Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: anne on April 19, 2006, 11:10:43 pm

Title: finished......almost
Post by: anne on April 19, 2006, 11:10:43 pm
Here's the saga of my hot tub installment. Still waiting on rounded a corner step from my dealer, and have a little more work to do on the tiles around the tub, but it is practically finished:

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/aegdvm/P1000750.jpg)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/aegdvm/P1000760.jpg)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/aegdvm/P1000762.jpg)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/aegdvm/P1000763.jpg)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/aegdvm/P1000894.jpg)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/aegdvm/P1000896.jpg)

(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i20/aegdvm/P1000885.jpg)
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: TN__HOT_TUB on April 19, 2006, 11:19:21 pm
very nice
did you cut any of your flagstone pieces?

Looks like you put the tub right on top of the gravel.  My sister-in-law did that.  We decided to go with those square pavers on top of gravel.
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: anne on April 19, 2006, 11:28:25 pm
No, did not really cut any of them, just spent a long time playing "rock tetris"

I did put the tub right on gravel, and now sort of wish I had not, but I did not think to put pavers on the gravel- I thought they'd settle and move. Part of the problem was that I was not confident of the exact size of the tub+steps, so I made the box a little too big, and so had exposed gravel, which I'm now covering with square stones. Quite the learning experience, this whole project.
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: Gomboman on April 20, 2006, 01:58:28 am
Very nice Anne. Funny too.....

Quote
No, did not really cut any of them, just spent a long time playing "rock tetris"

Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: TN__HOT_TUB on April 20, 2006, 06:52:45 am
Looks good. We too played "tetris" with the rocks.

Regarding covering your exposed gravel: I saw a picture posted on this site where somebody made a wood "skirt" to cover their concrete slab.  It looked real nice.  

I'm sure the 4,000 lbs of water will settle our pavers a bit, but i'm not all too worried about that.  
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: Bonibelle on April 20, 2006, 07:44:07 am
Beautiful job Anne! Now you can relax and enjoy!
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: Vinny on April 20, 2006, 08:42:46 am
Very nice!

I believe that Arctic's floor can be put anywhere as long as it's level, I think the gravel is a great idea!

Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: drewstar on April 20, 2006, 08:43:55 am
Very nice.  I am really liking the flagstone that some folks have put down lately.  It makes for a great installation.

When's the party?  ;D
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: KarlXII on April 20, 2006, 09:35:18 am
Excellent. Very inviting. Flagstones rock!
I'm sure you will have a great time in that yard.  :D
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: drewstar on April 20, 2006, 09:43:02 am
I've got some flat, slate stones in one section of the yard, that I'm thinking on moving over to one of the back doors to create a sitting area.  Did you folks put down a weed barrier or do something to help prevent weeds from springing up?
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: Skellman on April 20, 2006, 09:43:33 am
Looks outstanding Anne!
Enjoy! From the progress of the pictures, you've earned it.
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: luvin_tubin_sqezin on April 20, 2006, 10:48:33 am
 ;DLove the stone work!  Congratulations!
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: TN__HOT_TUB on April 20, 2006, 11:38:37 am
Quote
I've got some flat, slate stones in one section of the yard, that I'm thinking on moving over to one of the back doors to create a sitting area.  Did you folks put down a weed barrier or do something to help prevent weeds from springing up?


yes. i very much recommend you do this.  

i guess you can always keep some RoundUp on hand, but I'm going to try to grow some groundcover plants in the cracks.  RoundUp would kill everything...including my groundcover so I splurged and spent $12 on some landscaping cloth. Hopefully that stuff will work.
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: anne on April 20, 2006, 02:11:16 pm
Thanks for the compliments! I admit I'm pretty proud of the job since I did it almost all on my own. The B/F gets his cast off tomorrow......how's that for timing? ;) But I've also been the only one enjoyiong the water, too, so I think I had the better deal this last month


Quote
I've got some flat, slate stones in one section of the yard, that I'm thinking on moving over to one of the back doors to create a sitting area.  Did you folks put down a weed barrier or do something to help prevent weeds from springing up?


I did not put down landscape cloth. I considered it, but got a little lazy. I have had weeds come through landscape cloth before, so I was not super motivated. If the soil is not really packed, then the cloth can also help to prevent the gravel below from settling, but that should not be a problem if you pack everything down well.
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: tanstaafl2 on April 20, 2006, 04:38:50 pm
Flagstone and setting in general look great! Makes me wish more and more that I had a nice flagstone appearance to the surface of my plain old concrete pad.
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: TN__HOT_TUB on April 20, 2006, 04:49:09 pm
you might be able to stain the concrete.

i've also seen a wooden skirt that hides the concrete pad.  i can't take credit for this, but another member of the forum did this and it looked very nice.


Quote
Flagstone and setting in general look great! Makes me wish more and more that I had a nice flagstone appearance to the surface of my plain old concrete pad.

Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: tanstaafl2 on April 20, 2006, 11:53:11 pm
Quote
you might be able to stain the concrete.

i've also seen a wooden skirt that hides the concrete pad.  i can't take credit for this, but another member of the forum did this and it looked very nice.



Staining is certainly a possibility but it appears from what I have seen at home shows and such that putting a layer of concrete on the pad and stamping or forming it in some fashion may give a more realistic appearance. And my tub sits on a large concrete pad so a wooden skirt wouldn't do the trick I am afraid.

http://www.whatsthebest-hottub.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=wtb-hottub;action=display;num=1145223773
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: TN__HOT_TUB on April 21, 2006, 08:46:17 am
gotcha
i was thinking your concrete pad was something like 12ft x 12ft or so.  The wooden skirt i was thinking about was something similar to a single wooden step that surrounded the entire base of tub.  

Pouring more concrete does not sound fun.

My buddy had good success with staining his concrete.  I have no idea what product he used, but a Google search produced these websites:

http://www.kemiko.com/index.htm
http://www.superdeck.com/masonsselect/msgallry.htm
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: galen on April 21, 2006, 09:35:20 am
Very nice Anne.  I like all the steps. Ive seen landscapers not do as good!
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: Tatooed_Lady on April 21, 2006, 09:38:46 am
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!  :o
I'm amazed by the transformations I've seen on here.....I'm still trying to fine tune ours, and figure out exactly what I want it to look like......this all helps HUGELY.
Congrats, Anne Arctic!
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: cappykat on April 21, 2006, 10:23:48 am
Looks great, Anne!  I love the flagstone!  I also LOVE the steps.  Did you get them from your Artic dealer?  I'd love to have a set.
Title: Re: finished......almost
Post by: anne on April 21, 2006, 02:09:17 pm
My tub, as purchased, came with "2 sides" included. I could have two- or three-tiered steps, or steps on one side and a bar and stools on the other. The steps can be narrow or (as mine are) wide and the corner piece my dealer was nice enough to provide as well. I chose the three tiered step because it makes it *so* much easier to get in and out, and I think just happens to look nicer, too.

I see no reason they could not be ordered for any tub. The "long" steps like mine are 70 3/4" long, 11" deep each.