Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Duffman on March 09, 2006, 06:14:52 pm

Title: Backyard Project Finally Complete! (Jacuzzi 385)
Post by: Duffman on March 09, 2006, 06:14:52 pm
Well it took 6 months for everything to come together but it's finally done. Between the Jacuzzi-385, the landscaping, and the sound/video I can enjoy from the hot tub, I'm really happy how everything turned out.

Enjoy the photos  ;D

(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard1.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard2.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard3.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard5.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard6.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard7.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard8.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard9.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard10.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TH_Backyard12.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/Outdoor_Speakers.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/TV_Sauna_and_Best%20Friend.jpg)


(http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/pics/Springtime_Home1.jpg)

Got a little web page with these pics and some related hyperlinks: http://www.members.cox.net/duffman471/Home_Landscaping.htm

Many thanks to Merrifield Garden Center in Virginia for their help with the construction
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: bob5820 on March 09, 2006, 06:18:57 pm
Great job, looks fantastic. Now kick back and enjoy.

Edit: Just noticed it was you duffman. I haven't spent much time on these boards lately, but I remember your posts from a while ago. What tub did you finnaly go with any way.

Edit part 2: Just noticed that the subject says what kind of tub. I really need to slow down and actually read things  ;D
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: socal on March 09, 2006, 06:19:46 pm
looks nice. congrats on geting everything done. now you can sit back and relax!
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: SurgTec on March 09, 2006, 06:29:00 pm
Very nice set up!  I'm glad to see someone else with a spa on a patio - close to house.  I was reading some of the electrical and legal type postings and was concerned that my spa on my pool lanai deck wasn't 'legal'!

What kind of speakers are those you have out by the tub?  Also - is that a sauna in one of the lower photos?  You do know how to live!

Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: Duffman on March 09, 2006, 06:42:50 pm
Quote
What kind of speakers are those you have out by the tub?  Also - is that a sauna in one of the lower photos?  You do know how to live!



Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: Vinny on March 09, 2006, 07:05:37 pm
Looks Great!

One question though - Your AC unit looks pretty far away from the house, has this recently been moved?
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: Snowbird on March 09, 2006, 07:11:14 pm
Very nice Duff.  Very private for a townhome.

You have a towel tree like the one I might make.

Are those Jensen outdoor speakers?

I just ordered 4 of them from Amazon.

Enjoy.

Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: ramdom on March 09, 2006, 07:21:13 pm
I especially like the shot of the Central Air unit.
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: Duffman on March 09, 2006, 07:35:22 pm
Quote
One question though - Your AC unit looks pretty far away from the house, has this recently been moved?


Yes. When the main patio was under construction I had an HVAC contractor relocate the AC unit. It used to be located by the sliding glass door. This resulted in 2 major problems that made the $800 investment worth while
Since I had to relocate it to make the 385 fit anyway, I decided to pay a little extra and have it moved to the back corner of my property.
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: jnsjr58 on March 09, 2006, 08:10:52 pm
Great set up....... just add beer! :D
You have really done a great job. ( can hardly wait till mine gets here )
Just wait till spring when the trees come out!!! :)
Thanks for sharing the pics!!!!
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: Tubaholic on March 09, 2006, 09:31:48 pm
Your place looks very nice!!!!!!!!
I like the bar on the side of the tub
Oh and  I also have the same speakers in my tub room and they are awsome. Enjoy.......
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: galen on March 09, 2006, 10:13:49 pm
Yes,  Duff its a nice setup. I am looking for a robe stand too.  I may end up making one. Haven't seen one when I've been out. Also nice flatstone work. Pictures are worth a thousand words.  Is that a plasma? I'm just now finnished up my media room.
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: vlady on March 09, 2006, 10:52:49 pm
Looks great Duffman - well done!
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: Chas on March 10, 2006, 12:26:00 am
Looks great.

Well done.

My back is getting sore just looking at all the work you must have had to do.

Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: Duffman on March 10, 2006, 06:21:21 am
Quote
My back is getting sore just looking at all the work you must have had to do.


Ha ha!  I wish I could take the credit but aside from the backyard design and the speaker setup, all the landscaping work was done by contractors.

I must admit though. my fingers were a little calloused from being on the phone with them all the time. Sometimes I felt a bull whip would have been more effective to keep the work moving forward  ;)
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: cappykat on March 10, 2006, 08:43:12 am
Duffman...like the bar addition to the hot-tub.  Didn't know you could screw somthing onto the tub.  Do you have wood siding or vinyl?

Very nice setup.  Congrats!
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete!
Post by: Duffman on March 10, 2006, 09:53:58 am
Jacuzzi uses synthetic wood siding that is similar/comparable to most other manufacturers. The bar, stools, and steps are made from the same material to match and are sold as accessories to the spa.

I was a little concerned with the bar installation since the siding does not have much in the way of studs behind it. Fortunately its 3 braces and plenty of wood screws made for a solid install. Just don't ask me to stand on it. :P
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete! (Jacuzzi 38
Post by: galen on March 10, 2006, 09:59:27 am
Duffman, where did you pick up the robe stand?
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete! (Jacuzzi 38
Post by: Duffman on March 10, 2006, 10:02:09 am
I bought it from my dealer but I understand he's not stocking them anymore. There's definitely a number of websites that sell them though.

Just google "redwood towel tree"

P.S. Great dog Galen! I bought one of those life vests for Indiana in hopes that I could teach her to swim. Unfortunately she panics in the water. Too bad since she has great paws for swimming  I really wanted her to hang out with me when I go kayaking  :-[
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete! (Jacuzzi 38
Post by: windsurfdog on March 10, 2006, 10:31:53 am
Nicely done, duffman.  If anyone wants to know whether to get a spa with a built-in stereo and/or TV, they need to see your setup....heads and shoulders above the built-in units and away from the water as well.

Now when is the party and what should I bring? 8)
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete! (Jacuzzi 38
Post by: Duffman on March 11, 2006, 06:43:41 am
Summary of the outdoor speaker setup (re-post)...

With my trusty dremel I cut a hole in the siding and drywall to run speaker wire outside to a pair of Boston Acoustics outdoor speakers. radio shack sold me an inexpensive wall plate with banana plugs for the wires (flat speaker wire) to give the installation a clean look. A little putty on the outside was pressed around the wires to keep air/moisture out. With a few clips from the hardware store I ran the wires to the speakers such that they are hardly noticable (see the speaker photo above).    
 
The whole project only took a few hours and cost $300 including the speakers, wire and other accessories. What matters to me more then the cost savings is that this installation sounds great! With the receiver I can plug in my ipod and enjoy my favorite tunes. Also, I can watch TV/DVD through the window thanks to an articulating arm that allows the flat panel TV to swing towards either the hot tub or to the sauna inside the house.  

To control the sound I bought a Dolphin waterproof remote control which really works great. It controls the receiver, TV, and DVD player while sitting in the hot tub. The unit cost about $120 but that's cheap compared to the $400+ quotes I got from the hot tub dealers I called. What I did was contact the sales department at Balboa (Dolphin remote manufacturer) by phone and they referred me to a regional distributor. All they needed was the part number and I purchased it right over the phone. Received it in the mail within the next week.

http://www.balboainstruments.com
Title: Re: Backyard Project Finally Complete! (Jacuzzi 38
Post by: devilwoman on March 12, 2006, 05:07:34 pm
Sweet deal.  Man, if you can't relax in your back yard, you can't relax anywhere.  Very nice!!!