Dear forum  friends:  meet my new grandee

[pruned_hands]

Well, I just finished building the pergola over the tub and thought I would share some before and after pix of our new tub.  Our family life has become centered around this large bucket of water with more pride than I would have ever imagined.  We have had two weeks of fun and look forward to many more.

Many thanks to folks in the forum who have answered my questions as well as the questions of others where I am constantly stealing ideas and a few laughs.

Hopefully it will stop raining soon so I can get a soak in yet tonight with my kids before bedtime

[cappykat]

OMG...your setup is BEAUTIFUL!!  I absolutely love the pergola.  You did an excellent job.  We want to do a pergola also.  Did you have plans that you went by? Love it!  Love it!!

[pruned_hands]

I had looked online for plans and found some from which I stole ideas, but basically created my own design.  Luckily both my parents and inlaws have pergolas which allowed me to copy the decorative ends and figure out basic design (i.e. size of wood, overhangs, etc.).

If you are interested, I could look for some of the websites and pictures that I looked at for ideas.  I was very interested in a vinyl pergola which would be maintenance free, but my spouse was concerned it might look cheesy.  I would love to hear from someone who has such a pergola as I bet they enjoy it (at least enjoy not having to paint it!)

one site for this is;
http://www.backyardamerica.com/vinyl_pergolas.htm

[xqqqsme]

Congrats fellow Grandee owner!

Here is my deck before, (Sept 2005)



And after, (October 2005) with new Grandee!!!



Lovin' every minute in it!

Best of luck

XQQQSME

[orlandoguy]

pruned hands,

I am very interested in a pergola design very similar to what you have.  Are you going to paint the top boards?

What is a ballpark figure of what yours cost?

I wonder how that would mount into a paver patio?

[East_TX_Spa]

"Teacher says 'Everytime a bell rings, someone buys a HotSpring'."

Brings a tear to my eye.

I have a vinyl pergola on my deck.  I will post some pics tomorrow.

Terminator

[pruned_hands]

xqqqsme,

I had seen your after photo, but don't recall the before...nice transformation.  We were jealous of you since you were able to have the tub somewhat below the deck.  I suppose I could have done the same, but it would have involved getting an excavator out and pouring a cement slab to hold the monster tub grandee.  This kept pushing the price of the job up so much that our daughter might not have the chance to attend a pricey ivy league school  (a dad can dream).  So, we opted to set the tub on top of the deck and will decorate with planters around it.

[East_TX_Spa]

This has been up about 2 years and it still looks brand new.

By the way pruned hands and xqqsme, your spas and decks look fantastic!  Ya'll should be very proud.

Terminator

[Brookenstein]

Is that vinyl Terminator?  Does it come in white?  How much does something like that run?  We are going to put up a white vinyl fence soon and I would love my spa enclosure to match.

[East_TX_Spa]

Is that vinyl Terminator?  Does it come in white?  How much does something like that run?  We are going to put up a white vinyl fence soon and I would love my spa enclosure to match.

Vinyl.  It is white with the posts more of an off-white.  It runs around $6000 installed.  It is very nice but very expensive.  I don't see any reason why it won't last for 20 years or more.

Terminator

[Brookenstein]

Holy crap thats expensive!  I think I'll be passing.  

[Bonibelle]

Beautiful job, I love the pergola...and I want one!

[East_TX_Spa]

Beautiful job, I love the pergola...and I want one!

I want some of your tacos!

Terminator

[pruned_hands]

Orlando guy,

I am going to stain the top boards white  next spring, which is why I rushed to install the pergola before the snow flies.  I did this as treated lumber needs to sit for several month to allow the zinc/treated compounds to leave so that the wood will accept stain.  Staining above my tub will be a challenge..I may either rent or build some scaffolding to work over the tub or drain it and move it.

All of the lumber/nails/screws/glue cost approx. $450-500.  The two columns are HB & G permacast columns (10" wide by 10'tall) and they run approx $300 per column.  My labor was free (me and a buddy), but there was one day's worth of work for two laborers.

With a paver patio, I would imagine that you would have to remove some of the pavers and pour a cement square that would hold the columns.  They can be mounted to cement and I imagine that would be preferred over placement on pavers,

Re: the vinyl pergolas....I found them to be twice as expensive as the wood version, but equally as attractive and  a whole lot less maintenance.  I was leaning toward them, but my wife was leaning the other way.  I also wanted such specific sizes, heights, etc. that the vinyl couldn't  provide.  Due to this, I built my own.

term... your example of vinyl shows how nice they can be around a tub surround.  Nice pix!

[Gomboman]

Wow, very nice.  I've never heard the term Pergola before.  In my neighborhood we call them patio covers.