Which Hot Tub Covers Can You Stand On?

You might need to stand on your hot tub cover to access something above your hot tub. Maybe to maintain a gazebo or to prune a large plant or hedge. You might also want to know if you can store weighty objects on your hot tub cover when it isn’t being used. But is it a good idea to stand on your hot tub cover? Can you stand on some hot tub covers and which ones are the strongest or might get damaged? I decided to do some research and this is what I found out:

So, which hot tub covers can you stand on? Although some hot tub cover manufacturers claim that their covers are suitable for standing on, in fact, it’s never recommended to stand on any type of hot tub cover, even when the manufacturer says that it can withstand the weight of a fully grown adult.

This is because a hot tub cover should only ever really be used for covering and protecting a hot tub from the elements and to keep debris from entering it. The only weight that it should ever truly be asked to support is that of snow during the winter months.

Even if a hot tub cover is designed to be capable of taking the weight of a human body, this isn’t something that should be tested out or you’ll run the risk of damaging not only the cover, but possibly the tub itself.

Can You Stand On Any Type Of Hot Tub Cover?

In general, hot tub covers are not made for standing on, whether by humans or animals. This is because these covers aren’t designed for anything other than protecting the tub itself from ingress of debris, dirt or pests, and keeping the water at a comfortable temperature when not in use.

Some hot tub covers are certainly not suitable for standing on – for example, the soft covers that are made from vinyl-covered insulated foam and that simply stretch over the tub to be clamped in place with straps are never going to be strong enough to support the weight of even an animal or a child, let alone an adult.

But, what about hard shell covers? Are they suitable to stand on?

These hot tub covers are designed to be secure, strong and durable, but that still doesn’t mean that they can necessarily take the weight of a fully grown adult. They are designed not to slip and not to bend, and they have a base made from plastic, aluminium or fibreglass to provide extra insulation. This means that they are much more robust than a soft cover.

However, when it comes to taking weight, it’s best not to put them to the test since, while they’re designed for additional strength, that strength is really only to offer extra protection to the tub. Hard shell covers may be able to withstand the weight of a small child, a cat or a dog, but this should certainly not be encouraged, and adults should never assume that a hard shell cover will be strong enough to take their own full weight.

Technically, there are certain types of hot tub cover that you can stand on, but just because these covers advertise as being suitable for taking a person’s weight doesn’t necessarily mean that you should actually go ahead and stand on them. These extra-reinforced covers are sold under the name “walk on covers” and they are supposed to be for use on sunken hot tubs where the cover may be walked on as part of the deck.

These specialists covers have inserts made from fibreglass covered reinforced foam which makes them more durable and strong. Fibreglass is manufactured from glass strands that have been extruded into fine fibres before being bound together using a binder. The mixture is then sprayed onto the foam inserts and, when they are dry, the fibreglass will become very strong and stiff.

Due to this additional stiffness and strength, these “walk on” covers are created to hold the weight of a person. While a traditional cover for a hot tub will break if an adult attempts to stand or even sit on it, these walk on versions are designed specifically to withstand this type of use.

All of this said, it isn’t advisable to test the strength of even a walk on cover by standing on it as there is still a risk not only of damage to the cover and the tub itself, but also of injury to the person who stands on it.

What Are The Features Of A Walk On Hot Tub Cover?

If you’re interested in buying a walk on hot tub cover, you’ll find that there are several versions available that are made by different manufacturers. They all have similar features, though. These include:

• Inserts that are covered with fibreglass to make the cover very durable and strong
• Reinforced sections
• Reinforced, heavy duty fastenings
• Foam, heavy-density inserts for extra insulation
• Reinforced handles
• Strong straps with safety locks

As you can imagine, with all of these additional features, walk on hot tub covers are typically considerably heavier than a standard hard shell hot tub cover and even heavier when compared with a soft cover. This is something that needs to be taken into account if you’re considering purchasing one of these covers, since moving it may prove to be difficult, especially if only one person is trying to do so.

When May I Need A Walk On Hot Tub Cover?

Not everyone who has a hot tub needs a walk on hot tub cover. In fact, due to the high cost of such covers, most people will probably be better off choosing a standard hard shell cover, or even a soft cover depending on their needs.

A walk on cover would only really be useful in certain environments. For example, if you’re seeking a suitable hot tub cover to use at a holiday let or rental where the tenants may not treat the cover quite as carefully as you’d like, a walk on cover would be a good choice since it would give you peace of mind that you’ve chosen a cover that is a strong and robust as possible and that you’ve taken your responsibilities as a landlord seriously when it comes to protecting both your property and those who are using it.

A walk on cover is also a good choice if you have a partially sunk or completely sunk hot tub which is flush with the decking or the ground. A standard hot tub cover could put pets or children at risk if they accidentally stand on it. A sunken tub’s cover is much more likely to become damaged by children, large pets or even adults sitting or walking on top of it, so choosing a cover that is specifically designed for this type of purpose will give you more reassurance as to safety.

There is also an argument for choosing a walk on cover if you live in an area where you are likely to experience considerably snowfall. When snow is allowed to build up on a hot tub cover, it adds a lot of weight. This can eventually cause a standard hard shell cover to break. If there is likely to be a lot of snow on your hot tub then a walk on cover would be a much better choice in the long term since it will be designed to take much higher weights and, therefore, withstand even the heaviest snowfall.

In most other cases, there is no need to purchase a walk on hot tub cover. If there is very little possibility of anyone ever sitting or walking on your hot tub – for example, if there are no pets or children in the house and the tub is not a sunken one – there is no need to go to this additional expense, you can simply purchase a standard hard shell cover, or even use a soft cover and your tub should be perfectly well protected.

If I Have A Walk On Hot Tub Cover Will I Need A Cover Lifter?

If you opt for a walk on hot tub cover, it will weigh considerably more than a standard hot tub cover so you may be asking whether you’ll be able to manage to uncover your tub yourself. There is a solution to this problem – a hot tub cover lifter.

Actually, even if you choose a standard hard shell hot tub cover, you may be able to benefit from having a cover lifter depending on the size of the cover and its thickness. A hot tub cover lifter can help to prolong the cover’s life while also making the tub simpler to use, not only for you but for other family members too. Having a cover lifter for your spa will protect your back and prevent you from being injured when trying to uncover your tub.

Generally, cover lifters work by having a bar which rests inside the cover against its fold. When the cover is unclipped, it can simply be folded back over the bar and then, when you fold back again, the cover will be brought back mechanically from the surface of the tub and kept in position. Anyone can do this on their own in just seconds without any difficulties.

While hot tub cover lifters may make your spa look less aesthetically pleasing, it is still worth investing in one if you think you may struggle to remove the cover from your tub. There are also certain models available that integrate the lifter bars inside the cover to complement the design of the tub and create a more attractive and cleaner aesthetic.

If you don’t buy a cover lifter for your hot tub, you’ll need to slide the cover off your tub yourself. Although you may have a cover stand to keep the cover away from the ground, if you’re removing the cover independently, you’ll find that at least some of the cover is going to rest on the ground while you do so. This could cause damage to the cover and result in you having to purchase a new cover earlier than you would otherwise need to.

Not only that, but any damage to the cover of your hot tub could mean that its energy efficiency is affected. This could end up costing you a lot more in terms of your energy bills. An undamaged cover will insulate the water inside the tub from the outside temperature, keeping the heat safely inside. If you have to manhandle your cover on and off by yourself, there’s a high chance that you’ll end up causing some damage to it that will affect its energy efficiency and so cause your heating bills to rise considerably.

Furthermore, it can be very difficult to put the cover back on your spa on your own due to a lack of leverage and a cover’s unwieldy nature. This can lead to you getting very little use out of your hot tub investment as you may dread the time-consuming hassle of getting the cover on and off again. Since this will lead you to have wasted your money in the long run, it makes sense to invest in a cover lifter so that you will find it a breeze to take the cover on and off whenever you want to jump in the bubbly hot water.

Also, when water or snow gathers on top of your hot tub cover, you’ll find that owning a cover lifter will be a great advantage since any extra weight on the cover will make it even harder to move. A cover lifter will take all of the hard work out of the job. If you live in an area which is prone to inclement weather, it may well be worth your while to invest in a hot tub cover lifter so you can maximise your use of your hot tub even when the weather is poor.

How Do I Maintain A Walk On Hot Tub Cover?

The good news is that there isn’t too much onerous work involved in maintaining a walk on hot tub cover, but it is important to carry out maintenance regularly to keep it in good order.

You should always remove any debris that has fallen onto your hot tub cover. Leaves, snow, ice and branches must all be taken off the cover to prevent them weighing it down and causing damage. Once all the debris has been removed, the cover needs to be rinsed and wiped down so any dust is removed from its surface. You can do this using your garden hose every couple of weeks.

Wiping the cover down should be done using a cleaner that has been designed specifically for use on hot tub covers. If you use a standard vinyl cleaner it may damage the cover. You should also apply a protectant after cleaning the cover to help it to resist dust and dirt as well as UV damage which could cause cracking and discolouration of the vinyl with time.

Don’t just clean the top of the cover, the underneath needs cleaning too. It will constantly be exposed to water treatment chemicals, moisture and heat, so it needs to be wiped down with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.

Related Questions

How can I get rid of mould in my hot tub cover? If you see any black spots on the cover of your hot tub, this indicates that there is a mould problem. You should spray a water and bleach mix or a disinfectant cleaner onto the patches of mould and allow it to sit for 25 minutes before scrubbing it using a damp, clean cloth. You can then wipe it and rinse and your cover should be as good as new. Make sure to dry the cover our properly afterwards. Repeat the process each month and this will guard against the problem arising in future.

How can I dry a hot tub cover out? Hot tub cover will have a foam core inside the vinyl cover. It’s normal to find a small amount of water getting trapped inside the cover, but if a lot of water gets inside, this can destroy the cover over time. It will cause mildew and mould to grow in the lid and the foam will become waterlogged and very heavy.

This will eventually damage the cover. You can prevent this from happening by air drying the cover. First, remove the lid, take off its vinyl cover then remove the foam core pieces. Place the pieces of foam on planks so air can pass beneath them and put them in a shady outdoor spot.

Meanwhile, take the vinyl cover and turn it inside out. Use a towel to get rid of any excess of water and put it down in a sunny location. Let all of the surfaces fully dry in the air then spray a mildew inhibitor on the foam as well as the interior of the vinyl cover. Replace the foam inside the cover and put it back onto your tub.