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Hot Tubs / Spas
Installing a Hot Tub or Spa
If you are planning on building a pool, why not add on a hot tub or spa? Chances are you’ve been considering it anyway. We’re here to give you the pro’s and con’s of adding a hot tub and some of the options that are available to you when purchasing one.
What is the difference between a Hot Tub and a Spa?
The first question you may be asking yourself is what is the difference between a hot tub and a spa? A hot tub is free standing tub of heated water, with filtration and jets used for relaxation and hydrotherapy. A spa does the same exact thing but is permanent and built directly into the ground. A hot tub can sit off by itself detached from the pool area but are most often attached to a pool to form a spa.
To-may-toe, to-mah-to as far as we’re concerned. A bigger more pressing question you may be asking is whether to have an attached spa or detached hot tub. Let’s examine the benefits of both and look at some pro’s and con’s.
Hot Tub or Spa – Above Ground or Inground?
An inground hot tub is just like an inground swimming pool, and lots of similar pro’s and con’s. With an inground hot tub or spa you can blend that area seamlessly into the rest of the pool. To be honest, we feel it’s a more finished look to have the hot tub attached to the pool but there are some drawbacks that we will discuss.
One disadvantage is that an inground hot tub will definitely be more expensive to install and maintain than an above ground detached hot tub. You can expect to spend at least $10,000 for an attached inground hot tub. Some homeowners opt to renovate their pool later on to attach one.
Should I Build An Inground Spa Or Not?
Honestly, if it’s on your radar to do this in the future there are definite cost savings to doing it as part of your inital pool installation. Digging up lines, jackhammering concrete and tile to add on the spa will cost much more than doing it as part of the original construction. You’ll save thousands just adding it on rather than doing it later if you have the budget.
Above Ground Hot Tubs
Opting to have your hot tub detached from the rest of the pool can be just as beautiful if planned properly. An above ground hot tub offers the exact same features and relaxation as an inground hot tub. We have a few above ground hot tubs that we exclusively recommend on our website that are easy to install, cost efficient to maintain and offer top of the line features.
Aside from the cost savings to not attach one there is a significant cost savings in terms of maintenance. Servicing an inground hot tub can be difficult and cost more than the above ground counterparts.
There is a tradeoff in terms of the visual appeal that an attached hot tub has that detached hot tubs simply can’t match. As we mentioned before, attaching your hottub offers a more finished look to the pool area than opting not to attach it.
Top 7 Manufacturers of Luxury Spas
- JACUZZI® Hot Tubs and Spas
- Hot Spring Spas and Hot Tubs
- SUNDANCE® Spas
- Cal Spas
- Marquis Spas
- Diamond Spas
- Maax Spas
Best Hot Tubs 2023 Edition
These are the top hot tubs that we recommend for 2023 based on ease of installation, cost, efficiency, maintenance and value. Read our Hot Tub Buyers Guide for more great tips.