Original > Hot Tub Forum
New to Hot Tubs: Top Reliable Brands?
d00nut:
--- Quote from: Sam on April 27, 2018, 02:33:45 pm ---I'm not saying that if it's a wood frame it's garbage because properly done, it's not a big deal.
--- End quote ---
Yes. Goes back to the brand.
A poor Steel frame, or ABS frame suffers just the same.
What's everyone's home made of?
That being said, I am not against ABS or Steel. The Endless Pools all have Steel Frames, the NXT grandee I own is ABS. But people make it a bigger deal than it really needs to be.
The Wizard of Spas:
To be clear- I am an advocate of shell quality- as noted in my statement above. The frame should not be what is holding the tub up, but rather there as a stabilizer (hence- to guard against racking). The weight is overwhelmingly distributed from the footwell. If the tub has a quality shell, the frame is there more so as a cabinet mount.
When the frame rots/rusts/warps, etc, that tub is generally 15, 20+ years old. Just because a Chevy dies after 15 years doesn't mean their product is lousy or that they don't build their cars in a good manner. And if you buy a tub that somehow has a frame issue, it probably has a slew of other issues and it is extremely likely the tub is a very low-end brand, and that is just what happens when you buy cheap.
The frame- regardless of what it is made of- is not the focus. Thus- I don't get the wooden frame argument. I understand *why* it is a talking point- It is a sales pitch platform. But if you over-engineer the shell you don't have to over-engineer the frame.
After touring many manufacturing facilities and currently working for one, I really see how the sales side is born from covering the flaws of the construction process. I always discuss with any potential client, when they note the frame, that 1. My brand uses 1"x4" frames and has never had a frame warranty issue and 2. I don't know of any manufacturer that has had a frame warranty issue, if the manufacturer is an upper-tier brand. It goes back to shell construction. You're far more likely to develop a shell issue that is born out of poor shell quality and construction of the shell, in terms of blistering or cracking, than to run into an issue from the frame.
But I am always interested in other perspectives and I hope this didn't sound snotty or snarky. Was just trying to further clarify.
Sam:
--- Quote from: The Wizard of Spas on April 28, 2018, 11:09:35 am ---
But I am always interested in other perspectives and I hope this didn't sound snotty or snarky. Was just trying to further clarify.
--- End quote ---
Not at all! You always provide thoughtful, insightful responses. I just really enjoy debating this stuff and I agree with everything you posted here. We tend to get caught in the weeds with construction methods and materials in this industry and I actually find myself telling customers to avoid that. If you stick with a reputable brand, it doesn't really matter how the frame and shell are built. They are the least likely things to fail on a good hot tub. I was just pointing out that I see hundreds of wood spas falling apart every year. You're right that they probably are mostly 15+ years old. I don't pay specific attention, I just see them coming back with our delivery crews then going to the dump.
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