Drop-in tubs are installed into a custom-built platform that supports all sides of the tub lip. Although this requires quite a b. But the surrounding deck was fairly high off the ground so the hot tub … While not the prettiest or the most solid base it can work if done properly. From a small square landing pad outside the back slider to expansive multi-tiered, multi-functional space, one thing they all have in common is the welcoming draw for, The size of your hot tub will determine the length of the 4x4s that you mount beneath the deck. This will give you something solid to set you level. thinking of having 3 beams underneath hot tub, double 2X12 southern pine, spanning 6', supported on each end by footings and 6X6 posts. Six pads form an 8 by 8 platform-- add … Fortunately, reinforcing your deck in preparation for a hot tub is a relatively easy task. I would like to be able to move it if I want to. If it is not a project you want to take on yourself here at Precision we can provide the pad installation for you. A concrete surface is an excellent base for your hot tub as this material is extremely sturdy and long-lasting. You need to prep the space just like you would the crushed stone pad above. Try to level the ground a much as possible but it does not need to be perfect at this stage. If your ground is uneven, use. Moreover, you can buy this base pad at the stores that provide the hot tub kits. My question is: would it be better to keep the unsightly pad vs putting in a 1.5-3″ flagstone patio in its place w/ ~6″ crushed stone base. Wooden landscape timbers work great for framing that to keep the sand contained. I put it down on my concrete back porch. Hi hope you can help me, I am just about to purchase a hot tub, originally I was going to have it on my patio which is block and beam. Your hot tub needs a solid, level foundation. Then fill that box with 3/4 stone and pack it down as best you can. I would just keep the pad, do a decorative crushed stone around the perimeter of the spa to cover up the edges of the concrete pad, then do your flagstone. The easiest way place to install a new spa is on an existing structure that is already perfectly level like a well-built wooden deck. ..I don’t want to put a concrete base in really. Using a solid base material we install a complete concrete paver bloc patio using products from Techo-Bloc. One of the more popular hot tub bases is of course a concrete base. The standing water is not deep. Most decks are built to hold 100lbs per square ft. You can use a temporary base but it is IMPERATIVE that the ground is PERFECTLY LEVEL, and I mean DEAD ON level before you place the hot tub down. The area that your hot tub sits on must be able to support the weight of the hot tub, the water in it, and those who use it. … to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. This added support will keep the deck from pulling away from the house with the added weight of a hot tub. Pavers work best to support a hot tub when you first create a bed of sand and then compact it down and level it out. These usually come in kits that you buy to fit your size spa. If you had to dismantle parts of your deck to add the supports, you can now screw them back into place as you finish up. The MOST IMPORTANT THING about a hot tub base is that the ENTIRE base is supported and it is level. Using pea gravel as a base for your hot tub has some distinct advantages. At this time there should be about 2/3 of the hot tub on the platform. Decks come in all shapes and sizes. You can now fill the area with 4” of crushed stone, make sure the area is about 4-6” bigger than the spa itself. Here are some pointers to help you out. You do not want to risk cracking the shell. You are right, too hard to get perfectly level and smooth so the whole base is supported evenly. This added support will keep the deck from pulling away from the house with the added weight of a hot tub. Inflatable hot tubs should be installed on flat surfaces like solid hot tubs. From a small square landing pad outside the back slider to expansive multi-tiered, multi-functional space, one thing they all have in common is the welcoming draw for a hot tub. If a slight pitch is found where the tubs is going you can get away with using some wooden shims to make sure the tub and water is level. If you need to shim it to make it work in that spot that is fine. Unfortunately a lot of these patios are pitched for drainage or have just buckled over the years and become un-level. The weight of the water is producing a lot of force onto that shell, thus the most important part of placing a tub is making sure it is 100% completely level. Your email address will not be published. If your ground is uneven, use freshly mixed concrete instead of cinder blocks. For flat ground you will want four foundation cinder blocks. It is a valid concern but what we have found is that most any built to code deck is plenty strong enough to support a hot tub. Installing a Porch Addition to Your Mobile Home. Mount the 4x4s perpendicular to the existing joists beneath the deck. Just keep in mind the main goal of ensuring the vertical posts sit flat on the ground and are plumb with the decking to bear the weight. From an aesthetic standpoint, gravel can complement a variety of types of landscaping. SmartDeck panels lock together … Even though the spa weighs up to 4,000lbs full when it is level the weight is evenly distributed over the bottom surface area of the tub at about 100lbs per square ft. If your hot tub is already installed on pavers, but you need to level your hot tub… The most important thing is that it is perfectly level. Create a flat space beneath the section of deck where the hot tub will go and place the cement foundation blocks slightly inside the four corners of the hot tub above it. 8 Reasons Local Hot Tub Dealers Are Better Than Big Box Retailers, 7 Important Features to Consider When Buying a New Hot Tub. Adding additional support to prepare for a hot tub is easy to do. 8000lb live load, 49 sq ft hot tub (7X7), ~160 psf live load plus 20 psf dead load. Where it meets into the house, run additional posts from the decking to the ground, flush with the house, on both corners of where the hot tub will sit. The spa displaces its weight evenly at about 60-70lbs per square ft. 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. If your deck is low to the ground and you are unable to access the underside, you will need to remove the decking boards in the area you plan to place the hot tub. However, a slight incline 1-2 degrees is not a problem. When neither an existing deck or patio are useable for your new hot tub a lot of times the best option is a poured concrete pad. You will need to check your local building codes to determine what type of footing your hot tub … The problem arises when you fill the vessel up with water, this makes a few hundred pound tub a few thousand pound tub…water is HEAVY! Cut two lengths of 4x4 to the approximate length of the hot tub. Handi Spa Pads - Box of 3- AC1058 $199.95 …modular Handi-Spa Pads make a perfect durable mobile base for your hot tub, eliminating the need to pour concrete. to build a deck strong enough to support the weight of a hot tub filled with water . Hot Topics: How Much Would a 10x12 Deck Cost? So, in your case what I would do is create a crushed stone box. Your deck will probably support it. You will then run 4x4 posts from the 4x4 supports to the cinder blocks, cutting them to length. building a deck platform to support hot tub. Building a hot tub platform is the first step to installing a jacuzzi system in your backyard. They were not using it and it was setting in the garage. Hydropool's Self-Cleaning 670 is a 6-person hot tub with a comfortable lounger and a great leg massage. My understanding is when the hot tub is full of water it will weigh about 2 tones , I don’t think my patio will take the weight. A simple an inexpensive way to prep the ground for a new spa is by using a crushed stone base. If you are adding a hot tub to a regular deck, it is almost always necessary to remove a section of the pre-existing deck and then install a specially constructed new platform. One alternative way to create support for a hot tub is to mount the deck to the house. Dig holes for the cement footers that will support the hot tub. Lift one end of the hot tub … If water is standing there than the pad is not level. Just like a deck this works great for the customer as no additional construction is needed. Simply re-level the platform in the new location and re-install your hot tub on it. Could you please advise me in Regards to Weight distribution ,I would like to know is Weight supported by the frame only or does the bottom (lowest part) rest on the floor surface ?? The ex... Hi everyone. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Leave Access Space Around Your Hot Tub for Tech Support Beaulieu always builds removable floor panels into the frame to ensure accessibility for pump maintenance, etc. At the weekend I purchased some rubber square mats measuring 400 x 400 thickness 25mm. How to Build a Hot Tub Platform.Building a hot tub platform is the first step to installing a jacuzzi system in your backyard. I'm doing a 4'x15' freestanding deck 5' off the ground. When you set the tub on the crushed stone the weight should allow it to settle into a level position with the 4×4 stringers helping. If you have an existing patio made of concrete bricks, make sure it’s in good condition and is level (not angled for drainage). Create a box and add an additional post running down the middle. Dig about a three-foot hole for each post and anchor the bottom into the cement, ensuring that it runs straight up to the decking support before it sets. Make sure you have enough boards for two supports the same size as the the diameter of the hot tub. This is known as the “live load” and is measured as pounds per square inch. Because of the massive, tightly focused weight loading created by a hot tub, regular decks are seldom strong enough to support one. … A concrete pad is great because you can get it to set perfectly level and it creates a nice solid base for the spa. Obvious concerns are the natural nature of the stone wont be as easy to level, but should I be concerned with the weight? The added support posts should … If you have a standard wood deck with 2”x8”’ joists 12” off center with proper supports you are good to go. Use the proper materials and construction. If the pad is not level when you fill it with water the weight of the water over time can crack the acrylic shell. Place a concrete pier in each corner, one on each side, and one in the center, for a total of nine piers. Pack the stone down and level it as much as possible. If the foundation is inadequate, it may shift … My first hot tub was an inflatable, and I placed it on some … You then want to run a couple of 4”x4” stringers completely level across the area spaced about 4’ apart. If you have a standard wood deck with 2”x8”’ joists 12” off center with proper … All information is provided "AS IS." Finally another available option is a pre-made plastic spa pad. In this brief post I want to go over what will, and will not work as a base for your new portable spa. Watch our new video: “Can I put a Hot Tub on a Deck?”. Mount the posts to the support with brackets. A lot of times when we sell a hot tub the customer already has an existing ground level patio, made of concrete patio blocks. Before we get into the materials we use for a hot tub base we need to first understand the characteristics of a portable spa filled with water.A hot tub dry just delivered to your house only ways a few hundred pounds and on its own could sit just about anywhere. If you absolutely have no other option to redo the base then yes shim the low side, you do not want the shell warping or cracking. It does depend on the base of the spa but mostly you have an outer frame with cross supports the evenly distribute the weight. Do I need to get the base of the tub off of the concrete where water stands or will it be ok just setting on the concrete. Using the pipe, simply roll the hot tub into place lining it up on the platform. Would you say otherwise it would be better using concrete slabs. It is affordable - $595 retail - FREE shipping in the continental USA! Hot tubs, however, are very heavy, especially when filled with water, and chances are that your existing deck can’t safely support it without additional reinforcement. I have a pad from a previous owner’s hot tub, we are about to do a large Flagstone patio addition and are considering keeping the pad to put a hot tub on there down the road. It is very important to take your base into account when planning for a new hot tub at your home. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". I was given a hot tub by a friend who needed the space it was in. For elevated decks with access underneath you can skip this step. You will then run 4x4 posts from the 4x4 supports to the cinder blocks, cutting them to length. EZ Pads are perfect for hot tub installations, portable spa installations, and as an inexpensive platform deck for swim spas. From a practical standpoint, a pea gravel … Make sure you have enough boards for two supports the same size as the the diameter of the hot tub. This is why the entire base of the spa needs to be supported. suggestions. You may freely link This makes people think that their hot tub doesn’t need too much of a strong base, as it’s not as heavy as you might imagine. Can I simply shim the front of the tub to make it level? You will also need 4x4 lengths long enough to connect the bottom of the deck to the ground. 2X10 joists 12" on center running across the beams. This even weight distribution allows the deck to support the weight easily. Just keep in mind the main goal … DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent View our Privacy Policy here. Was thinking of getting a hot tub but wanted to put it on a balcony. Due to the extra materials, labor, and shipping costs, the … Now you have a base that supports the whole spa equally and the stone won’t settle and be pushed out as you created a box to hold it in. There aren’t many people who don’t dream of having a fun and relaxing hot tub in their backyard, but not everyone has the perfect place to install one. Carefully tip the top of the hot tub onto the platform making sure the pipe is between the hot tub and the platform. Maybe not standing water at all, just very wet. The SmartDeck spa pad is a prefabricated composite hot tub platform that allows you to quickly set up a spa anywhere without the hassle and cost of pouring a concrete slab. The good news is we can help you every step of the way, even do a free at home consultation to help find the best place to put it and what material will work best for your yard and budget. The misconception is that these pads require no site prep which is completely false. Before building a hot tub … Onner Spa and Hot Tub Booster Seat Pad with Suction Cup, Back Support Bath Spa Pad Soft Inflatable Massage Cushion, Comfortable Durable Suction Seat for Hot Tub & Spa(As Shown) 3.0 out of 5 stars … With 4 adjustable jets, you are sure to find … Without any water or people, the actual hot tub and its framework are relatively lightweight. For flat ground you will want four, If your deck is low to the ground and you are unable to access the underside, you will need to remove, Create a flat space beneath the section of deck where the hot tub will go and place the cement foundation blocks slightly inside the four corners of the hot tub above it. Of these patios are pitched for drainage or have just buckled over the years and un-level! Using products from Techo-Bloc your hot tub filled with water load, 49 ft! Thick using a crushed stone base down as best you can get it to perfectly! 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