Do It Yourself Hot Tub Cover
#1
Do It Yourself Hot Tub Cover
The cheap white styrofoam inside my hot tub cover bucled and cracked under the weight of the ice and snow last winter. I was able to remove the insulation by unzipping the vinyl cover and pulling out the bagged styrofoam and now have to replace the insulation.
I was thing of doubling up some Owens Corning Insulation Board (each sheet has an R-value of 10) and reinforcing with aluminum struts as needed and then shrink-wrapping the whole thing to protect against moisture and inserting back into the vinyl cover. The boards are rigid and easy to cut and taper so they should fit like a glove. I would think this would be a cheap and far superior upgrade - maybe like $60.00 for the boards and the struts. Just got to find a shrink-wrapper.
Anybody ever try this?
I was thing of doubling up some Owens Corning Insulation Board (each sheet has an R-value of 10) and reinforcing with aluminum struts as needed and then shrink-wrapping the whole thing to protect against moisture and inserting back into the vinyl cover. The boards are rigid and easy to cut and taper so they should fit like a glove. I would think this would be a cheap and far superior upgrade - maybe like $60.00 for the boards and the struts. Just got to find a shrink-wrapper.
Anybody ever try this?
#2
Worked for me
I have an 8 person octagon cover and didn't want to spend $400+ on a new cover.
I bought 2 x two sheets of blue foam sheets from the depot, 3 rolls packing tape, and some thin painter's drop cloth (3 mm).
I cut, taped and stuffed back in my existing cover - its been good for 6 mos so far. Gotta keep the dog off it. -there's also risk of kids on it. So just keep the gate closed to it.
Also, after built, I had to install the aluminum bracer down the middle (another $30) but it was worth it. I did not do two of those, though I've been considering doing the second one to improve life-span.
If it only works for 3 years, instead of a 5-7 year solution, I still save dough.
PS: Seattle is not a snow climate...
Good luck.
I bought 2 x two sheets of blue foam sheets from the depot, 3 rolls packing tape, and some thin painter's drop cloth (3 mm).
I cut, taped and stuffed back in my existing cover - its been good for 6 mos so far. Gotta keep the dog off it. -there's also risk of kids on it. So just keep the gate closed to it.
Also, after built, I had to install the aluminum bracer down the middle (another $30) but it was worth it. I did not do two of those, though I've been considering doing the second one to improve life-span.
If it only works for 3 years, instead of a 5-7 year solution, I still save dough.
PS: Seattle is not a snow climate...
Good luck.
#3
I got 4 sheets of 2 inch thick Tuff-R Dow Insulation board, doubled 'em up for an R-Value of something like 40. Easy to cut into shape with a simple hand saw. Taped up the molds and took em down to the local marina where they shrink wrapped them for 35 bucks. The shrink wrap is heavy guage and hermetically seals the boards. Easily slipped them into the vinyl cover. No need for structural support beams cause the boards plus the shrinkwrap made them rigid like all hell. Put the cover on and juiced up my spa. Temperature shot up 20 degrees in a half hour. Couldn't think of a finer way to repair, massively improve, and save big bucks by "doing it yourself."