The first thing most people notice about a spa is its cabinet, so choose a
spa made of high-quality wood or synthetic material that enhances the overall
look of your hot tub. A cabinet that appears elegant and textured cabinet not
only adds to the aesthetic appeal of the spa, but also adds to the feeling that
the spa is quality furniture.
When choosing a spa cabinet, what’s on the inside is just as important as what’s
on the outside. You need to consider the quality, structural integrity, and
durability of the spa cabinet. Here are three features to look for in a quality
spa cabinet:
• Interior Frame Construction. This is the starting point of a good spa
cabinet. The interior construction should be done with at least 2 x 4 wood
framing in order to provide enough strength to hold 200 to 300 gallons of water
(between 1,600 and 2,400 lbs.)
Some manufacturers try to save money by only using 1x2 or 2x3 wood framing on
the interior of their spas, but these materials may not be strong enough to
support a spa full of water. This becomes most apparent if your spa has
removable walls, because when the outside walls are removed the interior frame
takes on the full weight load of the spa and water.
• Pressure Treated Base. No matter where you plan to install your spa, we
strongly recommend that you buy a spa with a pressure treated base. This is a
critical requirement if your spa will be located outdoors, since an outdoor spa
is subjected to harsh elements that can damage wood. A pressure treated base
will prolong the life of your spa’s wood cabinet.
• Removable Walls. For ease of maintenance and service, you can’t beat a
spa with removable wall panels. Think about trying to repair a car without being
able to lift the hood, and that will give you an idea of what it’s like to
repair a spa that doesn’t have removable walls. The repair process quickly
becomes nearly impossible, extremely time consuming, and expensive.
A spa with removable walls can be easily checked and serviced when necessary.
Removable wall panels also improve quality control during the manufacturing
process, especially when it comes to checking for leaks. A spa with removable
wall panels is much easier to test and inspect for water tight integrity.
