Spa Tub Redo

I really wanted to get a hot tub for some time now. I planned on it and the placement of it with our deck since we bought our fixer upper home. Hubby explained the expense and  maintenance is why some people buy them and give up on them. It could be an expensive and regretted experiment. 

So, I thought why not find a used, inexpensive tub for sale to try it out. Several are listed weekly and older ones are usually free for various reasons. ("You Remove" and "Take Away" are always stipulated in the ads.)  I found quite a few during my searches over the last couple of summers. Often too late for a freebie. Until this one. It was advertized: "$250 or best offer, you haul away". I called and the owner decided it was "free, just come and get it". The motor, heater and everything functioned. Awesome!

Original state at the original owner's home. 

The appearance was another story. A vintage kind. The beige/pink finish was really faded.  The original wood frame was rotted and carpenter ants resided in and around the insulation. So we took off all of the framework and exterminated the insects. Once the ants vacated and died, we built a new frame, added new insulation around the base of the tub, and cleaned and tested the tub in motion. We lost water. Quite a bit leaked each day during testing process. After researching where the leak was, we found that it was located at the tub base, somewhere in the air flow system. Then we needed to find a way of sealing it underneath. More complicated to do than say. 

The air vents were completely sealed from underneath the unit. That was frustrating after getting so far.  That made us decide that we could live without the air bubbles on the bottom. So I used bondo to seal them off at the top.  

Bondo, used for automobiles, boats, etc., was ideal for this fiberglass tub. It's workable in small portions, using the bond material and a hardener solution. It dries rock solid within an hour. After applying and drying, I was sanding it to smooth it out in no time at all. After sanding the entire tub (old water stains and whatever other residues), we vacuumed the remnants and cleaned the entire surfaces with an alcohol based cleaner. Looking "pinkish" and clean, I taped off the blowers and controls in preparation for painting.Using Scotch painters' tape on each area not painted remained protected. 

I chose a blue, summery colored pool paint. ( Insl-X 1-gal. Semi-Gloss Water Ocean Blue Swimming Pool Paint).  Spraying the paint was best for even coverage. (Wagner Power Painter) It went on nicely and decided one coat was sufficient. Should we see any wear during this season, it isn't that difficult to drain, clean, tape and paint again. 

Finally, after the hard work was done, I filled the tub with the garden hose. The 6'x6' tub took awhile to fill to the water intake vent. 

We started running the motor, jet blowers and the heater. Then the ultimate test, watching the water level for leaks.

After waiting overnight, everything was good to go. 

After adding sanitizing chemicals and checking water levels again, 

we discovered no leaks. 

Running perfectly. 

This was worth the work and the small investment.
(Pressure treated lumber for the frame, cedar siding, some wood preservative, some caulking,  bondo, pool paint and a few chemicals.) 

Oh, and the cover? To "top it off" (pun intended)... a curb side rescue during town clean up week. What a lucky coincidence! 

So far, I'm a spa tub person. This is a keeper.

Thinking of doing this yourself? Yah, go for it. 

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Road Rescue & Thrift Shop Outdoor Furniture Redos

In preparation of outdoor spaces for the summer, there is nothing more exciting than being frugal about it.  I have a mix; from some of my very old iron patio seating to roadside and thrift shop upcycles. Each summer, I add or change things to make our outdoor living spaces come together. 

This year we are adding our "new" curb alert pieces. Road Rescue! 

A little cleaning and painting for a new life at a new home.

This bar stool will be added to a high top piece I built last summer. I'll add that post later when I finish the concrete countertop.

Just a couple of coats of outdoor black spray paint...

made these road side pieces match up with my old wrought iron set.  (I'll be posting the whole deck and patio tour here soon.)

Discarded and old is wanted and new again.

Then at the same time, my thrift shop snag to add to the mix is this iron scrolled coffee table. Patio perfect!

Well, not perfect yet. Red splattered touches aren't my style. It looks like it came from a TV crime scene.

Black to go with the rest of my mix and match outdoor space.

Our older camp chair was green. Spray paint changed that too while I was at it. 

Now, placed on the deck at my grilling area. 

(I'm the grill-cook-queen and I wanted to have a little setting in the grill-throne-zone.  The "grill throne" is recycled landscaping block and then a concrete pour project along with some lattice panels. A how to and photos to follow. )

This became perfect for sipping lemonade or wine while grilling dinner. 

The table is quite large and heavy. I love the details of the iron. It makes a nice focal point while having morning coffee. Well, that and the garden pond I built here, the flowers, birds, frogs, and on and on...


 :) 

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Welcome to Snickerdoodle Sunday! A Craft-licous Party~

I've been given the option to Co-Host at Snickerdoodle Sunday with 2CrochetHooks!  With honor and pleasure, I invite you to link your posts with us to join in the fun this week! 

I certainly look forward to all of the creativity you have to share! 


Now, on to Millie and Kristina's "crafty-licous party" along with Dee and Felicia, your hostesses: 

Hello Hello Hello!! Welcome to another crafty-licious Snickerdoodle Sunday! We appreciate you all coming to party with us each week!

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Please welcome Felicia from Nifty Thrifty Family! She has decided she likes you all and will be staying on as a hostess!

Just a reminder of what we are doing here: Each week we will feature one special blogger, their blog and some of their posts. That featured blogger then has the option of co-hosting with us the next week and picking the best post! Awesome fun for us all!

This weeks special co-host is (drum roll): Robin from Redo It Yourself Inspirations!!

"I've always had the tendency to be motivated and easily inspired to be creative. It's the way I've been molded. I'm Adirondack born and raised; way up north New York near Canada. I'm the daughter of a master craftsman cabinet maker and a thrifty crafty lady. Expanding my horizons into the Capital District of the New York area, I carry my roots with me. My new journey started when my husband and I bought a real fixer upper home a few years ago. I have had no choice but to dive in and get back into the do-it-yourself mode full force." 

Check her blog for the rest of the story!

Follow Robin here: Blog/Facebook/Pin/Tweet/Instagram/Bloglovin

Robin's Upcycled Toy Horse was chosen as the Favorite Post for last week!

How awesome is that?!?

Some other great posts to check out over at Redo It:

Upcycled Foot Stool / Cedar Chest Redo / Iron Bakers Rack / Trash to Treasure Tuesday Link Party

Congrats Robin!! Here's your super special cookie! Everyone stop by, say congrats and check her out (in a good way)!!

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Special Giveaway for Snickerdoodlers! For the month of June we are hosting a giveaway especially for those who link up to Snickerdoodle Sunday! Kristina found this cool yarn in the mill end bin at AC Moore and made a couple scarves. They turned out so cute and there is so much yarn, we decided to share!

Visit our facebook page - like it - and link up a picture of you and your best bud - a "Selfie Bestie"! At the end of June we will pick the best shots! Winner will receive two skeins of this fun yarn. Enter as often as you like, just use different selfie shots!

On to the Party!!

Just a few Rules

**Please DO NOT link and run…Yes we mean YOU….please visit, comment and pin on a few of the blogs that are sharing here today. Visit at least as many posts as you linked up! This is a great way to get people to visit you and everyone’s blogs will benefit!

• Remember to Follow Your hostesses- 2 Crochet Hooks, Nifty Thrifty Family, Meatloaf and Melodrama and Redo It Yourself Inspirations
• Take a second to comment below - it's the nice thing to do!
• Link to your post and not to your blog home page
• Linkback on your post ( optional, but always appreciated)
• No adult content blogs, Family Friendly posts – old or new
• Please no more than 3 links to your blog
• No links directly to your shops or websites selling things/services please! Reviews w/affiliate links are ok!
• Yes you can link giveaways & link parties
• Share the hop via your social media pretty please!

• Adding your link to this blog hop gives the hostesses permission to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features on Snickerdoodle Sunday- All features will be pinned to our Pinterest board and will be linked back to the original source.

codes - see which one will work for you:

An InLinkz Link-up