You have a very long day at work. Grab a cold drink, preprogram your spa to be hot when get home, very nice. Plus on cold nights, it is neat to sit in the steam clouds.

We did not add a spa because I hate them as much as my husband loves them. That means I won't use it and he wants a real therapeutic one. We had the designer add an acrylic spa into our design. It will be right off our master bedroom. We haven't purchase it yet. I need a new kitchen first!

Depends....in Spring, TX it helps re-sale and value. If this isn't a factor, then it's really up to personal choice.

When considering, imagine your lifestyle. I wanted a spa not only for the hot/relaxing part, but more for the kids. Now this part might seem strange, but..... when women with young children get together, the kids want to swim longer than the adults might want (or we don't want to mess up our make-up/hair). Sometimes the young ones like to walk around on the benches and play - especially if they aren't strong swimmers yet. Hence, at our house we have the "big pool" and the "little pool".

Another lifestyle consideration was when we have people/parties of adults. Some would like to be in water while others aren't. The adults don't really "play" but sit or stand in the cool water. The spa is the same temperature as the pool water and is more conducive to sitting and talking.

Although on a budget, we decided to raise the spa. The raised edge provides the kids/adults with extra seating and was also a less expensive option for a water feature.

All this being said, if you won't use it, don't get it. Try to imagine how and if you would use it to determine if it's worth the extra $$$. In our area (with all the plumbing/heater/construction costs) I found that a spa adds 8-12K onto the price.

My No. 2 Son and I have this hobby: Brew-tasting in the jacuzzi. Mom sits aside opening a brew while we avert, then we guess its identity. But first before guessing each of us rates it on a scale of 1-10 in steps of 0.1, simultaneously disclosing our scores so as to avert any interaction

Mom notes our scores, then before guessing we discussing its flavor and appearance. Mom now also records the number of guesses as well, later entering them in a file on her PC.

No. 2 is somewhat better at this than I, often identifying it upon first guess. After 14 brews, 7 each, we have to quit because I by then I'm slightly drunk to falling over, depending on the number of brews having exceeded the usual 5%

We like to perform this hobby whenever possible with at least one visitor as it proportionally makes possible the tasting of 1/3 more brews and also each sampling, lasting for a shorter interval, remains accordingly colder. So why the sauna

Probably the hot water has made it possible for me at an advanced age and not so impervious as in earlier times, to achieve this level by helping burn off the alcohol. Besides it's fun to sit there watching out the big windows the play of our fountain and waterfall in the back yard while our cats amble by

Your fingertips shrivel up but no permanent damage ensues

I could not have said it better than lookingforapool. They did the spa for the same EXACT reasons we are doing it. We are having ours raised 18" and it will make a lovely water feature without paying for a rock water feature that can't be used for anything other than aesthetics. I can tell you ours is running about 11K and that will have 12 jets (max amount you can have without losing any pressure). My husband really wanted the spa and I really wanted a water feature so we are both getting what we wanted. We are going to have a white plaster pool but we are doing the colored LED lights which will look really cool in the spa, I hope ; )

Goodness ..everyone has such good advice. I am really leaning toward wanting one, I like the idea of having a waterfall on it, but also wanted to stay in my 35 thousand budget. The company I had called said the pool will cost 25 thousand. I will be wanting a 4 to 9 foot, diving board, LED, heater and two benches. It will be white plaster. I am sure other things will add up fast. I may have to put my pool off for a few extra mos. to increase my budget?

At first, we didn't have a spa in our plans. After thinking about it, we decided to add it. Our spa sits 8. Now, we should have built a spa that sits 12. It gets used all of the time and our pool was just built this June. So, now we are looking forward to the colder months.

We live in Austin, TX and have a spa in ours. The added benefit that I didn't think of when we were building is how much it extends the use of the pool for the kids. We have 10 year old twin boys.

It's great for swimming in October and March / early April. They'll swim in the pool, warm up in the spa, and back int he pool. Then throughout the colder months they like to swim in there and often heat it up when friends come over.

For us, it's really extended our investment to 12 months of use each year.

Our last pool didn't have a spa but the new one will. I think that was the primary reason why Playboy bunnies never stopped by for a visit. Don't hot tubs attract bunnies like a flame does the moth?

Errr gotta go here comes the wife!

hi again pooldreamer: I note you were planning on a heater of some sort. If it's for heating the pool you might save a bit by using a solar cover instead. However the Pool Establishment is so ancient and behind the times it's unlikely you will find a ready-made cover and will have to cut the rectangular blanket to fit, then attach straps, etc whereupon you will find it lasts only 2 seasons

Now ask me about the reel

Sorry to be a wet blanket but please don't let the children dive down in such a manner that their hair can become entangled on anything. We have had that tragic thing happen to a local family. Maybe I'm over-protective, but I'd keep a pair of scissors within reach.

We are south-west of Houston and are planning a spa before the end of the year. We are surrounded by rice fields and the mosquitoes are so bad we will have to screen it. I have fibromyalgia and he has had both knees partially replaced so we will benefit.
The beer game sound fun but we are on so many meds we might just drift off and drown :)

Warning, never ask for info from Thermospas unless you want follow-up calls for a long, long time.

Caveat: I don't have one, would use the money elsewhere before getting one.

Nonetheless, the question fired some curiosity brain cells up so I asked everyone at work.

My totally unscientific survey found that if the homeowner was under 40 and/or single Spa=Yes, over 40 and/or long-term married Spa=No. YMMV

pooldreamer....we have a stand alone spa next to the pool nestled in the woods....would definitely recommend a spa for the reason donnaw mentioned...it has extended our swim season to year-round. It's nice to get into and warm up during winter/fall swimming or for just gazing at the stars on any night. Also great for soothing muscles after long runs with a run/swim/spa soak routine.

The benefit of a stand alone is the water temp is always just right for those unplanned soaks anytime of the day. We also use our pool water to refill the hot tub and enjoy the silkly smooth feeling after a long soak in salt water.

Hope this helps.

Over-40s said no? What are they, 41-44 and in perfect condition?

I'm 50, married for the long term, with kids. And my tired and achy muscles are getting tireder and achier with every passing year. I spend more time in the spa than the pool. And my tired achy muscles are glad that we have a stand alone. Our stand alone spa has much better jets and stronger pumps than a built-in could possibly have had.

Another obvious advantage of a standalone is that as long as you plan where it goes and perhaps get the spa pad poured, you can add the actual spa later as the budget permits. You don't need to delay the whole project. Plus the total cost will be lower.

There are so many benefits to owning your own spa. Whether you have a hard day at work or play and need to rejuvenate sore muscles and joints. Want to spend some relaxing time with the family. Or beat the chill of a cold day by soaking in your own spa.
Hot tubs help relieve everyday stress that creates muscle tension causing headaches, sleeplessness, and soreness.
Families get together in hot tubs where they interact with each other.
Hot tubs will increase the value of your home when selling. Hot tubs are desirable amenities to many home buyers.
To maintain a hot tub is far less work than that of a swimming pool.
For more information on home spas please feel free to ask at hottub.indulgemedia.ca
They are more then willing to answer any questions you may have.

We should have built a 15 foot round hot tub! It's always the center of attention when we have a party or kids are over. Like others above have said, it also allows us to open the pool in April and close it in October, extends the season for us here in NJ. Even today, it's been 68 and cloudy all day today, lousy, pool water is 74, but in a half hour the spa will be a nice 98 degrees. Beats heating the whole pool! My teenage son had 18 kids in it the other night....oh to be young again.

thejimbar-what is the diameter of your spa? I really like it. My PB said our would be 7ft in diameter but I think yours looks bigger than that. Thanks

Spa is 8 feet in diameter. We get 12 adults in no problem. Ours is in the deep end, so it's also the kids "diving rock". It's plumbed with 3" PVC to the spa and the jet pump is a 3 hp....the thing really churns water.

Thank you so much. Our pool is set to be dug in about 10-14 days. We meet with the PB on Sat to pick trim/accent tile and choose a filter system. I will ask him how much it would be to upgrade to an 8'. I really like yours. Thanks for including detailed pics. Ours will be on the shallow end. Just like yours I will have spillover that will create the water feature that I wanted (My husband wanted the spa and won but now that it is going in I want it to be useful as possible). Thanks again.

Megan

If you can afford it, I say do it! We did not add a spa and I so wish we would have. This was the first year for our pool and adding a spa would be the only thing I would do differently. So many times we were swimming into the night and to warm up in a spa would have been wonderful. Also, it's funny how many times we were asked "where's the hot tub??" ha!