Material Comparison
Every hot tub dealer talks about jets, seats, and features. Nobody talks about the shell. It's the single most important decision you'll make, and here's why.
The Core Issue
Jets can be replaced. Pumps can be swapped. Heaters can be upgraded. But the shell? If the shell fails, you're buying a new hot tub. That's why the material it's made from matters more than anything else on the spec sheet.
There are two approaches: acrylic (what 95% of hot tubs are made from) and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), the material Eco Spa builds with. Here's an honest comparison of both.
Round 1
Rotationally molded as a single piece. No seams, no gel coat, no fiberglass backing. The same material used in marine docks, playground equipment, and industrial tanks. Won't crack at -40°C. Won't fade in UV. Won't blister or peel. Warrantied for life because it genuinely lasts that long.
Vacuum-formed acrylic sheet bonded to fiberglass, mounted on a wood or metal frame, enclosed in a plastic cabinet. Each layer can fail independently: the gel coat cracks and blisters, the fiberglass delaminates, the frame rusts or rots, and the cabinet fades. Typical lifespan: 7-15 years before major shell issues appear.
Round 2
Completely smooth at the microscopic level. Bacteria can't anchor, colonize, or form biofilm. Chemical use is dramatically lower because you're not fighting an embedded bacteria problem. Water stays cleaner longer. No chemical smell on your skin. No red eyes after a soak.
Acrylic and fiberglass have microscopic pores across the entire surface. Bacteria embeds in these pores, forms biofilm, and resists chemical treatment. You need more chlorine, more bromine, more shock treatment. Over time, the shell absorbs chemicals and leaches them back, creating a cycle of increasing chemical dependency.
Round 3
Full-foam insulation plus a rigid hard cover rated R-18 to R-22 that never absorbs moisture and never loses its insulating value. The cover is warrantied for life. Your energy costs in year 10 are the same as year 1.
Most acrylic tubs use foam covers that absorb moisture over time, losing insulating value and getting heavier every year. By year 3-4, the cover is waterlogged and barely insulating. Replacing it costs hundreds of dollars every few years. Your energy costs go up every year as the cover degrades.
Round 4
Rigid, lockable hard cover rated R-18 to R-22. Made from the same durable materials as the tub itself. Won't absorb water, won't sag, won't need replacing. Supports 350 lbs load rating. Warrantied for the life of the spa. You never pay for a replacement cover.
Soft foam covers are the industry standard. They start well but absorb water through the vapour barrier over time. By year 3, they're heavy, sagging, and losing heat. You'll replace them every 3-5 years for hundreds of dollars each. Over the life of the tub, cover costs add up to thousands.
The Real Cost
Purchase price is just the beginning. Here's what each tub actually costs over a decade of Canadian ownership.
| Cost Category | HDPE (Eco Spa) | Mid-Range Acrylic |
|---|---|---|
| Cover Replacements | None (lifetime hard cover) | Multiple replacements over the life of the tub |
| Electricity | Stays flat year over year | Rises as foam cover degrades |
| Chemical Costs | Lower (non-porous shell) | Higher (porous surface needs more treatment) |
| Shell Repairs | None needed | Cracks, blistering, fading over time |
| 10-Year Total Cost of Ownership | Significantly lower | Higher than purchase price suggests |
The tub with the lower sticker price often costs more over a decade of ownership. Contact us for a detailed cost comparison.
Fair is Fair
We're biased, but we're honest. Acrylic hot tubs work for some people.
If you want the widest selection of shapes, colours, and jet configurations, acrylic gives you more variety. If you're buying for a rental property and don't plan to own it long-term, a cheaper acrylic tub might make financial sense. If you prefer the glossy look of acrylic over the matte finish of HDPE, that's a valid aesthetic preference.
But if you're buying a hot tub to use for 10, 15, or 20 years in a Canadian climate? If you care about long-term cost, durability, and clean water? The material math points one direction. And there's one more thing: the one-piece HDPE construction means an Eco Spa is fully portable. No concrete pad, no permanent plumbing, no fixed installation. Acrylic tubs are often semi-permanently installed and left behind when you move. An Eco Spa goes where you go.
See It For Yourself
Visit a showroom and feel the difference. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just the tub.