it into his back yard is with a crane. His hot tub is in the way, so for a few hours help this morning, I got the old hot tub. It's ten years old and ALLOT nicer then the one we already have. It's 50 amps, has all sorts of jets, LED lights, misters and features that our current, 1980 hot tub lacks.

Somehow, I need to take out the old hot tub and get the new one in there. First we'll do some work on the wood on the new one. Steph wants to paint the wood, and the access panel has come off. Both should be simple things to do sometime after the New Year when we have a little free time.

Now I'm glad that I procrastinated so long on putting on the screens of the gazebo. One less thing to take out.

Eddie