The skirt is the vinyl material that hangs down below the bottom of the cover. It's only use is to hide the edge of the acrylic tub's edge. It has no insulating value whatsoever. To get the correct measurement, just measure from the top edge of the tubs acrylic lip, down to the top of the cabinet. We have video’s available here on our web site on how to measure for your cover. We manufacture covers with skirts in 1 inch increments. If you need a special skirt length, just let us know and we will be glad to price it for you if the selection is not already on the order form. You can estimate that a skirt more than 6” up to 12" or, in half, quarter, three quarter sizes, (5.5", 12.75", etc) will cost $75 additional.

Due to the size of the boxes that the covers ship in, we are forced to use freight companies. Regular UPS, USPS, or Fed Ex will not accept boxes of this size. On top of that, freight charges are climbing all the time with the price of oil getting out of hand. Diesel fuel being the cheapest for oil companies to refine, they still take advantage and charge the most for it, therefore raising the costs of shipping by truck. Items that are sold as FREE SHIPPING (new covers, not inventory items) are excluded from these rates, however the freight company may have additional freight charges incurred due to being located in a remote area, having to be shipped on a ferry to an island, or several other reasons. We aim to keep free shipping items just that, but if the freight company determines that your location is in o0ne of these locations, we must bill for them. These additional charges can run from $35.00 to $95.00, depending on the location. We reserve the right to cancel an order if you are unwilling to accept these charges as we cannot absorb them ourselves. We have no way of knowing what areas incur additional charges until your order has been placed. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

We have very informative videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/spacoverdirect/ . You can select the shape of your tub on the right for details. If you do not see the shape of your tub listed, you may possibly use a different shape’s demonstration to explain what you are in question of. Most importantly, if you are still not 100% sure of your measurements, please call us. We want to make your cover correct the first time. We are not in the business of “tricking” you into having to purchase a second cover because your initial dimensions or fold locations were incorrect. We are not responsible for errors in measuring, fold selection or any other info you may have provided to manufacture your tub. However, if we do not make the cover to your specs, we will be glad to repair or replace the cover.

Our covers are made with a poly seal protecting the foam inserts. If your cover is waterlogged, the seal was either poorly made or something has punctured the cover. Even the slightest pinhole can allow steam to enter the foam inserts. Even if you can not see any holes and your cover is waterlogged, there IS a hole somewhere in the sealing barrier.

Depending on how you use your tub, you might want to consider which model you need. Here are a few details on what to consider. We use only 1 lb density foam. This is due to the negative feedback and comments we had received in the past regarding the weight of the new covers. We have found 1 lb foam works just fine and has about the exact same insulating properties as 1.5 and 2 lb density. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Higher density foams do provide a bit more strength, but that is about it. Most of our covers are made using TAPERED foam. This means that the foam is thicker on one side (at the hinge) and thinner on the outside edge. This is to allow rain to run off of the cover, unlike flat covers that retain the water and eventually will cause the cover to buckle and eventually break the insert.

Standard - 4" x 2" taper. This is our basic cover. It is made with the same materials and care as our higher grade models, it is used for basic protection from dirt and debris, as well as assisting in eliminating any evaporation issues. and the insulating value is R-16. It does help to retain heat, however if you are looking to save money on your utility bill, you will be better off getting a thicker cover. If you keep your tub heated quite a bit or continuously, the money you will spend on the thicker cover will be saved on your utility bill within the first year in most cases.  Approximately 45 lbs. for a 96" x 96" cover.

Premier - 5" x 3" taper. This is our medium cover. It has been UL Rated for up to 400 lbs. dispersed about the cover (not on one pinpointed area) and the insulating value is R-20. Approximately 55 lbs for a 96" x 96" cover.

Elite - 6" x 4" taper. This is our thickest and most energy efficient cover for the money. About 65 lbs. for a 96" x 96" cover.

Maxtop - 5" x 3" Premier cover with FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) laminate applied to both sides of the foam inserts for maximum strength. This is nick-named the "walk-on cover" due to its strength. Although no spa cover is designed to be walked on, this model is designed for tubs that are in-ground and has potential for someone to walk across it without knowing any better. It has also been purchased where large animals have been found "napping" on their heated hot tubs during the cold winter months, including big dogs. This cover is a bit more costly, but is worth the price if you are concerned about a child or animal going through a normal cover by accident.

Maxtop Elite - 6" x 4" Elite cover with FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) laminate applied to both sides of the foam inserts for maximum strength. This is our strongest cover to date. The maximum size (length and/or width) using the elite foam is up to 96”. Oversized covers are not available in the elite foam.

The heat seals are small cushions located at each end of the cover's hinge. This seal eliminates heat escaping through the hinge, therefore keeping your tub hot longer and saving you money. Due to customer request, we will be providing full length seals (seals that run the entire length of the hinge) for maximum energy efficiency in the near future. Once the feature is available it will be an add-on upgrade available when entering your cover info during the order process.

Again, our covers are built to last. We have covers located here in South Florida that are still use after 10 years. (even though the normal life span of a spa cover is approximately 5 years) These covers have been well maintained. With proper care, you too can extend the life of your cover investment with simple cleaning and drying.

A cover is not meant to sit on a tub for months (or years) and not be used. This is the worst thing for a spa cover. Even though the materials are designed to resist mold and mildew, leaving a cover on your tub for extended periods of time without at least allowing it to dry out on occasions will only cause problems. Basic care includes the following; Wash the cover on a monthly basis with warm soapy water (not too soapy or you’ll end up with a mess in your tub if not rinsed completely) to remove any dirt build-up. Dirt or sand is very course and can damage the stitching when opening and closing your cover over a period of time. Once cleaned, we suggest that you use a patio furniture cleaner/protectant over the top vinyl. Use vinyl cleaner that has UV protectants as this will help protect the vinyl from fading or cracking. It is basically the same idea as using suntan lotion on yourself.

Our vinyl manufacturer HIGHLY recommend that you do NOT use products like Armour All. It can be very damaging to the vinyl regardless of what the instructions state. We carry a product called Ultrashine and works great on our covers. Once you have completed the cleaning process, it is a good idea to stand the cover on end (like an open book) and allow to dry for several hours in the sun. This is something that you should do regardless of how many times you clean the cover. It is always a good idea to allow the cover to dry out on a monthly basis. It doesn’t take long and it will help extend the life of the cover. Sometimes someone may get on the cover, causing the foam inserts to bow in. Obviously the basic covers are not designed for people to lay on, but on occasions, it happens. If this does happen and causes the foam to bow into the tub somewhat (not physically broken), you can remove the foam insert and flip it upside down. This will help from allowing water to collect on top of the cover, eventually causing more damage. Some shapes are not able to have this done, like one side of the single cut corner shaped tubs. In these cases, you might need to purchase a new insert. Price them first as in most cases it is cheaper or fairly close to the price of a whole new cover!

We have been manufacturing spa covers for over 30 years. During this time we have had plenty of "R & D" implemented to our covers. We began "back in the day" using 2 lb foam and worked just great! However, over time other manufacture's were using lighter 1.5 and 1lb foam but were no longer in business, or pricier than ours, so we would replace their covers. They would receive their brand new cover and complain that the new cover they just received was just as heavy as the waterlogged 1.5 or 1 lb foam covers and were quite upset. We went to the 1.5 lb foam and still received complaints about the weight of the new cover. Since going to 1 lb foam, we have not had a single complaint, but thousands of positive comments, about the weight of their new covers. On another note, there is only 1 benefit to the higher density inserts. It is a slightly stronger material, being able to withstand a little more weight than the same thickness foam insert of a 1 lb density. We suggest going to a thicker cover if this is a concern. A FALSE positive feature of the higher density foam that other spa cover resellers and manufactures try to push is the insulating factor. There is so little difference in the insulating factor, it is less that 1%. We have the spec sheets to prove it. Do not get "snowed" by another company stating you'll get more energy efficiency/savings from a more dense foam, it is nonsense. Again, we suggest a thicker cover at 1 lb foam. Do the math, a 65 lb 96" x 96" 1 lb foam insert cover compared to a 2 lb foam insert cover of the same dimensions and thickness. The weight will be much greater and harder to maneuver and get basically the same insulating factor!

Our covers are built to last. They consist of 28 oz UV inhibited marine grade vinyl providing years of enjoyment. Each cover's price includes galvanized steel U-channel reinforcements along the hinges, two nylon handles & 4 locking straps constructed of high strength nylon webbing material, (we do not use scrap vinyl like most other companies, they tend to crack and look messy) one on each side of the handles, 4ml poly plastic wrap (for sealing the foam inserts) 1 lb. foam inserts, non-corrosive zippers, vinyl backing with seep holes to allow condensation to be expelled and not collected within the cover.