munchkinmenus

i could do bushes/arborvitae trees. I do like the idea of the sail material and arbor. it's almost like i just need to see a lot of different ideas to get the vision to match the ideas in my head.

ok Spawn!!! Now that's funny!!!! My one neighbor did see myself and my kids out last Saturday with our bathing suits on, in the rain. It was about 40 degrees and we were crossing the patio to the tub. She didn't know we got one and when I saw her on Halloween she said she was close to calling someone to have me committed because I was outside with my children in the cold and we were in bathing suits! lol

those are both great ideas. The wood panels may be a good way to go. I will look into those for sure.

I'm new to the forum so please direct me if this question should go elsewhere. We just got a hot tub last week (Marquis Everyday 660) and love it!! We live in Michigan. I love the cover and lifter as it provides privacy on the west side of our house from our neighbors. We would like privacy on the South side (and possibly North) since winters get cold. I was thinking about a privacy fence on one or both sides, but then came up with a different idea....aluminum fence posts 6 feet high on the north side and south side of the tub with grommet curtains so we have the choice of pulling them closed or leaving one side open. My problem is finding a curtain (or fabric) that will withstand snow, ice, wind, etc. With a $7,000 hot tub I want it to look great and not cheap. Anybody who lives in a cold winter climate have any ideas or suggestions?

As a person who is new to the spa/hot tub environment, I have spent countless hours researching, visiting, wet testing, dry testing, talking.....I have come to the conclusion that the spa buying experience is more cumbersome than buying a car. There are so many brands and all claim to be the #1 something...best selling, best buy, highest efficiency, highest industry standard, best warranty, and on and on. The cabinet (wood or not wood which could be several different materials), the shell (acrylic or not acrylic), the plumbing (tees and elbows or plastic tubing glued and clamped, etc), the pumps (number, output, etc), circulation pump or no circulation pump, the number of jets, the type of jets, # of seats (lounger, non lounger, captains chairs, bench seating, high bench, low bench, barrier free), size of hot tub (7' - 8' for the most part), LED lighting (underwater, above water, on the cabinet, # of lights, etc). Covers (r value, lifter or no lifter, provides privacy or it doesn't). There is so much to consider and I have read through topic after topic. What's good? What's not? Purchase through a dealer? What about from Costco? The bottom line is that the Internet is full of opinions....user opinions, sales opinions, employee opinions, cost opinions, feature opinions. You get the picture. Everyone has something different to say about their spa experience or they want the "magic pill". I refer to the magic pill as an industry secret, the be all and end all, but the secret doesn't exist. Whether it is spas, dieting, or the secret to a long, happy marriage, there is no secret!!!! No magic pill, no concrete proof. You see, everything always relies on people's perspective, their wants and desires and needs vs.what is available. Take your pic of category.....since we're here I will say spas! From what I gather, wood cabinets are out. A durable, stain free, maintance free cabinet is in. Also, acrylic shells are better than any others. It's my understanding that a circulation pump is more efficient and less costly than not having one. Fiberglass insulation is better than non fiberglass, but full closed cell foam is great except if repairs need to be done, it is easier to repair a partial closed or nonclosed cell foam. I think you can do a lot of research online, but it all comes down to the features and specs that are important to you as well as cost.