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There of course various choices depending on your property. For example indoors depending on access in to your property or perhaps outside in a front or rear garden or what many people often prefer, on a terrace or a roof terrace if possible.
Whilst there are many choices to consider, one has to take into account certain factors, and the most important and obvious one is that the Jacuzzi Style Hot Tub is going to be placed on a weight bearing foundation that is able to support the weight of the Jacuzzi including the water and say 4/5 adults.
It is important that the base on which the Jacuzzi is to be placed is level and of a consistent texture and strength through out - little point if it is just strong at one end and weak in the middle.
A suggested base or foundation would be a layer of concrete with a thickness of 6 inches and to be laid on hard core, which has been laid for the concrete to key too. Perhaps bars of reinforced steel would also add strength - some people use concrete roof beams or small RSJ's Rolled Steel Joists,
If the Jacuzzi is going to be installed on, for example, wooden decking the same, kind of considerations have to be made. A guide for the total weight is 100 lbs per square foot.
If a Jacuzzi is to be set into decking or sunken consideration has to be given to access for service or routine maintenance. I have seen many installations that whilst they look nice they are impossible to access. At some time, access will be required in the same way that you have to open the hood of a car to change the battery or what ever.
It may be possible to place a Jacuzzi Style Hot Tub in side your property.
If you do decide to put your Jacuzzi indoors, then of course you will have a lot of water inside your property and one has to consider very carefully the implications if for what ever reason a leak occurred. Just a child possibly accidentally opening the drain valve one evening might mean that you could wake up knee deep in water. Therefore, if it is going to be inside one has to plan an effective drainage system and ensure that should (heaven forbid) there be any leaks that the water drains away harmlessly.
In addition, as the Hot Tub will run at a high temperature it will give off a lot of damp moisture and this could accumulate on the ceiling, floors and walls of your property. Obviously, you will need very good ventilation in order to deal with this.
For the majority of Jacuzzi Hot Tub users the best position tends to be outside for a variety of reasons. The Jacuzzi can be enjoyed at any time of the year, that is for a full 365 days, perhaps to cool off on a warm sultry day or to warm up on a winters evening.
Obviously when outside the Jacuzzi Hot tub will be more exposed to the elements and you will need to wear bath slippers or equivalent as you walk to the Jacuzzi to keep the water as clear as possible.
A cover is essential for a Hot Tub whether it is indoors or outside.
You should always have the cover on it when the tub is not in use.This not only keeps the water warm but also keeps the dirt and dust out.
Also the cleaner the water the less you will have to treat the water with chemicals etc. In addition, it is a safety factor to ensure that youngsters do not get in to the Hot Tub unsupervised.
When buying a Hot Tub Spa how does one assess the shell used. Quite often a cheaper acrylic may be used and one can always tell the quality producer of hot tub shells. These are usually deep tubs as some manufacturers' use such cheap grades of material that it cannot take the manufacturing processes to get a really deep spa. Some times, you can see stretch marks on the bends and curves of the Hot Tub particularly so or more so with some finishes as opposed to others. I have seen this even in Lucite shells but on following thus up I found that this manufacturer whilst using Lucite had not been using Lucite xtracast acrylic (the best grade and most expensive).
In my view, the better-built spas in the world are made with a patented four layer strengthening process, which is called Dura-Bond ". This exclusive system combines the acknowledged beauty of Lucite-Xtra " Acrylic with a layer of ABS for shell strength and integrity. Then the maker of the better spas in the world add a layer of double strengthening material Dura-Bond ™. This high-density material is re-enforced with a fibrous chop material that adds very considerable strength to the Spa Shell. The process is completed with a thick layer of polyurethane foam.
Lucite-Xtra " cast acrylic is a non-porous material that resists stains like the build up of lotions and body oils, which can ruin non- acrylic spas. This tough material keeps it shine and colour despite the use of sanitizing chemicals, high temperatures and exposure to sunlight. Its strong durable surface resists chipping, cracking and denting. Lucite-Xtra " is easily maintained with a sponge and mild soap. No additional polishing or waxing is needed to keep its lustrous appearance.
One can always check the quality of these Hot Tub Jacuzzi Shells by applying what I call the lipstick test. Because Enderol and other low cost surfaces are actually porous (a great place for bacteria to manifest itself), they are of course also much less resistant to staining which is why you would see a tile line around some of their spas. If you apply lipstick, then usually it is not very easy to remove. On high grade Acrylic, since it is non-porous, it will simply wipe right off.
When you or your friends are thinking of buying a Hot Tub Jacuzzi Spa it is always worth probing a little beneath the glitz of the packaging and presentation. Do not fall for the simle patter of a salesperson who simply repeats by rote some pre-planned presentation and very probably does not even use a Hot Tub Jacuzzi.
Make sure you buy from a long established American manufacturer and not just a cheap import from the East.