Hot Tub & Spa Questions:

Ventilation and Mold

Question:

Hello, we are considering installing a Hot tub & Sauna in our basement, what kind of ventilation or special equipment is needed to prevent mold?

Answer:

If you are redoing the sheet rock then I would hang Green Board (water resistant drywall) on the walls and ceilings. I would use Kilnz Brand (mold resistant) as a primer, I would caulk at the floor and all the joints before painting, and I would use a good quality paint with a moisture retardant. Your ventilation system should be capable of re circulating the air very quickly and run often to keep the air fresh. I would install a tile floor that has been sealed well since it can be cleaned with bleach without damage. Mold is very pervasive and will grow quickly if un-checked. Gordon

Water Splashes on Marble:

Question:

We have marble around an in ground hot tub, so there has been quite a few splashes on the marble...which is leaving water spots. Remember the water has chlorine in it, can you recommend  a product to help remove the spots?

Answer:

Good Afternoon Paul, Unfortunately chlorine is a bleach and similar fabrics it will bleach or whiten the surrounding tile. I have used a product from TILElab called SurfaceGard, it is pricey, but it may work to neutralize the spots. Otherwise I really don't know what to suggest as the slate is rather porous and the chlorine will have spotted down in the tile deeply. Gordon

Indoor Hot Tub Installation:

Question:

We have bought a house with a sunroom and would like to put a hot tub in it. Can you buy hot tubs in two pieces since it will most likely not fit through the doorway and we don't want to remove any walls.

Answer:

That issue would have to be presented to a spa dealer, I know that they have small units that you probably could turn on its edge and slide thru a medium sized door. I would contact a dealer who carries the brand you like and pose this question to them. Gordon

Replacing the Hot Tub Cabinet:

Question:

We have an older hot tub and would like to replace the cabinet. How would we do this?

Answer:

Good Morning, By carefully removing the outer shell exposing the framing members you can replace the outside trim boards on the skirt. Some manufactures spray the insulating foam into the cavity, so you will probably lose some when you are removing the trim boards. You will probably have to replace a little with some R-30 insulation. A word of caution, there are low voltage wires and PVC pipe etc around the perimeter of the skirt, be careful not to damage them. Hope this helps, Gordon

Hot tub on un-gauged slate tile:  

Question:

Is there anything I need to consider when placing a hot tub in my sunroom? I’m going to use un-gauged granite tile in the sunroom, is that that the best tile choice?

Answer:

Good Morning, Hot tubs generate a lot of moisture so make sure you have the ability to circulate the air re windows, fans etc. Build up of damp warm air creates mold, dry rot etc. Let the area ventilate quite often. Un-gauged slate is good medium as long as you seal the grout joints with a silicon base sealer and I would suggest an acrylic ad mix to further water proof the joints. A word of caution, tiles can be slick so in a wet environment allow for this factor with water proof mats etc.. Hope this is helpful, Gordon