foaming hydrophobia

Yeah, yeah, I’m sick of water. But that’s not what this post is about. Having recently taken a crash course in hot tub ownership, I have learned that one of the most irritating aspects of the experience is having to regularly replace the blasted hot tub covers, which have an infuriating habit of soaking up water and deteriorating. My used hot tub came with no cover, and I didn’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a new one, so the only thing left to do was make one.

There are all sorts of insulation, but the one I decided on is called Foamular.

FOAMULAR® 150 rigid foam insulation for exterior walls contains hundreds of millions of densely packed air cells to provide exceptional thermal performance. It’s also virtually impervious to moisture, preventing loss of R-value due to moisture penetration. FOAMULAR® weighs considerably less than plywood, OSB or other non-insulation material so it’s easier, faster and safer to install. Plus, the product’s built-in rigidity means it can be scored and snapped, cut, or sawed with common tools. Sagging and settling are never a problem.

I like the Pink Panther logo, too.

Anyway, here’s what the “sandwich” looked like before wrapping:

And here it is, snug on the tub, three layers thick (for a total R value of 22.5):

I don’t know how well it will work out, but if it holds up to its promised hydrophobic properties, my advice would be for everyone who has a hot tub with a worn out cover to just check out this FOAMULAR stuff.

MORE: An actual hot tub cover warning:

“Avoid drowning. Remove safety cover from spa when in use.”

Damn! I guess I should stencil that on.

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One response to “foaming hydrophobia”

  1. andy Avatar
    andy

    Hey, nice rug.