Just In - New Hot Spring Stone Siding

[Vanguard]

This just in from a friend.  Hot Spring is introducing a stone surround for a couple of their spas.  It looks great.  I can't wait to see it in person.

[Zep]

Finally!

Thanks Vanguard......I knew it would be contagious.

The Hot Spring stone panels look really nice.

Do you know if they offer them in different colors?

I would want mine just slightly lighter....I am sure they will offer different shades.

Looks great!

[East_TX_Spa]

They look heavy.

Term

[Vanguard]

Finally!

Thanks Vanguard......I knew it would be contagious.

The Hot Spring stone panels look really nice.

Do you know if they offer them in different colors?

I would want mine just slightly lighter....I am sure they will offer different shades.

Looks great!

That's all I know.  I opened my email this morning and there was the picture.  Knowing Watkins, this will probably be the one offering.  If it takes off, maybe they'd offer other colors.

I think it looks really nice.  The steps look good as well.

  And, I agree with Term, it looks heavy.

[Zep]

Thanks Vanguard!

Yes I noticed the HS steps look really nice as well.

It's hard to tell on-line sometimes if people are joking when you say it looks "heavy" ....but if these stone side panels are anything like my CalSpas stone panels they are not heavy at all.....I would say no difference than traditional fake wood panels. I doubt the Watkins panels are made much different and I doubt they would want something heavy and harder to remove. Although it is a compliment if they look heavy....in other words look like heavy stone.....but they are in fact as light as traditional side panels. Kudos to HS!....I love it! (although I realize it's not for everybody...in fact probably not for most because it's just not their cup of tea and/or they dont want to spend the extra money)

[Richs100]

We all knew that Zep was on the cutting edge!  Now we have proof!

In my neck of the woods, though, add a white set of steps and your setup will perfectly match your typical Baltimore formstone rowhouse 'wid dat white marple stoop out front'.  

I'm waiting for HS to come out with their painted screen option.



PAINTED SCREEN OPTION:

[mjb]

Here's a photo of Sundance Spas' synthetic stone
cabinet offering.

[dax]

Very nice look.  Any idea how much more the stone cabinet would cost?  I think I'd have really liked that look on my Cameo.

[Vanguard]

I found out more information on this.  

As far as the color, I stand corrected.  These come in two colors:  Gray and the pictured Earth Tone

In addition, you can get the full surround shown or a partial one that will allow you to partially recess the spa.

Also, the Watkins' cover lifters can be installed on it.  Pretty cool.  In talking with my buddy this morning, he did not know the weight, but said the installation pictures make the stone look pretty substantial - much more than just a thin veneer.  He said it looks to be actual stone, although it is probably synthetic.

Finally, and this is a pretty good idea.  The spa is actually ordered without the stone.  This is a dealer installed option.  The spa comes to the dealer with a marine grade plywood "cabinet."  The idea here is that you can do whatever you want with it.  If you want to use the Hot Spring stone siding, you can.  If you want to do your own thing, you can do that as well.  So, the options to your spa siding becomes unlimited at that point.

If you want it to match your house, you can do that, if you want to add your own real wood siding, you can do that.  Basically, it you can think of it, you can do it.  I'd imagine there are weight limits, so I guess you can't do anything.  Anyway, kind of a cool idea.

[Vanguard]

Here's a photo of Sundance Spas' synthetic stone
cabinet offering.

I saw that at the Pool/Spa show.  It looked really nice in person as well.

[AstaLaVista]

I saw that at the Pool/Spa show.  It looked really nice in person as well.

Very sharp!  Is that something that you can upgrade an earlier model to?

[The_real_Clown_Shoes]

With the Hot Spring Custom Cabinet option, you can actually put real brick or flagstone on the spa so long as you're attaching to the vertical support structure.

This would've saved us a lot of work on some of our in-ground pool projects.  Sadly none of our pictures made the Installation Guide book, but I'll post some eventually here.

[Zep]

come on Rich it ain't like that ugly-a$$ baltimore......lol

the "stacked stone" or "ledgestone"  look is extremely popular here in
Dallas and many other parts of the country.

they are doing tons of new shopping centers, homes, and office buildings
with this look.

[Josh]

I really liked that on the Cal Spas....I it looks really classy.  If I wasn't mounting my tub flush in a deck, I'd definitely be interested in that sort of siding.

So..what does it feel like anyway?  Is it sort of rough like those fake stone fences, or is it smooth like shaped plastic (like one of those big Hide-a-rocks)?

[Mendocino101]

I have seen this stone look from some other makers in the last month or so. It is not a stone but actually a foam and it looks great. I would be concerned with long term wear. I do not know if the HS or the Sun dance are also foam.