Thread: Cedar? Hot Tub

Hmmm after 20 something years in the pool and spa industry I have never seen a cypress hot tub. Doesn’t mean that it won’t work, but there may be a very good reason they use western red cedar.
hot tubs = warm water = perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Once you have a hot tub you will use it all year round, perception that it is only a winter thing is generally from those who do not have a spa.
You can use your local pool shop or online to source your jets and check the maximum thickness/width they can go through as this determines your timber thickness.
If you can select a cartridge filter one size up from recommended for pump as this will mean less maintenance.
cheers

Originally Posted by Wrongwayfirst

Hmmm after 20 something years in the pool and spa industry I have never seen a cypress hot tub. Doesn’t mean that it won’t work, but there may be a very good reason they use western red cedar.
hot tubs = warm water = perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Once you have a hot tub you will use it all year round, perception that it is only a winter thing is generally from those who do not have a spa.
You can use your local pool shop or online to source your jets and check the maximum thickness/width they can go through as this determines your timber thickness.
If you can select a cartridge filter one size up from recommended for pump as this will mean less maintenance.
cheers

Fair enough, I've seen cypress used in other applications that Western Red Cedar is used. Roof shingles, weatherboards and so on. It is usually full of knots though but if you only need fairly short lengths then I was thinking you could chop them out of the right stock. Im not against using Western Red Cedar at all, I've just been thinking about Cypress lately and that it seems under valued. I also would like to know if it is even possible to find it in fairly clear sections!

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Good tips on the spa hardware too thanks! What size overall diameter would you recommend?

Albert (from Auckland) asked a similar question not so long ago.
My response was to check the antifungal and antimicrobial properties of WRC vs cypress before going too far with your plans. You wouldn't want the cypress disclouring due to mould, etc.

My recollection is that WRC replaced Californian Redwood when the latter became commercially hard to source.

How long is a piece of string type question.

how many people are you regularly going to have in the tub.
How deep do you want it, are you doing a neck deep , chest deep, both with/without a seat
the volume of water will dictate the pump size for circulation and filtration. However if you are wanting jets this will probably have a higher requirement.

I'VE toyed around with the idea of using timber other than WRC, but consider you spenD your time making it and you probably will want it last for a few years, might as well get proper WR Cedar...

I have quite a bit of redwood if you want to use that.