New home? Hot Tub, Inside or outside?

[new2wild]

We are currently planning to build a house next year (cross your fingers). We are figuring on about 2500sqft, Nothing fancy single story and we will be doing most of the work ourselves with the help of a few friends.

The place is being planned with a eye toward entertaining with swinging in mind. I am thinking I want a indoor hottub but most seem to be outdoor? Is there something I am missing here? We had planned on it being in the house, Do we need to rethink this? Is there issues with having it indoor we are not aware of?

Our idea had it joining the master bath as well as a entrance from the living room.

Any input is welcome.

[bdrcc1]

In door is so great, We put in 5.0 windows so we can watch the storms come in. It may be -20 out side we can get out dry off and hop right in bed. Our hot tub is in our main play room. e mail us and I will send some pics.

[sexcupid]

We just moved and want to get a hot tub...but it will be outside.

I think that because most people add them after a home is built, the most convenient place to put them is outside.

Good luck building your home!

Maria

[ShellyM]

Depends on where you live. In Texas/south definately outside.
If you are in Minnesota I would suggest inside LOL.

[socolais]

The hot tub indoors is nice (even in Texas the winter weather gets uncomfortable) but there's tons of humidity that must be actively controlled or you're asking for continuous troubles (peeling paint, warping hardwood, mold & fungus...). Discuss it with your designer or architect (and make sure they've done it before - you shouldn't have to pay for their learning curve).

[new2wild]

Thanks for the replies.

socolais, This is what I was worried about. Can you give us any tips? We are pretty much going to outline the floorplan and her sister is going to take care of the blueprints, But I know she has no experince with the hot tub issues.

[djjwp]

Pros and cons... ours is inside and in a 10 by 12 room with 3 windows, a 36" glass door and a sky light that opens. It is an unheated room added to the house and you go through double French doors to get to it. We did the room in knotty pine with marine varnish, several coats. We are located outside Pittsburgh so it gets cold here.

The pros are that you can get in and out without running in the snow/rain etc. My wife stated she would rarely use it if it was outside. It is less expensive to heat in the room. It is also less prone to damage as the house protects the shell and skirts from the weather.

The cons are you can't sit in it and look at the sky except in the skylight and snow never falls on you. You also have to leave windows open or the moisture will cause problems in the winter and in the summer, the water gets too hot.

Hope this helps.
D&J

[socolais]

Consider the possibility of a large "garden tub" with jets in the master bath room. No chemicals, no heater, minimum maintenance - just fill it with fresh water before use and drain it afterwards (into the yard or garden).

[Reef99]

Originally Posted by ShellyM

Depends on where you live. In Texas/south definately outside.
If you are in Minnesota I would suggest inside LOL.

I just enjoyed an evening in the hot tub during a snow storm. It was incredibly fun, relaxing and very pretty!

[BiloxiCouple]

Since you are considering to have the tub for swinging, there are the neighbors to think about. If neighbors aren't a concern then it depends on where you live.

Personally no matter where I live I would have it inside. First, for the ease and comfort of just jumping in and out of it anytime you want whether or not there is a party going on. Then if there is a party then all the nakedness and sexiness is inside.

Expanding on the thought. Have one inside and one outside and I'll come over.

Wouldn't the lid being on the tub help with the humidity? Plus the room its in being big enough and proper ventilation would help keep the humidity down.

[fun4Ds]

outside under as much glass as possible. on a concrete floor. with an entry to the master bedroom. and to the back patio as well.. draining after a big party or even for maintenance should be considered externally....our future dream.

like socolais, the garden style is more convenient for just personal use and maybe 3-4 people. consider an extra large water heater or even a separate water heater.again consider drainage as well depending on the usage.

[strathmore]

Inside is great. The room has to have it's own environment control. Make sure you have a sufficiently sized air exchanger and vapor barrier, and don't have the room connected to the HVAC ductwork for the rest of the house. Humidity must be controlled.
Also make sure you have a good means to drain the tub periodically.
We have 5 windows that open to enjoy the elements summer or winter.

[NandT]

We are in Massachusetts and our hot tub is outside. It seems the best times for using it are in the fall, winter, and spring! Summer sometimes is just too hot, although we adjust the temperature accordingly. There's nothing like a cool or cold evening when we're all snuggled up, the two of us, or four of us, one time eight of us, in the hot tub! You can feel the cooler air but you're nice and warm; also, a "bubble" of warmer air seems to collect just over the tub so even on a real cold day we're nice and warm. Trouble is, we never want to get out! One hint - if you put it outside, try to locate it as close to the house as possible, so when getting out in winter you can hurry up inside. Oh, and a sheepskin rug in front of a nice fire helps too....
By the way our swinging began becsue of a hot tub, then we got one, and then two other sets of friends got one too!

[BiloxiCouple]

For the swinging tub I feel it is important that it is a "meeting" area also.
Friends will get in, walk by and have conversation. The best thing is there may be fun around, on or in the tub. Or if someone is already naked they don't have to put on a robe to get in if they have to go outside. If the weather doesn't allow hanging around it then you won't have as much fun with it. I would hate the weather spoiling the tub party for a planned event.

I guess I am really for it being inside for swinging purposes.

[new2wild]

It sounds like a addition such as a sun room might be the way to go, Lots of glass for a good view and still inside.

I already had planned on a large tub for the master bath, But 3 or 4 people I like the idea any recomendations?