Does anyone know how to calculate the square footage of tile needed for a 360 degree negative edge spa? Our spa is 7 ft in diameter and raised about 8 inches. We were only planning on installing tile on the top edge and around the outer part.
Thank you! We are using 7/8” x 7/8” glass tiles. Do you know if it’s necessary or recommended to have glass tiles on the inside of a negative edge spa?Welcome to TFP!!!
It depends on what you need to cover and the size of your tile
Your question does not require all the information required to answer you.
Circumference x Height (or width) = Diameter x pi x Height = 7ft x 3.14 x 8/12 ft = 14.65 sq ft plus the top width plus breakage plus they may not be 8" in height.
Usually waterline tile is 2 rows of 3" tiles or more rows if smaller tiles are used.
I just checked the exact measurements on the gunite. The height of the spa is 18 inches above ground, the outside diameter is approximately 9'2", and the inner diameter is 7'. I think our pool builder is only planning to tile the top surface and the outer part, not the inner part. Unfortunately, our builder has not been the most communicative/responsive with us and has quoted us for various square footages, so I thought I would seek advice on this forumOk, they said only the outer part. If you're going to do the inner part, you would add πD2h.
OP, is the 7 foot measurement the inside diameter or the outside diameter?
And, yes, you would want a certain amount of extra for cuts, breakage and future repairs.
I just checked the exact measurements on the gunite. The height of the spa is 18 inches above ground, the outside diameter is approximately 9'2", and the inner diameter is 7'. I think our pool builder is only planning to tile the top surface and the outer part, not the inner part. Unfortunately, our builder has not been the most communicative/responsive with us and has quoted us for various square footages, so I thought I would seek advice on this forumAt ~$40/sq ft, I just want to make sure we're in the ballpark for the amount needed and not way over! With these new measurements, I calculated roughly 68 sq ft.
Jblizzle, we're getting pebble on the inner part, but since this is a negative edge spa, I was just curious if it's still recommended we install waterline tile on the inner part, or is this unnecessary since the water will be overflowing the top?
Thank you for your help!
I included some photos of the spa. The 18 inches I measured was from the bottom of the basin (or whatever that area is called that the water spills into) to the top of the spa. I would say it has a significant slant. More than I’d like, but I’m ok with it if that’s what makes the negative edge operate best!The area on top will be about 27.5 square feet. Still not sure what to tell you about the outside without knowing the height from the waterline to the top of the spa wall, but you'll want the tile on the outside to extend about 3 inches below the waterline. If we assume it's 18" to the waterline and extend the tile 3" below the waterline, the area around the outside would be 50.4 square feet, for a total area of 77.9 square feet.
Is the top of the spa wall slanted inwards significantly, or just a little? If it's a significant slant (several inches of vertical drop) then you likely don't need any tile on the inside, otherwise it would be a good idea to put at least a few inches of waterline tile on the inside. Adding a standard 6" of waterline tile on the interior would be another 11 square feet.
And as mentioned previously, you'll want to have at least 10% more tile than the area to be covered to account for waste.
With D1=9.17, D2=7 and h=1.5, I get 70.8 square feet. That's the top and outside.
I would think that you would sometimes use the spa as a spa sometimes without overflowing so that you can heat just the spa.
In that case, I would recommend a waterline tile around the inside perimeter.
Get extra tile and store it somewhere because there will come a time that you will need to do a repair and the tile will probably not be available at that time.
Will the tile in the pool match the tile in the spa?
I also thought we should install some waterline tile in the inner part for that reason! Do you have any recommendations how much? 6"? I can discuss with my pool builder.With D1=9.17, D2=7 and h=1.5, I get 70.8 square feet. That's the top and outside.
I would think that you would sometimes use the spa as a spa sometimes without overflowing so that you can heat just the spa.
In that case, I would recommend a waterline tile around the inside perimeter.
Get extra tile and store it somewhere because there will come a time that you will need to do a repair and the tile will probably not be available at that time.
Will the tile in the pool match the tile in the spa?
The outer basin wall is 9". I think I'd prefer the glass tile to be installed all the way to the bottom of the basin.That's enough of a slant that you shouldn't need waterline tile on the interior if you don't want it. It also means it'll take slightly more tile for that section. The waterline should fall pretty close to 3" below the outer basin wall. If you want to save on tile you could only tile the outer wall to 3" below the waterline, but it might look better to tile all the way to the bottom of the basin. How tall is the outer basin wall?
I agree, entry and exit look awkward at best. Maybe need to rethink the design?That sloped top just looks like an accident waiting to happen. That is going to be slippery and when someone steps on it (and they will), it be really easy to slip and land on your head outside the pool.