Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: NorthWoodsDipper on February 06, 2007, 10:28:27 pm
-
Okay, I need to take a break from this work or I am going to Kack over from a heart attack. Anyway, I finally have posted photos from my deck project this fall. I designed and built the deck myself with the hot tub in mind. I spent just about every spare minute I had on it for 2 months straight. I also built the spa stairs and Pergola. One more thing I still want to do is to build 2 cedar planters in both corners (in the spaces between the Pergola posts and spa steps). Then I will have some Climatis grow up the Pergola. I purposely did not build stretchers across the top of the Pergola to keep birds from roosting and going do-do on the spa.
The deck planking is Trex, but the rails I shaped myself out of 2x4 cedar. Yes, there will be some maintenance, but it looks so stinking cool in the woods and with the Arctic spa that it is soooo worth the effort. This spring I am going to paint the pressure treated posts to match the house color. Then I am going to replace the house fascia boards on the gable over the deck with new cedar stained to match the deck. That should give it a chalet look I think. Well, that and maybe a few Killians...
Steven-
-
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/FinishedDeck-Snow014.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/FinishedDeck-Snow020.jpg)(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/FinishedDeck009.jpg)(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/FinishedDeck004.jpg)(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/FinishedDeck007.jpg)(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/FinishedDeck012.jpg)(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/Jeri021-withinstructions2.jpg)
-
That is a gorgeous setup. Love the deck - congratulations!
-
GREAT job! I love the leaves and writings on the wood posts.....Nice detail!
-
Wow. :o
8-)
-
Kudos to you! :)
Bluesman 8-)
-
"He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate. - Henry David Thoreau"
I built the surround because I wanted to engrave on it and have a place to mount lights and also to keep the leaves out.
Steven
Thanks Steven.
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product, although it already looks like it is to me but we all know how that goes......once one gets started on a project, it's never over. :)
-
Have you rolled around in the snow on the deck and gotten back in yet?
-
That's a nice set up. :)
I like your idea of matching the house trim to the deck color.
-
That is an amazing set up you have! Did she come with the tub? :o
-
That looks GREAT!! You do nice work. :)
-
Beeeeeuutiful!.....now I hate my set up. Thanks alot! ;D
-
Very very nice, I have houses 4 ft away all around me, I am jealous.
-
That is the nicest deck I have ever seen. Great Job!! :o
-
Purdy.
-
nice tub toy you have there ::)
-
That is awesome!
Love the railings & deck!
Lighted steps rule!
Arctic spa looks very nice too.
I am sooooo jealous of your view.
Thanks for sharing these pics.
;)
-
i got one word for you buddy....SHWEEEEEEEEEETT!!!!!! oh yeah, the deck and the tub is nice too.
-
i got one word for you buddy....SHWEEEEEEEEEETT!!!!!! oh yeah, the deck and the tub is nice too.
Okay, now I am afraid to tell my GF there is a bikini shot of her in a forum with all these crazy men oggling her. She will either like the idea or hate it. But hey, at least I chose one with her top still on...;)
-
That is awesome!
Love the railings & deck!
Lighted steps rule!
Arctic spa looks very nice too.
I am sooooo jealous of your view.
Thanks for sharing these pics.
;)
Thanks! I am still finishing the deck lights, but all of them will terminate through a switch right at the spa so we can go into "stealth mode" after getting in.
-
absolutely beautiful set up. what a job you did. do you do this sort of thing for a living?
what is written on the post if i may ask? ::)
-
re: I am still finishing the deck lights, but all of them will terminate
through a switch right at the spa so we can go into "stealth mode"
after getting in.
Funny you should say that....I have a similiar "problem".
I have malibu lights around my spa and shrubs.
At night a couple of the malibu landscape lights shine towards the
front of the tub so when you look out the window from inside the
house you can see the spa lit up. The rock side panels I have
look cool at night with the subtle lighting.
But once I get in the tub the two lights can be shining right towards
your eyes if you stand up in the tub.....so it would be cool to be able
to turn them off once in the tub.
-
re: I am still finishing the deck lights, but all of them will terminate
through a switch right at the spa so we can go into "stealth mode"
after getting in.
Funny you should say that....I have a similiar "problem".
I have malibu lights around my spa and shrubs.
At night a couple of the malibu landscape lights shine towards the
front of the tub so when you look out the window from inside the
house you can see the spa lit up. The rock side panels I have
look cool at night with the subtle lighting.
But once I get in the tub the two lights can be shining right towards
your eyes if you stand up in the tub.....so it would be cool to be able
to turn them off once in the tub.
When I finish, I will not only have lights on the spa risers and risers down to the lawn, but I will have lights on some of the deck posts and 4 flood lights pointing to the 4 beams of the pergola (sort of like what you did with yours). These lights are really only for when I use the deck, or perhaps when walking out the the spa. So I need to switch them off when actually in the spa. The 4 pergola posts might look like solid beams, but actually I built them hollow with mitered joints. I did that so I can run speaker and light wires up through them. Also, that leaves room in them to mount a switch. The low voltage lighting I am using turns on/off with a timer, but will also run through that switch so I can turn it off for "stealth mode". You could certainly do the same for your lighting.
The other idea I am thinking about is using one of the outputs on my Arctic panel to switch it. There is a third pump option that I don't have and I thought I might just wire a relay to that output. Then there would be no switch on the post at all, just the button on the panel. Pretty trick huh? I wonder if the Arctic people will help me with the schematic on that, or if they would give me some sort of shtick about voiding the warrenty...
Steven
-
absolutely beautiful set up. what a job you did. do you do this sort of thing for a living?
what is written on the post if i may ask? ::)
Yes and no. I am not a carpenter by trade, but I guess I am pretty hands on. Plus I have a Laser for my home business and that is what I used on the leaves and engraved text.
The post has part of a story engraved on it from "Freddie the Leaf".
Steven
-
Steven - Very, very nicely done! [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]
One of my "scheduled" projects is a deck improvement. I was looking into trex and others but they seem to limited in the colors you can get them in (at least around here anyway). So far I have not seen ANY that dark of a color. Did you have to stain the trex and if so, what stain did you use (mfg and color code). Oh, and yea, which trex color did you start with? If it comes that way, what is the trex color?
Also, looks like you ran a router to do the railings. What sized bits did you have to use and did you go through a lot of bits doing that whole deck or did you buy some really high end (titanium) bits? I have a router that was a christmas present 2 years ago that is still sitting on my work bench having done little more than build a few pinewood derby cars (so far).
Thanks in advance
-
I am not a carpenter by trade
You do better work than some of the carpenters I work around on the job sites and they're Union card holders. :)
-
amen to that!
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e189/spacemonkey70/thgreatjob1.gif)
-
Most excellent job across the board. The wrought iron "slats" are exactly what we've been looking for. Where did they come from ?
-
re: Also, that leaves room in them to mount a switch.
The low voltage lighting I am using turns on/off with a timer,
but will also run through that switch so I can turn it off for
"stealth mode". You could certainly do the same for your lighting.
Hey thanks.....I think I will try to add an on/off switch.
I could hide the switch on my fence because my tub backs
up to my fence with only about 6 inches in-between.
I could place the switch about a foot below my tub rim
on the fence and no one could see it.
Would the control box for the malibu lights need to be right there
or can you just add a switch in the lines any where?
I guess if you can add it in the line...turning it off and on would
not affect the timer?
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Hot%20Tub/TubDeckJun-2.jpg)
-
Most excellent job across the board. The wrought iron "slats" are exactly what we've been looking for. Where did they come from ?
I ordered the spindles from Home Depot. They are actually aluminum, but powder coated black to look like wrought iron.
http://www.bwcreativewood.com/photo_gallery.asp?cat=10&sub=150
Steven-
-
re: Also, that leaves room in them to mount a switch.
The low voltage lighting I am using turns on/off with a timer,
but will also run through that switch so I can turn it off for
"stealth mode". You could certainly do the same for your lighting.
Hey thanks.....I think I will try to add an on/off switch.
I could hide the switch on my fence because my tub backs
up to my fence with only about 6 inches in-between.
I could place the switch about a foot below my tub rim
on the fence and no one could see it.
Would the control box for the malibu lights need to be right there
or can you just add a switch in the lines any where?
I guess if you can add it in the line...turning it off and on would
not affect the timer?
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Hot%20Tub/TubDeckJun-2.jpg)
Zep, the switch would need to be AFTER the timer, but BEFORE the first light in the series.
The more I think about it, the more I think I am going to try to use the button on my Arctic control panel that would turn on the 3rd pump if I had one.
Steven-
-
I am definetly not an electrician and think your setup is wonderful. However, I feel I should warn you that it I believe it is against NEC code to have low voltage or standard 110 wiring (switch outlets or even low voltage lamps) within I think 10 feet of the hot tub, unless the circuit if GFI protected.
I'm really jealous of everyones setup here. I just put my nice looking tub on my grungy old deck. Nothing special AT ALL.
-
NorthWoods, very nice setup. Are you saying you have a Laser Engraver? What model do you own?
-
re:"should warn you that it I believe it is against NEC code to have low voltage or standard 110 wiring (switch outlets or even low voltage lamps) within I think 10 feet of the hot tub, unless the circuit if GFI protected".
Thanks for the warning.......I have recently "over-dosed" on GFI outlets....adding them like crazy inside and outside my house because I had a co-worker shocked to death last year while working outside at his Mom's house. My Malibu landscape lights are GFI protected.
Speaking of GFI.....a friend of mine told me that it's pretty smart to buy a GFI Tester and test all your GFI outlets because sometimes you think your "protected" and your really not because of a faulty GFI or incorrect wiring of the GFI.
(http://www.electronix.com/catalog/images/ca115.jpg)
http://www.electronix.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?ELECTRONIX_CATALOG_SESSID=f1eb5792059b69ed5f1532392417c5fe&keywords=gfi+tester
-
I am definetly not an electrician and think your setup is wonderful. However, I feel I should warn you that it I believe it is against NEC code to have low voltage or standard 110 wiring (switch outlets or even low voltage lamps) within I think 10 feet of the hot tub, unless the circuit if GFI protected.
I'm really jealous of everyones setup here. I just put my nice looking tub on my grungy old deck. Nothing special AT ALL.
Thanks for mentioning that here. We need to keep everyone safe! My circuit is GFI protected. What some people forget however is that not EVERY outlet needs a GFI device, only the FIRST outlet in the circuit. At least that is the code here in MN. Does that make sense?
Steven-
-
re: here in MN
Where in "Mini-Soda" are you?
When I was married I used to come up from Texas
to Lake City, MN and also Lake Charles, MN to visit
in-laws. Thats some nice peaceful country.
-
That is gorgeous! Love the deck, the engraving, the surroundings.......so nicely done!
Looks like you have lights on the steps at the tub, which is great too. Can you move those steps easily to get to the panels of the tub if needed?
-
That is gorgeous! Can you move those steps easily to get to the panels of the tub if needed?
As Homer would say... Duuh! I never thought of that!
Haa haa, just kidding. Yes, if you look closely you will see the miter line right at the post (it looks like the post sits on the steps, but actually it goes through to the deck surface. I built the steps as a left and right unit. When you pull them away, the Pergola post remains. Actually, the step without the engraving is the only one that would need to be pulled away as it covers the main access panel.
By the way, I really like your setup also Anne!
Steven-
-
Very clever, and hardly noticable! Having grown up with woodworkers, it is so nice to see quality projects like yours. I love the detail.
And thanks for the compliment. Mine was a smaller project, by far, but I'm just not that handy. Should have paid more attention when I was a kid!
-
NorthWoods, very nice setup. Are you saying you have a Laser Engraver? What model do you own?
Yes, I am a laser engraver, but only as a small home business. I also have a real job. My home business is to engrave on wood and granite. I sell through 2 websites that I built.
Oh, and my laser is a Universal brand. I REALLY like using it on my projects around my home. I built two kitchen pantrys last winter, and made granite tops for them. On the short pantry top I engraved a photo in the granite of my daughters when they were 4 and 5. That turned out pretty cool.
Steven-
-
re: here in MN
Where in "Mini-Soda" are you?
When I was married I used to come up from Texas
to Lake City, MN and also Lake Charles, MN to visit
in-laws. Thats some nice peaceful country.
St. Cloud MN. It is about 1.5 hours Northwest of Minnapolis. Or in movie terms, it is: Northwest of the movie "Fargo", but South East of the movie "Grumpy Old Men". ;D
Steven-
-
NorthWoods, very nice setup. Are you saying you have a Laser Engraver? What model do you own?
Yes, I am a laser engraver, but only as a small home business. I also have a real job. My home business is to engrave on wood and granite. I sell through 2 websites that I built.
Oh, and my laser is a Universal brand. I REALLY like using it on my projects around my home. I built two kitchen pantrys last winter, and made granite tops for them. On the short pantry top I engraved a photo in the granite of my daughters when they were 4 and 5. That turned out pretty cool.
Steven-
Gomboman, are YOU a laser engraver? If so, have you done any work on your hot tub area you would like to share with everyone?
Steven-
-
St. Cloud MN. It is about 1.5 hours Northwest of Minnapolis. Or in movie terms, it is: Northwest of the movie "Fargo", but South East of the movie "Grumpy Old Men".
Got your directions reversed. ;) :)
-
Got your directions reversed. ;) :)
Haa Haa, don't give me a geography lesson! ;D But to prove my point, "Fargo" takes place mostly in Minneapolis MN, not Fargo SD. The holigans were from "Fargo", hence the movie title. So I meant that St. Cloud is NorthWest from Minneapolis.
Either way, the winters are colder than hell here, so my Arctic is a great way to burn through that long season.
Steven
-
Haa Haa, don't give me a geography lesson! ;D But to prove my point, "Fargo" takes place mostly in Minneapolis MN, not Fargo [glow]SD[/glow]. The holigans were from "Fargo", hence the movie title. So I meant that St. Cloud is NorthWest from Minneapolis.
Nice spin, but don't dig your hole deeper. ;) ;D Fargo, [glow]SD[/glow]? :o Now, how do you explain away the Grumpy Old Men reference? :-?:)
-
re: St. Cloud MN
Is there a Police Academy there?
I think I went to my nephew-in-law's graduation from Police Academy in St. Cloud back in the 1990's.
-
Nice spin, but don't dig your hole deeper. ;) ;D Fargo, [glow]SD[/glow]? :o Now, how do you explain away the Grumpy Old Men reference? :-?:)
OH CRAP! You caught me there. Now I am laughing out loud! ND and SD people absolutly HATE it when you mix them up, so I should know better. It just goes to show you that I have too much work on my mind. I wonder what else I screwed up today at work?
Grumpy Old Men was filmed up on Mill Lacs Lake, North of here...
Steven-
-
re: St. Cloud MN
Is there a Police Academy there?
I think I went to my nephew-in-law's graduation from Police Academy in St. Cloud back in the 1990's.
Hmmmm..... I don't know. I am normally running from, not talking to them...
Well, I did get pulled over for doing a burnout in the 68' last year during a car show cruise and they let me off with a stiff warning. So that was good. I read the paper the next day, and a whopping 78 others were not so fortunate. :-[ That was a good fundraiser for our Police force ;D
-
...Grumpy Old Men was filmed up on Mill Lacs Lake, North of here...
I thought it was filmed in Wabasha.
-
....Is there a Police Academy there?...
I don't know about an "academy", but St. Cloud State University offers a degree in criminal justice, and there are some police training programs held at the Camp Ripley National Guard facilities outside Little Falls, which is about an hour north of St. Cloud.
-
Looks great, love to see some pics of the gorgous tub toy!
-
Yeah...I guess this was it.
http://www.stcloudstate.edu/criminaljustice/
-
I thought it was filmed in Wabasha.
Hee hee ;D Wabasha is a ficticious city. But there is a good story about that... I was in Alberta Canada a month ago with a customer. The customer lived in a Hutterite Colony. All he could talk about was Wabasha and that movie. It was too funny! That is what made me think of it.
-
Looks great, love to see some pics of the gorgous tub toy!
Bikini, or Sans bikini? ;D
-
Hee hee ;D Wabasha is a ficticious city. But there is a good story about that... I was in Alberta Canada a month ago with a customer. The customer lived in a Hutterite Colony. All he could talk about was Wabasha and that movie. It was too funny! That is what made me think of it.
Indeed, there is a Wabasha. I do believe they filmed a restaurant scene there at Slippery's. It's a nice little restaurant right on the Mississippi. They have a few docks there for boaters who want to stop in for lunch. Great food--Great prices. Wabasha also has fabulous Bald Eagle Center, down from Slippery's, on the river. They have a great educational program and they have 3 eagles there that cannot be released due to their injuries. We were there for feeding time--very cool.
The ride up/down HWY 61 from Hastings to LaCrosse is absolutely beautiful.
-
I don't know about an "academy", but St. Cloud State University offers a degree in criminal justice, and there are some police training programs held at the Camp Ripley National Guard facilities outside Little Falls, which is about an hour north of St. Cloud.
St. Cloud also has a giant state prison (the "Academy" ;) )right on the HWY. It's our halfway point marker from Stillwater up to our cabin in the Brainerd area. We always threaten to drop the kids off there... ;D ;D
-
Hee hee ;D Wabasha is a ficticious city. But there is a good story about that... I was in Alberta Canada a month ago with a customer. The customer lived in a Hutterite Colony. All he could talk about was Wabasha and that movie. It was too funny!
Hee hee -- that Hutterite probably still gets a good laugh thinking about the guy from Minnesota who was convinced that Wabasha was ficticious! ;D Your geographic knowledge hole keeps getting deeper and deeper. You could put a canoe in the Mississippi at St. Cloud, and float down to Wabasha (that'd be SE ;)), although I'd wait for warmer weather. Since Zep used to visit Lake City, even a Texan probably knows where it is. ;) ;D
-
WOW....that is one nice set! Opps I mean setup! Honestly that is really nice, how did you get the writing on there and the leaves? That is soo cool. Looks like I have to work on my setup.
One thing you may want to consider. The growing of the leafy stuff on the pergola. Leaves fall off in the tub and its allso a bug haven!
Keep that in mind otherwise beautiful work, you should be proud!
-
Hee hee -- that Hutterite probably still gets a good laugh thinking about the guy from Minnesota who was convinced that Wabasha was ficticious! ;D Your geographic knowledge hole keeps getting deeper and deeper. You could put a canoe in the Mississippi at St. Cloud, and float down to Wabasha (that'd be SE ;)), although I'd wait for warmer weather. Since Zep used to visit Lake City, even a Texan probably knows where it is. ;) ;D
Okay Reese, you got me! I promise to check Streets and Trips before I quote another city location. :D
-
WOW....that is one nice set! Opps I mean setup! Honestly that is really nice, how did you get the writing on there and the leaves? That is soo cool. Looks like I have to work on my setup.
One thing you may want to consider. The growing of the leafy stuff on the pergola. Leaves fall off in the tub and its allso a bug haven!
Keep that in mind otherwise beautiful work, you should be proud!
Yeah, I really enjoy the set... ummm I mean setup. ;) You have a good point about vines growing on the Pergola. I guess I will try it and see how bad it is. But I don't know how much I will use the spa in summer, I have too much going on then.
I used a Komo CNC Router to engrave the quote on the step, and a Universal Laser to engrave the leaves and text on the posts.
-
I'll have to say, you did well. Nice personal touches. Being you did most all the work, you made it affordable. If you were to hire it out with lights and engraving would put it out of reach for most.
-
Okay, as the forums one of two known true Nodakonians I must take exception to Northwoods confusing ND and SD. I will only allow this if we can trade Fargo ND for Rapid City SD. This of course includes the beautiful Black Hills.
Northwoods, nice setup. I would like to know more about laser engraving though.
Really, I love the steel and wood. Great job!
-
Okay, as the forums one of two known true Nodakonians I must take exception to Northwoods confusing ND and SD. I will only allow this if we can trade Fargo ND for Rapid City SD. This of course includes the beautiful Black Hills.
Northwoods, nice setup. I would like to know more about laser engraving though.
Really, I love the steel and wood. Great job!
Okay, Okay! :-[ You got me! I promise NOT to post after 16 hours of straight work! I know you Nodakonians get your feelings hurt when we confuse the two states. Really, it was only because of lack of sleep, lack of coffee. and typing too fast. Reese beat me up about my geography skills, or lack there of as well!
To answer your question, I sell my products on two websites that I created and update. I engrave on wood and granite. Mostly I make little garden memorials for pets and people in granite, including their photo. I am going to make a dedication memorial for the deck to remember my recently departed Godson. It is a fun second job/hobby which pays for toys (such as the hot tub), but truthfully I get a bigger kick out of using my Laser for home projects and charitable events. I hope this isn't breaking any rules about advertising on this forum, as that is NOT my intent.
Here are some photos of two pantries I built from scratch for my kitchen. I also laserd the photo on one of the granite tops. It is a photo of my girls after their bath from about 10 years ago.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/NewColors029-ROTATE.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/NewColors030.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/NewColors031.jpg)
Steven-
-
Indeed, there is a Wabasha. I do believe they filmed a restaurant scene there at Slippery's. It's a nice little restaurant right on the Mississippi. They have a few docks there for boaters who want to stop in for lunch. Great food--Great prices. Wabasha also has fabulous Bald Eagle Center, down from Slippery's, on the river. They have a great educational program and they have 3 eagles there that cannot be released due to their injuries. We were there for feeding time--very cool.
The ride up/down HWY 61 from Hastings to LaCrosse is absolutely beautiful.
Try hwy 35 on the Wisconsin side. I feel its quite a bit prettier.
-
NWD,
I'm lovin' your work. :)
Got any more pics?
-
NWD,
I'm lovin' your work. :)
Got any more pics?
I built this last year.
But it has no fancy engraving :-[(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/NewTVCenter.jpg)
Also, "WHY NOT", since you are a tile guy, you might appreciate this granite floor into my studio.
I am trying to figure out how I can incorporate some granite engraving on my spa deck. Perhaps a granite bar top with some sort of outdoor scene?
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s20/NorthWoodsDipper/StudioFloor008.jpg)
-
NorthWoodsDipper, you have a PM
-
Nwd,
I might be giving you a call when I build my next house for some engraving on my stone floors. If that's something you'd be interested in. :D
Keep up the good work. :)
-
Nwd,
I might be giving you a call when I build my next house for some engraving on my stone floors. If that's something you'd be interested in. :D
Keep up the good work. :)
Yes, I love money! ;D
-
The metal railings are great. Did you make them? How are they attached?
-
The metal railings are great. Did you make them? How are they attached?
Actually, I THOUGHT about making them and sending them out to be powder coated. But I found these from Home Depot (special order). The bad part is the are AMAZINGLY expensive for what they are. But since I did all the work myself, I could afford to splurg on materials. They are screwed on from the back side. I believe my photo of a side shot of my steps down to the lawn should show that. I have not seen anyone else use these. I have seen another manufactures product called "Deckorators". However, they were not as nice and were wider. I like the narrow width of mine as it hardly abstructs the view.
On a side note, I am swamped at work right now (came into work on the Lord"s day right now actually!), but in a month or so I am going to start work on the 2 cedar planters which will go between the spa steps and pergola columns. I have a 3D image of a sprig of Oak leaves and acorns that I am going to machine on the face of the planter with our Komo CNC router. I'll post a photo when I finish, because a lot of people have never seen a 3D carving come off a CNC machine before.
Steven-