Blemish in tub?

[Skellman]

Good morning all,

I was looking at a tub (used Caldera Geneva) and noticed a bubble/bump in one of the chairs. It was a little smaller than a golf ball. It was right about where the right cheek would be setting. I pressed on it and it was hard. Obviously some sort of blemish.
Being a novice, I'm curious as to what it might be and what causes it.
Thanks.

[East_TX_Spa]

I'm not sure as I've never actually seen one in any of my spas, but I would definitely call it "leverage" from your perspective.

Terminator

[Guzz]

That bubble is probably caused by sun damage, leaving a dry spa uncovered on a hot day can cause the shell to litterally melt, this happens mostly with full foam spas, I believe it is somewhat repairable.

[NE-Phil]

...but I would definitely call it "leverage" from your perspective.

Terminator

A little smaller than a golfball? Ouch! From my perspective, I'd call it painful.
Look for another spa.

Phil  

[Chas]

Caldera spas are Acrylic shells backed with hand-applied fiberglass. That lump is most likely a place where the surface has delaminated from the structure.

You should be able to fix it easily enough, but it is still a good reason to offer a lower price. If the owner balks at your offer, you could certainly invite them to have the repair made first.

Guzz mentions solar distress - on these tubs a small spot of delam may or may not indicate that. Generally solar distress is found on non-fiberglass-backed tubs such as HS and Tiger River tubs. But I would certainly ask about it.

[Skellman]

I'm assuming the problem could keep "popping up".
I'm almost positive I'll purchase new. I thought it would be worth while to at least look. Her 1st price was 5k with a gazebo. As of this morning she dropped to $3500 without me saying a word.
I'll spend the extra $$$$ (when I replenish my tub fund) and get a new one.
Just doesn't feel right if you know what I mean. No jokes please!

[Chas]

No, blisters don't always come back if fixed. I would say most don't.

But keep in mind that I sell non-laminated tubs, so I have a limited amount of experience in de-lamination.

[sandiego]

No, blisters don't always come back if fixed. I would say most don't.

But keep in mind that I sell non-laminated tubs, so I have a limited amount of experience in de-lamination.

 

Chas is right about this, I sell Caldera and have forever, and yes you can have a problem like this every now and then. It is fixable and in most cases the problem doesn't return. If it's a new spa I would say buy it, but if it's a used spa that's another story. But we used to have famous parking lot sales where we would sell all the leftovers the factory had of blemished tubs and 99% of the time the customers received a great deal and never had another problem with the tub. Besides, once the tub is filled with water, you won't be able to see the repair if it's in the seat.

[hottubdan]

No, blisters don't always come back if fixed. I would say most don't.

But keep in mind that I sell non-laminated tubs, so I have a limited amount of experience in de-lamination.

 

You sell non-laminated Calderas?

[Chas]

Uh, no. The Calderas are laminated.

HotSpring and Tiger River are not laminated.

Sorry.

Caldera laminated HS not.

[hottubdan]

Uh, no. The Calderas are laminated.

HotSpring and Tiger River are not laminated.

Sorry.

Caldera laminated HS not.

 

Just kidding.

[J._McD]

I guess sometimes we are not right, even when we think we are right.  Eh!

[r100rs]

Of course if one wanted to be right all the time - one would stay single!!!  

r100rs

[drewstar]

Hell if the bump was postioned in the right place they could call it a "feature"  ("This tub has the crotchinator  massager therapy bump, included at no additional  charge").  

Chas, what is solar distress? what would one see on a shell that had this?

On this bump, how do they fix it? (Cut it out. grind it down and patch?)  If done correctly, is there any structual concerns, cosmetically what' s it look like?  any idea of the cost for something like this?

[Chas]

Chas, what is solar distress? what would one see on a shell that had this?

Solar distress usually forms a large lump somewhere near the bottom of the tub. It happens when an extremely well-insulated thermoplastic spa is left sitting in the sun empty. It can be repaired. HS has a toolkit a dealer can borrow which contains all you need if that's the issue.

On this bump, how do they fix it? (Cut it out. grind it down and patch?)  If done correctly, is there any structual concerns, cosmetically what' s it look like?  any idea of the cost for something like this?

I don't have any idea of the cost. I have not done one of these repairs in at least ten years.

But if the blister is still intact, you can simply heat it, put a tiny hole in it, and then flatten it out. Some folks will inject an adheasive first. There is no relationship between the acrylic surface and the structure of the spa - on fiberglass-backed tubs that is.