Restore & Protect Spa & Hot Tub Covers

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Repair cracks, tears, and add UV protection to vinyl hot tub covers.

Look how spas were saved:

Picture of dry, sun faded hot tub cover 3/4 refinished and protected with custom brown Rub n Restore vinyl paint

Fading Fixed with Custom Brown

Picture of hot tub cover mid-restoration, showing custom Rub n Restore grey vinyl protector on right side and original vinyl on left

Restoration in Process with Custom Grey

Collage showing brown hot tub cover above and changed to dark grey using Rub n Restore Peppercorn vinyl paint below

Transformation from Brown to Peppercorn

Collage showing redwood vinyl spa cover before restoration above and cover after Rust Rub n Restore vinyl paint protector below

UV Protection & Pigmentation with Rust

Collage of faded jacuzzi hot tub siding and after application of Rub n Restore vinyl paint, which also works on plastic

Sun Faded Siding Restored with Espresso

Learn how in these few steps:

Cleaning

Use our pink cleaner to remove dirt. Follow with denatured or rubbing alcohol to remove residue from body oil, sunscreen or conditioning products.

Repairing

The vinyl is dry, but there are no cracks or holes.

Hot tub covers tend to drink up a lot of finish. Start with a glaze made by mixing equal parts Rub 'n Restore® color and Clear Prep+Finish®. This will disperse better on dry, porous vinyl and is more economical.

Use straight color for subsequent coats. It will get better coverage, provide UV protection, and dry with a luster similar to the original vinyl.

Do not use Clear Prep+Finish® alone as a topcoat. It may dry tacky on vinyl and will be very shiny.

There are minor cracks, tears or holes.

Picture of minor cracks in grey spa cover vinyl

Picture of hole in vinyl hot tub spa cover and foam substrate

Image of circular cracks on marine vinyl hot tub cover

Any tears or holes should be reinforced with a subpatch kit restore integrity to the vinyl. The remaining gash and any other cracks should be filled and waterproofed with our repair putty. A video demonstrating the process and more info is here.

It is cost prohibitive to use this method on covers where large areas are scaly, cracking or have flaked away, exposing the mesh backing. In this case, use a rubberized coating.

Large areas are scaly or have flaked away.

Close-up photo of gouged, cracking, scaly vinyl spa cover damaged by sun and UV

Picture of sun-rotted, scaly grey vinyl on hot tub cover

Picture of sun damaged spa cover showing flaking vinyl surface and woven backing

It is most economical to repair large areas of scaly, sun-rotted vinyl with a rubberized coating.

We have had great success with Liquid Rubber® RV Roof Coating on hot tub covers. It is water-based, easy to use, and clean up. It's only available in white, however, so you'll need to apply one of our colors over the top to achieve the desired shade.

We have long recommended this product and now receive a small commission as an Amazon Associate when you use the link to purchase.

Choosing Color

Stock colors

Changing color

You can change the color of your hot tub cover, but there are some important considerations.

Do not change color if water pools and sits on any area for extended periods of time.
It is difficult to change from a dark shade (brown, green, red) to a pale shade (beige) and is generally discouraged.
Covers that receive a lot of harsh cleaning due to elements (messy trees, for example) may need more routine touch-up than those under different conditions.

More info about changing color is here.

Quantity needed

Generally:

2 oz. color ≈ one coat on 15 – 20 square feet (or three coats on 5 – 6 square feet)
4 oz. color ≈ one coat on 30 – 40 square feet (or three coats on 10 - 13 square feet)
8 oz. color ≈ one coat on 60 – 80 square feet (or three coats on 20 - 26 square feet)
16 oz. color ≈ one coat on 120 – 160 square feet (or three coats on 40 - 53 square feet)

Click here for more info.

Picture of leather chair showing Rub n Restore light Camel tan color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Camel Vinyl & Leather Finish

Picture of leather chair showing Rub n Restore butterscotch Cognac color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Cognac Vinyl & Leather Finish

Picture of leather chair demonstrating Rub n Restore rich Tobacco brown color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Tobacco Vinyl & Leather Finish

Image showing chair with Rub n Restore Cinnamon brown color plus triangular example of texture in left corner

Cinnamon Vinyl & Leather Finish

Picture of leather chair showing Rub n Restore brick red Rust color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Rust Vinyl & Leather Finish

Picture of leather chair demonstrating Rub n Restore Walnut brown color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Walnut Vinyl & Leather Finish

Picture of leather chair demonstrating Rub n Restore coffee brown Espresso color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Espresso Vinyl & Leather Finish

Example of leather chair in Rub n Restore's neutral mushroom Taupe color with triangular swatch in upper left corner as reference

Taupe Vinyl & Leather Finish

Graphic of armchair in light taupe Clay color by Rub n Restore with triangle example of leather color in left corner

Clay Vinyl & Leather Finish

Example of leather chair in Rub n Restore's pale Ash grey color with triangular swatch in upper left corner as reference

Ash Vinyl & Leather Finish

Example of leather chair in Rub n Restore's light Stone grey color with triangular swatch in upper left corner as reference

Stone Vinyl & Leather Finish

Example of leather chair in Rub n Restore's medium Slate grey color with triangular swatch in upper left corner as reference

Slate Vinyl & Leather Finish

Picture of leather chair demonstrating Rub n Restore charcoal grey Peppercorn color and triangular swatch in upper left corner for reference

Peppercorn Vinyl & Leather Finish

Infographic showing leather chair in Rub n Restore Brick red color with triangular swatch of color and texture in upper left corner

Brick Vinyl & Leather Finish

Refinishing & Conditioning

A damp sponge is best at massaging the color into the vinyl. Application basics are discussed here.

Many hot tub covers have a mottled appearance, which can be replicated by leaving color thin (1 coat) on some areas and printing it more heavily (2 or 3 coats) on others. Click here for more mottling tips.

The colors will dry with a luster similar to the original vinyl. No additional sealer is needed.

Care and Maintenence

When it comes to cleaning your restored spa cover, less is more. A quick spray with the hose and a rag are optimal. Choose a mild soap, if needed. Heavy degreasers and solvents may strip the color and necessitate touch-up.

Rub 'n Restore® colors condition and protect the vinyl. No other conditioner or sunscreen is needed, and such products may attract dirt, damage the finish or make it feel sticky.

Questions & Answers

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