Reinforcing only the area where the tub will sit will save on material and labor. Hot tub deck framing needs to address the issue of potential shifting due to temperature fluctuations to prevent damage or structural failure. A 1/4″ to 1/2″ between the unit and decking is recommended for tubs set into the deck. Joists should always be crown up. This hides the bulk of the hot tub body and hides its real size. A deck is often built for live-loads of 40 to 50psf, a hot tub can significantly increase that load. Regular decks commonly have joist spacing of 16”o.c., local codes may require 8”o.c. If you found this guide helpful, please share it with others. Then, drill each support post to the frame with coated deck screws. Construct an independent deck for the hot tub at the same level as the main deck. The higher the deck level the greater the need for lifting power and safety. This two level hot tub deck design really does it nice. Shorter distances tend to be more cost-friendly. The deck will need its own footings, posts, beams, joists, and decking. Some products have access panels on one side, others on multiple sides, so unless you plan to move the tub every time it needs to be drained or serviced, plan ahead. Once you figure out how to make your deck and hot tub work together in … Build a freestanding hot tub platform. Service panels should have 18-inches of clearance and don’t forget the head and shoulder room if it is under a deck. Carefully Consider the Gap Between the Deck Boards. Build a Raised Platform around the Spa This deck building option is often used in a situation where you cannot recess your hot tub down into a deck but that is the functionality you want. Also, dig holes for the footers that will support the deck. It’s less expensive and often easier to build a concrete slab for a spa and build the deck next to or around the tub sides. A 6 person spa 36” high and 6’ square may have a dry weight of 872 lbs and a water capacity of 495 US gallons. Pour a 6” reinforced concrete slab on a gravel base with the finished concrete surface several inches above grade. “The gap should be small enough to prevent your toe from entering, but large enough for water to drain and the wood to expand and contract. They will use a boom truck, forklift, crane, or other means to safely install the spa. However, the decking may extend and be part of the main deck. The deck can be built flush with the top of the tub, or lower to provide a step up. Now you are ready to replace the hot tub’s temporary frame with a permanent frame (Image 3). You will need to have access to the service side of the hot tub, which is usually the front. It should be independent with its own footings, posts, and beams. 6. No matter what your choice is, enhancing the look of your hot tub is a must since it will the major focal point of your outdoor space. Next, drop your hot tub into the deck. When installing a hot tub on a raised deck or moving it over uneven or sloped ground, we recommend relying on professional installers. A hot tub is a great way to relax or entertain any time, any season. Get video instructions about kitchens, bathrooms, remodeling, flooring, painting and more. Heat is provided by an electrical or gas heater, by radiant heat lines, or wood-burning stove. Always check the local Building Codes for requirements. Whether the tub sits on a concrete slab or pavers on the ground, or on a structurally strengthened deck, the main deck can be built around it. Keep the joists and beams an inch from the sides of the tub to allow for some movement and removal if necessary. Closer spaced footings, support posts, and narrower joist span and spacing under the spa are common solutions. A floating deck adds a great elevated place to sit and enjoy a view of a yard. Decide where you want to place the platform. Removing a section of railing and installing diagonal rails from the ground to deck level and relying on muscle power are common install practices, especially for DIYers. Seeking council approval, checking for underground cables and pipes and deciding on the overall design of your deck are just some of the things you need to do before you start building. Access to removable panels for service and space for the mechanical lift arm for the insulated cover to operate also needs to be factored into the placement. An upper level with sunken hot tub and built in benches surround it. If the ground is uneven or a pad won’t work, there are other options. Building a hot tub deck is much like building other decks, it just requires more support structure for the additional weight. Relaxation. Note: When building a deck around a hot tub, build in lift-out sections or hatches for access to service panels, pumps, and other mechanical components. As the tub fills with water, monitor the joists – flattening out is acceptable, too much deflection means not enough support. Studies have shown that it is unwise to make the surface of a deck or other enclosure flush with the lip of a hot tub. How to Install a Flagstone Patio with Irregular Stones. The distance between the spa and railings, railing heights, privacy fences, and connection to utilities also need to be considered. A 3-1/2 to 4 inch slab is usually sufficient, experts say; however, larger … We’ll make some recommendations and discuss what to consider when building a deck for an outdoor spa. Another impact of the height is getting the tub up onto an elevated deck. The wood deck should be flush with the top of the tub. 5. The joists should be level with the joists on the rest of the deck, and may even extend and be part of that deck. So, for us, practical recommendations need to be useful. removable deck panels for access to hot tub front.. To calculate the load the deck will need to support, add the weight of the empty unit with the water weight and the weight of the rated number of occupants with an average weight of 185-pounds per person. Revitalization. You love to DIY. It may be more practical – and less expensive – to leave the tub on the ground and build next to or around the tub. A hot tub full of water and people can easily exceed 3 to 5 times the load rating of a regular deck. Air circulation is also important to minimize moisture build-up and dissipate any chemical fumes. Temperature extremes and moisture not only affect people; they impact structures too. They can be sunk fully or partially below the deck surface, or have a raised section built partially around them. Deck design choices are almost limitless and only constrained by the budget. Moving a unit to a ground-level deck or pad, or near-ground decks may be done with trollies or rollers depending on the landscape. Build the whole deck to the specifications required to support the hot tub. Dropping a hot tub into a deck requires a removable panel for just that. Carter Oosterhouse shows how to create a fantastic outdoor deck using composite decking. Identify any structural needs like post and footing size and location, beam size and spacing, joist dimensions, span and spacing, and any alterations to the ledger board. But decks 2 feet or higher will need added support. If planning to upgrade to a larger tub in a few years, the whole deck would need to be built for the future deck load, not the current one. Make sure the hatch is secure and level with the deck floor. Running a new circuit and gas or radiant lines to a new location adds to the cost, so plan accordingly. A review of the local building codes or a call to the building department will often clarify structural requirements. Pound stakes into the corners of the square, then determine the center point of the square. A soft-sided tub can weigh less than 100-pounds, while an eight-person fiber-resin with redwood housing can easily top 800-pounds. Dig holes for the cement footers that will support the hot tub. Curved composite planks match the circular acrylic hot tub, set below Wisteria blooms. Use these measurements to make a temporary frame out of 2x4's that will act as a guide for the deck's footers. Install additional concrete footings and posts or piers to support the number of required beams under the tub. Watch Planning to build a deck To determine the size and shape of the deck, measure the dimensions of the hot tub. It is designed to fix in a metallic tub which would carry water. If a deck must be constructed, build it independently of the rest of the deck, or as a blend. When the inner frame is squared and centered, attach the frames to one another with several 2x6 joists. The exact dimensions are VERY helpful when framing a deck for a hot tub. Tubs near the middle of the house tend to feel less wind. Consider placing the hot tub on a concrete slab and building the deck next to, or around the tub. They often encourage homeowners to build reinforced decks to meet larger loads. Build the permanent frame for the deck out of 2x6 pressure-treated beams (Images 1 and 2). By the end of it, the hot tub looks nice and costs almost no money to build. Build a deck with a hot tub today with these blueprints. A flat, level surface such as a concrete slab is the ideal location for a hot tub. with 17-standard 8-foot deck boards on top. Measure diagonally from corner to corner to determine if it is. © 2021 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. In most cases, it’s easier and more cost-effective to put the hot tub foundation on the ground and build a deck around it. All rights reserved. Construct a small independent deck that integrates with the rest of the deck. The height and diameter or length and width affect the water capacity and the number of people a spa can accommodate. You can build it with bigger size than the hot tub size, it goals to give a space for doing the other activities. Have your deck design wrap entirely around the hot tub. Types of Decks where Hot Tubs can be Installed, Practical Recommendations for Spa Deck Framing, Buy the Hot Tub and Take Exact Dimensions, I65 gallons x 8.34 lbs/gallon = 1,371 lbs, Total weight = 120 + 1,371 + 740 = 2,231 pounds, 1075 gallons x 8.34 lbs/gallon = 8,965.5 lbs, Total weight = 1,120 + 8,965.5 + 1,480 = 11,565.5 lbs, weight of water: 495 lbs x 8.34 lbs/US gallon = 4,128. Empty spas range from less than 100-pounds to more than 1000-pounds, with some closer to 1800-pounds! Prevailing winds are another consideration when locating a spa. (Four 20” diameter 4’ deep footings use about 34.9 cubic feet of concrete, a 6-inch thick 6’x6’ concrete pad uses 18 cubic feet of concrete.). If you’re building a new deck, the slab should be formed and poured at the same time as your concrete footings. 2 40+ Hot Tub Enclosure Ideas. Joists are commonly independent too but do not need to be if the decking is all the same height. They have the equipment and know-how to get the job done without damage to the unit or causing injury. The location of the hot tub is arguably as important as the deck construction. First, you will need to know the model that you are going to get. Don’t use a ledger board or joist hangers when building a hot tub deck. hinged or removable access panels for hot tub – Google Search.. How to build decking around a hot tub but still give easy access to the drain, pumps and . Relaxing in a hot tub is one of the best ways to get rid of stress and tensions of the day. The costs of material and labor for a small deck exceed that of a similar-sized 6-inch thick concrete pad. Here the actual tub is made using the pallet wood planks. Lots of room for a table, chairs and umbrella. Once the frame is nailed together, it needs to be squared. Thicker 2×6 decking is more durable and stronger than most other decking, and shouldn’t require painting or staining under the spa enclosure once it’s in place. A 4-person 29” high by 4’ square spa holding 165 US gallons, occupies 16 square feet, An 8-person 42” high by 8’ square spa holding 1,075 US gallons, occupies 64 square feet. Decks built within three feet of the ground can be built to carry a hot tub, or alternatively, built around or beside a concrete pad on which the hot tub sits. Hot tub deck framing recommendations are many and can range from leaving it to the professionals to just add some extra support posts and a few more joists – Not very helpful. The joists are independent of the rest of the deck, as are the deck boards. Decks built ground level up to 2 feet off the ground can support up to 100 lbs per square foot; sufficient for most hot tubs. I added a couple deck boards to keep it square while we adjusted for level. Check the local Building codes or with a structural engineer to make sure the design will carry the load. Stepping down into the spa or over a slight elevation can result in or aggravate injuries. Reinforced concrete footings need to go to bedrock or 1-foot below frost level, whichever occurs first.