Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: bohms on January 17, 2007, 12:49:02 pm
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Just curious.....should the cover last as long as the tub as long as it's taken care of properly or do most people have to order a new one a few years down the road?
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If your cover is exposed to the elements, UV from the sun, rain, etc., then it will not last as long as the spa.
Depending on the quality of the cover and your care, you will need to replace it after several years. :'(
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Thanks. :'( :'( :'(
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Thanks. :'( :'( :'(
Why the sad face Bohms? Is you cover ready to be replaced?
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No! It's only 2 months old!! I don't remember seeing any discussion on it and I just assumed it would last the life of the tub! Bad assumption, I know...... ::)
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Invest in some 303 protectant. Use a cover lifter. and vent when shocking. That's what I was told as being the keys to prolonging the life of the cover. The 303 is good stuff. I give my cover a good wipe down in the spring and and in the fall.
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We have a hydraulic cover lifter and so far my husband is cleaning the cover once every week or two. He's being a little OC right now b/c it's new so I'm sure that kind of care will fade sooner or later. I'm not sure what he's using but I'll definitely tell him about 303. Thanks Drew.
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I hate to tell you, most spa manufacturers cut costs to the absolute bone when it comes to the cover they provide with the spa. It tends to be an item that's rarely mentioned during a sales presentation, and almost no consumer asks about it or for that matter, can even tell the differences. We make, or have made, covers for a variety of spa manufacturers. For the most part, I'm not willing to put my name on the covers that they spec and purchase from us. Let me stress though, the covers we make for them (spa manufacturers) are to THEIR exact specifications and are not (usually) anywhere close in quality to the covers we offer directly to consumers.
Most original spa covers that come with a new spa have a life of about 2 years. A high quality cover should have a life of 5 to 8 years. Some good suggestions have already been made as to how you can care for and extend the life of any spa cover.
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I got 3 years out of mine. Cover is in fine shape- not faded or worn, but the foam weighs a ton- much heavier than it was new.
All waterlogged. I don't even want to think about what that does to the insulating value. New cover time once I scrape up the bucks.
Really it's a shame in a way that it's so impractical to replace just the foam. I hate the thought of tossing away all that perfectly good vinyl.
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I have seen that Hot Spring, Marquis, D1 and Caldera provide good covers with their spas.
I have sold other brands that have cuovers as Dr. Spa described. :'(
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Does Artesian have a crappy cover?
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Does Artesian have a crappy cover?
Unknown to me.
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Folks who have replaced a cover, mind telling us the brand, how long you had it, and why it was replaced?
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Folks who have replaced a cover, mind telling us the brand, how long you had it, and why it was replaced?
My cover is four and a half years old. I am starting to see the signs of cover failure...one side is slightly heavier. This means the foam core is starting to retain water. My best guess is that by this summer I will be replacing thereby giving me five years useful life. It is a cover made by Ideal for a Sundance spa. Cover Mate I cover lifter will be replaced at the same time.
There are some parts of a spa that will need to be periodically replaced.
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In my experience, an original cover's life span is about 3-5 years. The foam inserts can be replaced if the vinyl itself is in good condition and the cover is just saturated. This is about half the cost of full replacement but usually it's in need of total replacement by 5 years anyway.
I've never seen one of Doc's covers but generally speaking, very few get more than 5-7 years out of a cover regardless of the quality.
Steve
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My needing replacement cover is the one that came with my Sundance Optima.
Like Tony, I believe it was made by Ideal for Sundance.
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. Cover Mate I cover lifter will be replaced at the same time.
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And this is an area I wished I had taken a closer look at when I bought my spa. I have the CM 1 Lifter as well, and I like it. However, when my cover on my tub goes, although I am so far happy with my Tiger River issued cover, I would like to consider new covers that offer the most insulating value. I wonder, if I were to go with a different cover, will I be limitied by the fact I have a CM1 lifter? Will I have to upgrade to a "stronger" lifter, or one with phematic assist? If so, I wonder if the new lifter will have a simillair bolting pattern, or will I have all these screw holes on the side of my cabinet from the lifter?
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I'd wonder the same. I've checked things out, and think I'll order my replacement from Doc. He's got way better pricing than local, and he's actually around here to answer questions on things like cover lifters, etc....
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I actually like the Covermate I. It works well in my situation. It stores the cover at a good height with ease of use. I don't want or need the height of the pneumatic type lifters. I believe it would be plenty strong to handle a cover with a higher insulating value...something I also plan to do. I also plan to add a "shelf" that the cover will set on when open to keep the stress off the hinge while open.
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I was vey impressed by the cover that Arctic Spas was touting. The guy actually stood dead center on top of the cover and I didn't see it move! :o
And yes, I did lift the cover up and inspect for any "trick bracing".
Forgive my lapse in memory but, if I recall correctly it was actually warrantied for several years.
Am I a sucker or, are those covers all they're (Arctic salesman) saying it is.
Tubless in Bristol (Formerly Skellman)
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...Am I a sucker or, are those covers all they're (Arctic salesman) saying it is...
It depends on what they were saying ;). I believe the "trick bracing" is a plate molded into the foam. It is a good cover, but I guess how much to value it depends on whether you plan to use it as a dance floor. I personally wouldn't base a purchase decision on the cover, but if everything else is equal... :-/. There are multiple threads that address this, among other Arctic marketing points. Most of them are in the "Dead Horse" section, because the discussions became rather heated. 8-)
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Here is my new cover:http://www.be-lite.com (Except sized for a Hot Springs Grandee). Had some issues getting the right size but those got worked out at no cost to me. Been using it for about a month now and it appears to be a very nice cover that should last a very long time.
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I have no idea who makes the covers for Great Lakse but I got almost 5 years out of my standerd GL cover. They offered an upgrade that I opted not to get as I felt further investigation was required. I bought one of Docs covers about 5-6 months ago and it seems to be better constucted than the original GL cover, and yes I did opt for an upgraded version this time as I feel it is one of the most important things you can do for an effiecient operating tub. Reflective heat shield inside, full seam seal and extra inches of thickness......way cool doc. I also like the inside pull straps and the stitching seems well above average. The fit was also perfect. I dout you can stand on it but that seems like not so good of an idea no matter what. Besides it adds to the weight for removal.
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those belite covers look like they dont insulate well at all. how much do they cost? i really dont like that they dont have a skirt on them. they look like they would be good if i lived in florida, but my tubs in vermont.
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Be-lite offers two thicknesses of covers. The thicker cover, according to the manufacturer, is R-14. They're also rated at holding 1000 pounds of weight.
Arctic has a rather unique cover. They use a different type of foam core than everyone else. While other covers use a foam core that's sliced from large blocks of foam (expanded polystyrene), theirs is "cast" as an individual perfectly shaped piece for their cover. I believe it's technically extruded polystyrene. Extruded polystyrene is stronger, and more insulating (when comparing equal thicknesses and densities) than expanded polystyrene.
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Huh, that's interesting. Extruded polystyrene is the same stuff my crown molding is made out of :)
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Dr. Spa...
My LA Spa Paradise H-2, has a big ole cover, which comes in 3 sections.
I feel as though because of the size of this thing that it will not last as long as a cover for a small tub. What do you think?
Do you have covers available for my tub?
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3 piece covers tend to be problematic because one of the panels is made of flat foam. The flatness doesn't allow water to run off, allows puddles, causing the cover to sag, enlarging the puddle, eventually causing it to break. I have a design for a 3 piece fully tapered cover, but unfortunately, it tends to strengthen my business partners feelings that I'm totally wacko ;D It will work, really it will, but, he runs the cover manufacturing so I have minimal say :'( . Ok, so we do offer a 4 panel cover that's fully tapered. It's made from a combination of 6" to 4" tapered foam and 4" to 2" tapered foam.
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I was vey impressed by the cover that Arctic Spas was touting. The guy actually stood dead center on top of the cover and I didn't see it move! :o
And yes, I did lift the cover up and inspect for any "trick bracing".
Forgive my lapse in memory but, if I recall correctly it was actually warrantied for several years.
Am I a sucker or, are those covers all they're (Arctic salesman) saying it is.
Tubless in Bristol (Formerly Skellman)
My 2005 Arctic cover looks as good as new, but it has only been outdoors for about 1 year. It is warrantied, I think, for 5 years, like the rest of the tub. I actually really like that I can climb on the thing without any concern, as it makes washing it a lot easier. It seems to do a great job at insulating, but I dont have ownership of another brand to make any comparisons. It is certainly heavy!
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Does being able to stand on a cover really signify how well it insulates?
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r165/tileman_photos/COVER1.jpg)
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r165/tileman_photos/spa-cover-walk-on.jpg)
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Here's a very unique hot tub cover.
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r165/tileman_photos/7771145992435Close_Up-450.jpg)
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Does being able to stand on a cover really signify how well it insulates?
No, but insulation and *durability* would be the two most important factors I can think of in a tub cover. I agree that it is a sort of silly salesman gig, to have someone jump up and down on a cover, but it does make a point.
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those belite covers look like they dont insulate well at all. how much do they cost? i really dont like that they dont have a skirt on them. they look like they would be good if i lived in florida, but my tubs in vermont.
As Dr.Spa mentioned the one I have is rated at R-14 which is the same as the cover that came with the Grandee. I live in Michigan and the tub is outdoors. I like that this cover can withstand the elements a lot better and hold up to 1000 lbs. of snow & ice. There is a rubber gasket the runs around the entire cover and forms a seal with the tub. I get a good seal with it (no visible steam anyway and it's really cold out there).
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I believe the "trick bracing" is a plate molded into the foam.
You're correct.
Arctic has a rather unique cover. They use a different type of foam core than everyone else.
It's also unique in that the foam core is sealed in Mylar rather than polyethylene.
Does being able to stand on a cover really signify how well it insulates?
LOL. Heck no. The fact that it's 5" thick gives you the insulation.
Still, it is reassuring to know that if the cover is properly locked down and the kids crawl up on it, it's safe. I like the photos, they illustrate that safety aspect well, though with everybody kneeling it spreads the weight.
But I wouldn't recommend dancing on it, not because it wouldn't hold up, but because you'd be apt to dance off the edge. :)
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The fact that it's 5" thick gives you the insulation.
Hey Tom (you still owe me lunch...) 8-)
Lemme throw something out to you; I agree that Arctic makes a great cover and a great product. No question. I also believe there's a safety factor that all cover manufacturers should recognize. That said, when it comes to insulating properties, is a 5" cover more energy efficient than say a 3 or 4”?
Let me pose it this way...
I had a cover here in Edmonton that was a 3-2" taper with 2lb foam polyurethane wrapped. Now I never suggested anyone dance on it but from an insulating aspect, the snow never melted on the cover, I never had icicles and it trapped the heat in extremely well. The spa operated at less than a dollar per day and I got 5 years out of it.
My question is, once a cover has a high enough R-value to perform this way, does the thickness become redundant after a certain point and the selling feature then become strength?
I save the tough ones for you! ;)
Steve
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Hey Tom (you still owe me lunch...)
As I remember it, you were buying... 8-) PM me, okay?
My question is, once a cover has a high enough R-value to perform this way, does the thickness become redundant after a certain point and the selling feature then become strength?
This threatens to move the topic into Dead Horse territory, though it's a good question.
The first answer is yes; different manufacturers will set different levels of "redundancy". Each inch of insulation adds more thermal efficiency, but it's at a decreasing rate. Readers are invited to check the dead horse topics for more information.
We haven't felt it economical from a manufacturing standpoint to exceed 3" of foam on the walls (the cedar is a relatively good insulator as well) but on the cover we believe that the extra insulation makes sense.
I would say the answer to the second part of your question is No. The strength comes from the embedded metal channels rather than (or as well as) from the thicker foam.
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i purchased my hot tub cover from The Cover Guy and we got almost 7 years out of it. Its still pretty light and I'm very impressed with it. I will be purchasing my next one through them as this is the longest i have had a cover last!
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Its funny how some covers last longer than other covers from the same manufacturer. I have seen covers last 2 years and some last as long as 6 or more. Suppose a lot depends on how the consumer takes care of it, most really don't.
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The original that came with my '03 Jacuzzi J-370 lasted 7 years. I "just recently" replaced it with one from one of this site's sponsor's, Robert's Hot Tubs and I expect it to last another 7 years.
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Artesian has excellent covers.....
Why did this thread come up a one with new responses?
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I'm on my 3rd cover in 7 years, the current one is closing in on 2 years. My first was the obvious one from the dealer, who gave me a price break on the replacement, so close to 5 years after getting my tub I finally went the replacement route. This time I invested in double wrapped foam, a reflective cover and reinforced hinges. Hopefully I can make it to 3-4 years with this one. I went to the dealer the first time thinking I wanted an exact fit, but the measurement process for an after market cover wasn't as bad as I feared.
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Hello all! It's been a few years I believe since I was last on this forum but thankfully my login creds were still good to go. Found this thread and have questions. My hot tub cover is approaching 10 yrs of life! I've taken decent care of it with periodic treatments and the tub itself sits under a deck and the underside of the deck has been covered with steel siding so I get very little rain/snow on the cover. The vinyl is still good. I have noticed that it is a little heavier than new but not to where it's a pain to raise /lower. I'm still wondering though whether it's insulating /heat loss capability is sufficient. Should I replace it solely based on age? Was reading here about keeping cover off for 20 min. Order so after adding chemicals which I HAVE NOT been doing. My other concern is how long will the tub last? Hate to shell out for cover only to have tub somehow fail me. It's a Jacuzzi J-345. If permissible! I'd really appreciate any recommendations on quality replacement cover. THANKS!
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I got 3 years out of mine. Cover is in fine shape- not faded or worn, but the foam weighs a ton- much heavier than it was new.
All waterlogged. I don't even want to think about what that does to the insulating value. New cover time once I scrape up the bucks.
Really it's a shame in a way that it's so impractical to replace just the foam. I hate the thought of tossing away all that perfectly good vinyl.
Unzip the back of your H/T cover, remove the foam cores and throw away the old plastic that seals the cores. Put the waterlogged cores in a warm sunny area, let them dry out, then recover with new clear plastic, as heavy duty as you can get, then reinstall. You can seal the plastic over the foam cores maybe even better than new with one of these mini impulse sealers (avail on ebay for a couple bucks): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_48gS3DjQQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_48gS3DjQQ)
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I got 3 years out of mine. Cover is in fine shape- not faded or worn, but the foam weighs a ton- much heavier than it was new.
All waterlogged. I don't even want to think about what that does to the insulating value. New cover time once I scrape up the bucks.
Really it's a shame in a way that it's so impractical to replace just the foam. I hate the thought of tossing away all that perfectly good vinyl.
Unzip the back of your h/t cover, slide out the wet cores, remove the old plastic that covers them and put the cores in a warm dry place where they can dry out. Then, re-cover with new heavy-duty clear plastic. You can seal them up better than new using a mini impulse sealer (avail on ebay for a couple bucks), then reinstall the foam cores and bingo, you're good for a few more years! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_48gS3DjQQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_48gS3DjQQ)
There are videos on youtube how to recover the cores.
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I bought a cover from http://hottubcoverdepot.com (http://hottubcoverdepot.com) about five years ago, and followed their advice on caring for it. The thing is, you gotta stay up on cleaning it just like any other part of your house, which means weekly if you're using the tub on a regular basis. I found a good vinyl cleaning/protectant on Amazon - NuVinyl I think it's called. Works great.
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Bill, why does this thread show up on top with a new post but there's nothing there? 2007?
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I generally see covers last for 3-5 years. As stated before 303 is a great way to pro-long the life of a cover especially if it is exposed to constant sun light. I think changing out inserts is more of a pain in the butt to do personally. If you are in a colder climate you will need to let the vinyl sit in the sun so you can stretch it to length. The expensive part is the inserts and they usually don't warranty just inserts so it may be better to just spend a little more and get a new cover with a warranty. I have had good luck with Sunstar as a vendor for aftermarket covers. You can use a layer of the bubble insulation that you cut to size and let float on the water. That will help to keep heat in and prevent pre-mature saturation of the cover from the inside. If you own a Sundance of Jacuzzi they are now offering a factory option that has Sunbrella material which is "supposed" to be better then vinyl. They also offer and Extreme insulation cover that is just as stated thicker insulation and longer warranty. The jury is still out on the Prolast and Sunstrong covers offered by Sundance/Jacuzzi as they have not been in the field long enough in my opinion.
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MODs, I came against something interesting with this thread.
I see posts from 2007, but nothing else.
According to the index the last post was TODAY 16 Oct 2016 @ 03:36:55 PM by scoobywagon02
But I can only see January 17, 2007, 12:49:02 PM Post #1 by Bohms,
until January 17, 2007, 04:46:29 PM post #14 By Steve.
Until I went to make this post & the new ones show up below in the Topic Summary.
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Does this cover timeline change if the cover is in an enclosed patio or is it more the evaporate from the hot water that ruins it?
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I've been through 3 covers in 10 years, about to get my 4th. I found a cover that has solid technology, and was ready to pay the heavy premium to get it (http://www.supercover.ca/rhinotek-hot-tub-covers-rhinotek-spa-covers) however I own a Jacuzzi J-480 which cannot have a custom cover made that fits properly (due to the constant curve of the case plus the high waterfall). If I had any other Hot Tub, I think I would go with this cover as my next one.
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Well then, for those who bought new covers, who did you guys buy your replacement cover from and how long did it hold up?
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Well then, for those who bought new covers, who did you guys buy your replacement cover from and how long did it hold up?
If we are talking about a 'standard spa cover' and nothing specialty like aluminum, walk on style, etc. then there all the same...build it up with a good 5" x 3" thickness, 2# foam, hinge seal, and make sure it has a vapor barrier wrap and it'll perform just like every other cover on the market and will last 3-5 years at most if the spa is outside and exposed to the elements.
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If we are talking about a 'standard spa cover' and nothing specialty like aluminum, walk on style, etc. then there all the same...build it up with a good 5" x 3" thickness, 2# foam, hinge seal, and make sure it has a vapor barrier wrap and it'll perform just like every other cover on the market and will last 3-5 years at most if the spa is outside and exposed to the elements.
Are you serious??????
There are different thicknesses and methods for sealing the vapor barrier, which makes for drastic differences in lifespan.
Different vinyls are of different weights (thickness), with different UV and pigment ratings (higher ratings = longer lifespans)
I'm probably going to replace my cover in the spring....it's 10 years old, and still in usable condition. The vinyl's not cracked or brittle and the foam hasn't absorbed any water. The hings is just slightly starting to crack at the edges and the vinyl is fading a bit....mostly though, I want a new color...never did like the color I have.
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If we are talking about a 'standard spa cover' and nothing specialty like aluminum, walk on style, etc. then there all the same...build it up with a good 5" x 3" thickness, 2# foam, hinge seal, and make sure it has a vapor barrier wrap and it'll perform just like every other cover on the market and will last 3-5 years at most if the spa is outside and exposed to the elements.
Are you serious??????
There are different thicknesses and methods for sealing the vapor barrier, which makes for drastic differences in lifespan.
Different vinyls are of different weights (thickness), with different UV and pigment ratings (higher ratings = longer lifespans)
I'm probably going to replace my cover in the spring....it's 10 years old, and still in usable condition. The vinyl's not cracked or brittle and the foam hasn't absorbed any water. The hings is just slightly starting to crack at the edges and the vinyl is fading a bit....mostly though, I want a new color...never did like the color I have.
I'm sorry but I just don't see in a state that gets harsh winters assuming the cover is fully exposed to the elements. Sure I've seen them go longer than 5 years but at that point the damn thing weighs 100 pounds and isn't usable or is so heavy it can either pull the lifter out from the cabinet or I've seen them so heavy they get slammed and actually crack a shell. If you are truly building one that doesn't get over $600+ retail and it can last outside for 7-10 years we have 4 stores, PM me, I'll bring one in and if close to advertised I'll buy everyone of our aftermarket covers from you guys
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Not from me :-)
I sold my share of my business almost 3 years ago and retired.
But seriously. If you just get double wrapped foam cores their life will be extended 50%. 6mil plastic, properly heat sealed will do even batter (double wrapped). The vapor barrier is broken down by the chemicals off-gassing, and eventually becomes porous...then steam penetrates through and the foam starts absorbing water (not only does it get heavier, but it also looses insulating ability). Double wrapping it, vastly reduces the chemical damage to the inside layer greatly increasing it's lifespan.
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This is a case where some manufacturers skimp on covers a lot and some a little less. Doc's aftermarket covers always surpassed the factory quality. That is IF you asked for the upgrades. I always did. I have customers with 10 year old RH tubs covers.
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This is a case where some manufacturers skimp on covers a lot and some a little less. Doc's aftermarket covers always surpassed the factory quality. That is IF you asked for the upgrades. I always did. I have customers with 10 year old RH tubs covers.
wow, I may have to give them a call and bring one in to try...as Doc knows a major problem is showing value in spending more on that quality you mentioned, everyone wants an "internet cover" shipped to their front door for $300 and expect us to match that price and quality which as we all know doesn't exist in a $300 cover
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This is a case where some manufacturers skimp on covers a lot and some a little less. Doc's aftermarket covers always surpassed the factory quality. That is IF you asked for the upgrades. I always did. I have customers with 10 year old RH tubs covers.
wow, I may have to give them a call and bring one in to try...as Doc knows a major problem is showing value in spending more on that quality you mentioned, everyone wants an "internet cover" shipped to their front door for $300 and expect us to match that price and quality which as we all know doesn't exist in a $300 cover
I always tell people that I can get them a new cover. But it will be closer to 400. They say they can get one online for 300. I tell them to go ahead and get one online then. But it's not the same cover. And I guarantee the fit. Sunstar makes a decent cover also. But again you have to upgrade.