Advantages of Wood Hot Tubs
There are two basic types of hot tubs –those made with acrylic and those made with wood. The former are often called one-piece spas because of their seamless shell construction. The latter, on the other hand, are made of wooden staves held together by bands made of metal.
Wood tubs were popular up to the 1970s, but with the development of the technology in the processing of plastics, acrylic tubs that are cheaper and easier to install are now widely available. Owing to this, they have overtaken wood tubs in popularity. Notwithstanding this, there are still plenty of hot tub devotees who prefer the good old wood hot tubs. And this is because they do have their own advantages.
Wood, especially when properly stained with its natural grains emphasized and highlighted, is definitely better looking than plain plastic. While some plastics may simulate the look of wood, there is nothing like the real thing. Wood hot tubs look traditional and rustic, but it is precisely this image that makes them look appealing, enhancing any patio or garden where they are installed.
Typically, wood hot tubs are deeper than their acrylic cousins. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in hot relaxing waters. Also, because the water surface is farther away from the top of the tub, heat loss is slower than in acrylic tubs.
The most common wood used for hot tubs are cedar, oak, redwood, and teak, although some manufacturers also use mahogany. While these will require more maintenance than the plastic tubs, the natural feel of the wood as you sit in the tub and lean on its walls makes it far superior to sitting and leaning on synthetic plastics. Wood tubs, particularly those made of cedar, also emit a pleasant aroma when filled with hot water, further enhancing your relaxation.
With wood hot tubs, therefore, you not only bask in soothing hot water, but also feast your eyes on the beauty of the wood and savor its aroma as hot water seeps into it.