Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Larry Becker on September 18, 2006, 02:34:51 pm
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Hi! Just found this forum recently...
The Sarena Bay I ordered is being delivered on Friday, so I've got some work to do to get ready for it. My concrete patio slab has too much of a slope (1.5" over 10'), so I'm building a low redwood deck platform to even it out (and also cover some oddness in the concrete). Any suggestions or concerns about thsi? Anything I should make sure the dealer does or doesn't do? They're wet-testing it this week, and I'm having them do the electrical (I already have a new 200 amp panel).
The spa itself was built in 8/05 and has never had water in it -- apparently in the showroom all this time. I considered a new Lotus Bay, but for not much more I got the Sarena Bay (maybe a little less...). The exercise options and dual Dynamic Massage sequencers seemed really great. It's got the white Ultralife shell and Mayan Brown Envirotect shell.
I wish it had the sound option, but apparently that has to be factory installed. The sales guy talked about a Dolphin remote that controls the spa and sound on models with that, but they didn't know if the remote could control the spa itself w/out the sound option. I found Dolphin remotes available through a dealer on line, and I think I could make it work myself with some outdoor speakers and a hookup to a reciever... any experience with this?
Quick note of introduction... I'm a Lutheran pastor/ceo of a church/school in the LA area. Married, 1 son in college, one just married. Just me, my wife and the cat at home. Cat isn't too interested in the spa. Probably just as well -- might clog things up...
Looking forward to getting to know some folks here -- I think there are even other ministers here? Seems we need to relax a bit in our profession...
Thanks again for all your help!
Larry Becker
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Pastor/Father/Larry,
Sorry I'm catholic, not sure how to refer to you.
With regards to your wood deck, make sure its strong enough to support the weight of the tub. You may want to consult an engineer.
D1 builds a good quality tub and have had favorable reviews so I' m sure you will be happy.
Sorry but I can't comment on the Dolphin remote because I am not familiar with them.
Yes I have seen a minister or two make the occasional post on this site, I have also seen a few with a bit of the "Devil in Them" ;D
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Dear "In Canada_eh,"
Just "Larry" is fine when I'm not working... which is kind of what the spa thing is all about for me -- taking some time to not work... Though if I'm not careful, I'll end up with a bunch of church people in my tub. Can't win for losing! How do I address you? "In Canada"? "Eh"? "ICE"? BTW, I was born in Welland, Ont, so feel free to speak Canadian to me and I'll probably get it... eh?
Yeah, I've stressed a little about the strength of the deck, and I have it sorted out pretty well. If anything, I'm way overbuilding it!
As far as other ministers having a bit of the Devil in them -- SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!!! :o Ok, maybe we do get into a little mischief sometimes :-[
Thanks for your response!
Larry
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You don't need our help, God is with you. Just prey it will all work out.
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Larry,
We think the same,
When in doubt build it 5 times stronger then it needs to be ;)
I was not referring to the other ministers having a bit of the devil in them, I was referring to some of the shenanigans that go on on this site. Seriously, its a good bunch of people always willing to lend advice and a helpful hint or two.
I have know a few catholic priests always willing to get into "mischief" on a basketball court, I never knew it was a full contact sport ;D
Terry
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Dear sledjunkie...
I'll check again, but I'm sure there is very little in the Scriptures about soaking in a tub and spa chemical problems. Could be wrong, though... I'll check again --- HAH! Thanks for the laugh! I REALLY DO need help on this!
Larry
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I don't think the slope you quoted will present a problem, especially if you orient it so the filter end is either up-hill or down-hill. Consult your dealer, though. I'd (personally) have a slight slope than worry about shell stress due to shimming (there will be a lot of weight, just with water.)
I have my Artesian on a slab with 1"/10' slope with no problems at all (other than the water is slightly higher on one side than another, and I mounted mine sideways to the slope.
Don't worry, be happy that you have a quality spa to relax in.
John F
LV, NV
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Terry,
I noticed the level of conversation on this board was pretty nice and helpful -- that's why I decided to join. I don't normally have or take the time to do such things...
Larry
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John F,
Just saw your not this morning... sorry...
I agree, a 1"/10' might be ok... but on a Sarena bay there is a filter on the left side of the spa (which would be the high side on my patio), and a Weir straining filter and whatever else is in there on the right side (which would be the low side). It seemed to me to be the way to go to build up the deck.
Even worse, as I've built up the frame for the base, I've found that it isn't an even slope -- in one side it's almost 2" over 10', and goes down to 1" or so on the other end. Not even at all! I'm glad I made the decision to do it, and I've consulted the dealer and told them what I plan and how I'll do it -- they seem very ok with it. I'm not just shimming, I'm building a whole new base with a fully studded and supported frame, covered with 2x6 redwood planks, with plenty of air circulation and drainage allowed for underneath. For the frame of the deck, I'm going 13" on center (not the usual 16").
I think it will be fine, at least as strong as a regular deck that a spa would be put on.
I'm SO EXCITED to get this thing in and running!
Larry
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Now, Larry, you are not getting a HOT TUB or a SPA. You are getting a "portable, full-immersion baptism facilitator". This would make the expenditure a PROFESSIONAL EXPENSE, and therefore tax deductible ;)
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Altazi,
Ya know, something like that occurred to me, but not as nicely developed as your concept. I like it!!!
I will be getting LOTS OF GRIEF from my congregation about this, but I won't care because I'll be very much more relaxed than they are.
It's funny -- when people hear what I'm doing they are talking about it, too... And several already have spas of some kind...
I really like this group -- nice sense of humor and spirit in this place! You're my kind of people... Which, I guess, should worry me...
Larry
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I can see that. I think many people want thier church leaders to live a simple life and avoid material indulgences. (unless you have a castle in St Peter's sq). ::) so, yea, you might raise a few ebrows with a spa, as many people see them as high end luxary items (which to me is a bit strange, I've got friends driving around in $45,000 cars and they tell me they can't afford a hot tub. Hey, I drive a car the cost less than $19.
You buy a 6K tub and they'll talk. Show up to services in a new Lexus and they won't bat an eye lash.
Instead of water change outs, just change it into wine. ;)
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I am with you in trying to get a flat surface if possible without doing any damage to your new spa. A redwood deck sounds nice and since you have started on yours you may not want to try other possibilities. I managed to resolve a slope issue by having a concrete "shim" built (I didn't do it, a contractor recommended by my dealer did!).
So far after 6 months it is doing well and the spa is now pretty level as a result.
Anyway, if you have any interest the post showing it is here:
http://www.whatsthebest-hottub.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1143231808/0#0
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Tanstaafl2,
I really debated the concrete shim, and would prefer to go that route, but the concrete people I called in the Los Angeles area didn't wan't anything to do with it -- too small a job, I guess. I'll talk to my dealer again to see what he says...
Thanks for the pics on your set-up - it looks great!
Larry
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Drewstar,
Fortunately, I've been around the block in this business enough not to be bothered by what people say or do. At 65-70 hours a week, plus being on call 24/7, plus managing a staff of 45, plus overseeing a $1.8m budget, I don't feel too badly sitting in a tub of hot water a few hours a day.
In my last parish in NE I bought a used boat and refurbished it. Spent a lot of time on the lakes with my 2 boys. People got cranky about that, but MANY of them had boats as well. I learned to not even notice such things...
Come to think about it, this is similar... The boat was a fiberglass shell that kept water out, and a spa is a shell that keeps water in... Hmmmm...
Larry
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Tanstaafl2,
I really debated the concrete shim, and would prefer to go that route, but the concrete people I called in the Los Angeles area didn't wan't anything to do with it -- too small a job, I guess. I'll talk to my dealer again to see what he says...
Thanks for the pics on your set-up - it looks great!
Larry
The guy that did mine was one of those "handyman" contractors who did a little bit of everything so no job was too small. But I can see where guys used to doing large jobs might not show any interest. It wasn't hard to do and having seen it once I might even be willing to attempt it myself. But I wouldn't want to have tried to do it on my own the first time!
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Tanstaafl2,
Thanks to your pics, I decided to call one of my church members who used to do concrete and retired a few years ago. I thought he might know of someone to call to do this. He met me at my house and decided to help me do it, so now I get to learn from a master how to mix concrete.
I think he said we'd need 2090 lb bags of concrete, and his back is not too good, so you can guess who will be doing the lifting... My back is hurting already, just thinking about this! I am REALLY GOING TO NEED THE SPA NOW!!!!!! :P
I'm hoping this works out... then I'll build a deck area around the spa itself and not worry about what's underneath that might collapse.
Larry
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2090 bags????? They didn't use that much in the Vatican....you wont need a hot tub after that, you'll need a Novena.
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I'm guessing there should be a space between 20 and 90 for 20 90lb bags? maybe? Thats still a lot... That was about 20 fence post holes last winter, lol. :)
Honestly, the 90lb bags are heavy to move... the menfolk had a hard time when we did our fence. They ended up switching (when we ran out and had to buy more) to the 50lb bags cause lugging the 90lbs ones from the garage to the back of the yard (we have a tiny SoCal lot) was too much work. Also, if the $40 Lowes charges to deliver includes unloading, I'd save yourself your back, and fork out the extra $$$ and just let them deliver/unload.
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Repeat Offender...
You've stumbled on to my nefarious plan: Vatican West!!!! The Lutheran version, of course... :D
Of course I meant 20 90 lb bags...
Brookenstein - Didn't see your post until too late... Already bought, loaded into the van and plopped into my back yard. Going to rent a mixer as well... Got a crew of 2 or 3 other guys coming over to help mix and lay the shim. Promising them a soak in the tub for their efforts... And some dinner, too...
This is fun! But I hurt already! :'(
Larry
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Doesn't your church have a high-school ministry? Couldn't you invite the older boys over for a "concrete party" and provide pizza,
beer uhh. . . soda, and maybe some movies afterwards? Sounds like a good teambuilding, muscle-building, and deck-building experience to me!
Regards,
Altazi
PS - Whenever I see a church parking lot full of Lexuses (Lexi?), BMWs, Mercedes, etc., I can't help but think about Jesus's comment "It's easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven." Just from memory, not quoted exactly.
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Doesn't your church have a high-school ministry? Couldn't you invite the older boys over for a "concrete party" and provide pizza, beer uhh. . . soda, and maybe some movies afterwards? Sounds like a good teambuilding, muscle-building, and deck-building experience to me!
Regards,
Altazi
PS - Whenever I see a church parking lot full of Lexuses (Lexi?), BMWs, Mercedes, etc., I can't help but think about Jesus's comment "It's easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven." Just from memory, not quoted exactly.
ROFL!!!!! ;D
Quote the Bible and kill the thread!
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Thread isn't dead... just tired minister!
Slab is in and curing, but now I'm FULLY ready to soak -- have to wait til Friday's promised delivery...
Laid a 9x11.5' slab to accomodate the 8' width of the spa and 10' length plus stairs...
It isn't as pretty as Tanstaafl2's, but it will be good. No Budda, either...
Larry
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Larry,
Glad to hear you when with the concrete foundation, a rock solid base is the best way to start any project
I bet you could really use the tub about now! :)
Terry
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Thread isn't dead... just tired minister!
Slab is in and curing, but now I'm FULLY ready to soak -- have to wait til Friday's promised delivery...
Laid a 9x11.5' slab to accomodate the 8' width of the spa and 10' length plus stairs...
It isn't as pretty as Tanstaafl2's, but it will be good. No Budda, either...
Larry
Hi Larry,
Glad to hear about your progress. I wouldn't mind if you would post pics of the progress as it happens. . .
Regards,
Altazi
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I would also be curious to see pics if you are taking them thru the whole process. Sounds like a lot of concrete! I know mine didn't take that much but I already the full pad and just needed the shim.
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I know you must be really excited about getting into that new tub!
You may want to ask the concrete friend if the shim would be cured enough to sustain the weight of the tub. I had heard that 2 weeks was needed to fully cure the slab for full strength. Maybe it is less for shims.
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As far as pictures... not much to show yet.
Here is the area before the slab was put in:
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h251/LDBecker/Becker-spaarea.jpg)
And here is the slab with the forms still on it, pots and rocks holding it in place, and an angry cat named Mittens:
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h251/LDBecker/Becker-Spa-slab-and-cat.jpg)
More to come... I just checked with the spa dealer and it's on track for delivery tomorrow...
yt: I checked with the concrete guy and he's confident it will be fine for the spa. The shim is between 3/4" and 2.5" thick -- not much there... I was worried about that, too, but he has 40 years of concrete work and construction under his belt...
Larry
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Rev Larry,
looking good. Anything going on with electrical?
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Electrical... in August I had central air put in and had my ancient panels upgraded to a single 200 amp. The spa sales guy/shop manager/service guy is going to do the wiring for me. I actually am concerned about how much he'll charge. I tried to get an estimate, and even sent him photos of what to expect, but nothing...
It will involve running conduit from the spa to the detached garage, across the patio to the main house panel (about 20') with the other wiring that's already feeding the garage.
Or, he could tap into the wiring that's already going to the garage - there's a small panel there already. I've already got 220 there for my table saw and other woodworking tools... We'll have to see!
Larry
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Looks very nice! I know you are really ready for the spa after all that work!
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Tanstaafl2 -- thanks! Getting excited -- stopped by the dealer today and it's on for 10 am tomorrow... cat's not too happy about the whole thing...
drewstar - electrical issues -- I assumed (honestly, from what I was told by several dealers) that the wiring could be run overhead across the patio where the wiring to my garage is... apparently codes have changed. Only service lines from the pole can do that is what I'm being told. So I may have to foot the bill for some conduit and a LOT more 6 gauge cable to make this work. It also needs a 60 amp breaker...
AND I may have to have conduit running from my house to the garage across part of the patio. Ick... the installer suggested that I run a post or some trellis (SP?) along it to cover it and maybe make it an entrance to the area. Might work but wife isn't too keen on it.
Looked at the Sarena Bay again today -- it's HUGE!!! "Well, it's got five pumps... the guy says... "That's why you need 60 amps." Holy Moly! What have I gotten into???
Sounds fun!
Larry
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:'( No joy in Sarena Bay for me tonight... The spa was delivered, electrical nearly finished, and as we were filling it I noticed a leak coming from the front right panel... opened it up to see a cracked pipe fitting between one of the pumps and the plumbing for that section of the spa. Probably a $1.00 part, and stopped the whole thing. Not a standard Home Depot part, either... So, the spa is in place, filled with over-clorinated water to keep it from turning funky, and the offending pipe plugged until the pumps/filters get going on Monday, I HOPE!!!
I think the installation crew was more disappointed that I was. They felt bad... Not their fault - I think it was a factory problem... there was an "X" on the pipe with the broken fitting, as though someone saw it and meant to fix it but... These things happen, and it should be a fairly easy fix.
Hoping for Monday...
It is really a beautiful thing, though... love the shape of it. Would rather see it from the INSIDE, though...
Larry
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Guy came at 3 today, drained the spa, finished the electrical, took the piping apart in the offending area, and I am now on my way. Had to work tonight, but left the spa warming up -- 74 degrees and rising as of 4 hours ago. I'll check it out when I get home, but don't expect to be in it tonight.
Just put a bottle of Leisure Time Metal Gon, and will use some Leisure Time Renew. Reading the instructions on my Vision cartridge, it says I have to wait 48 hours AFTER I put the Metal Gon in before I put the Vision silver ion cartridge in. Makes sense to me, but my installer seemed surprised to learn it. I think I inadvertantly taught him something about spa chemistry...
I'll post a pic tomorrow...
Larry
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Hi! Just found this forum recently...
Looking forward to getting to know some folks here -- I think there are even other ministers here? Seems we need to relax a bit in our profession...
18 years as a layman working with youth, Licensed by the Assemblies of God. Several years in full-time ministry, resigned the ministry to go into business.
Still active as an elder/leader and musician in our local church. My wife is attending Kings Seminary (Hayford) in SoCal - well on her way to her Masters of Divinity.
I'm old - let's leave it at that, shall we? - and have two 'kids.' One just moved out a few days ago, the other is 17 and has started college classes while homeschooling her senior year.
Over 25 years in the pool/spa biz.
HotSpring dealer.
Licensed contractor.
Nice guy.
8-)
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Hi! Just found this forum recently...
Looking forward to getting to know some folks here -- I think there are even other ministers here? Seems we need to relax a bit in our profession...
18 years as a layman working with youth, Licensed by the Assemblies of God. Several years in full-time ministry, resigned the ministry to go into business.
Still active as an elder/leader and musician in our local church. My wife is attending Kings Seminary (Hayford) in SoCal - well on her way to her Masters of Divinity.
I'm old - let's leave it at that, shall we? - and have two 'kids.' One just moved out a few days ago, the other is 17 and has started college classes while homeschooling her senior year.
Over 25 years in the pool/spa biz.
HotSpring dealer.
Licensed contractor.
Nice guy.
8-)
I direct an arts collaborative that's at a church (UCC). We established it as an independent nonprofit about 5 years ago, and manage all the special event and ongoing rentals for the facility. 5 additional small congregations worship and fellowship there every Sunday, there are 7 other nonprofits that lease office space in the building, and there are two large spaces for concerts, lectures, and community events, plus lots of smaller rehearsal/meeting spaces. The place is hopping!
So I'm not a minister but am up to my eyebrows in Spirit most of the time :)
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Chas and imp etc,
Interesting to hear what others are doing in the field... endless possibilities and needs... Good to meet you!
Checked the temp about 11 last night when I finally got home from the office -- (and people wonder why I need a tub??? HAH!!!) Temp was only 97, but I figured, CLOSE ENOUGH!!! Got in and couldn't stop giggling. Played with all the jets (86 of them!!!), tried the two sequencers (way cool), and had a blast. Meant to stay in for "a few minutes..." -- got out over an hour later... ;D
Larry
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-- got out over an hour later... ;D
Larry
Sounds like Bliss was achieved - congrats! It only gets better . . . :D
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I'm not a minister, but I do a lot of comunity work.
mostly with young unwed mothers.
You know...Just helping them get thier start.
/old steve martin joke.
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Congratulations Larry!
Took a look on D1's website(no dealer in town) and that is a absolutely gorgeous tub!
:)
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Thanks, In_Canada_eh,
Here's a pic of the thing in my back patio. I have to build a surround for it, and the curved steps for it aren't in yet, but this gives an idea...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h251/LDBecker/BeckerSpaRunning.jpg)
Drewstar... reminds me of an old Michael Palin movie, The Missionary, in which he's put in charge of a home for unwed mothers... comedy ensues...
Larry