Closer spaced footings, support posts, and narrower joist span and spacing under the spa are common solutions. 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. The load the deck under the hot tub needs to support 3 to 5 times the regular load rating for a deck. There are several considerations when deciding on the height between the tub surface and the deck. Carter Oosterhouse shows how to create a fantastic outdoor deck using composite decking. The size and spacing between footings depends on the beam dimensions, joist span and spacing, and the load. Yes, you can put a hot tub on a deck. Spas set into or flush with the deck often have a removable deck section to facilitate ease of access when needed. Here the actual tub is made using the pallet wood planks. A deck is often built for live-loads of 40 to 50psf, a hot tub can significantly increase that load. The added costs are another reason for building a small independent deck for the spa. Use these measurements to make a temporary frame out of 2x4's that will act as a guide for the deck's footers. Having one on your deck means you can enjoy it when you want. A floating deck adds a great elevated place to sit and enjoy a view of a yard. And then it is covered with blue parachute stuff to make the swimming pool more charming. So it’s no wonder people love the idea of it. Although that allows flexibility when placing the tub, it’s expensive. Behind the Spa there is a privacy wall. Deck builders frequently access a structural engineer for specifications and drawings. All rights reserved. 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. Building around the spa allows for standard deck construction and adjusting the height between the deck surface and the top of the tub. Grill around corner, Outdoor dining area, Sunken hot tub, Outdoor seating area.Most Girly Things! Learn how to make a deck complete by installing a hot tub. We reached out to deck, landscape and hot tub experts around the world for. Regular decks commonly have joist spacing of 16”o.c., local codes may require 8”o.c. Decking, whether independent of the rest of the deck or continuous, should factor in durability, weight distribution, and maintenance. The deck area that supports the tub is usually framed separately to carry the additional weight, while the rest of the deck frame is for lighter loads. Neighbors may be welcome guests, but privacy is nice too. 6. While a 4×4 may be acceptable, 6x6s are recommended for decks up to 6 feet off the ground and 8x8s for heights greater than that to carry the additional load of a hot tub. Dig holes for the cement footers that will support the hot tub. 15 Hot Tub Deck Surround Ideas. If you’re building a new deck, the slab should be formed and poured at the same time as your concrete footings. Exact measurements for the tub are essential. Hot tub deck design requires modifications to the framing for standard deck design, so a good place to start is with a check of the local building codes. To allow for expansion and contraction and slight movement, the decking should be no closer than 1/4″ of the spa’s sides. Mechanical lift arms for insulated covers also require space to move. It is often easier and cheaper to build the deck for the hot tub independent of the rest of the deck. To drop a pool into a deck platform From the menu, select View> Library Browser from the menu, then select an above ground pool or spa to place in your plan. Check local Code requirements, and if engineered drawings are required, get them – they have all the information you’ll need. Pour a 6” reinforced concrete slab on a gravel base with the finished concrete surface several inches above grade. Next, drop your hot tub into the deck. Reinforced concrete footings need to go to bedrock or 1-foot below frost level, whichever occurs first. A 2 or 3 ply 2×8 beam can support the load if supported every 30-inches, however, a thicker dimensional beam or steel beam will require fewer support posts and footings. Ground-level decks or those no higher than the top of the hot tub, don’t need the spa on them. Trip and fall hazards are more common when the tub surface is slightly lower than the deck surface or several inches higher than the deck. Building a deck for or adding a hot tub to a deck requires a building permit in most areas. Before the deck can be built, mark off the designated area with spray paint. This old house got a facelift in the front and back, integrated spa into the back stairs. 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. Knowing where all access panels on the spa are located and their dimensions and the location of hook-ups is necessary when planning and framing, especially if the tub will be inset into the deck. You will need to have access to the service side of the hot tub, which is usually the front. For instance, they place the tub on or under the raised deck, build a pergola for its shade, or even surround it with the gorgeous patio. Additionally, many building departments require engineered drawings for hot tubs on decks. Tie nylon string diagonally from corner to corner of the exterior frame. An alternative would be to build the independent hot tub deck at a lower level and build the rest of the deck around the spa at the desired level so it appears inset into the larger deck. How to Install a Hot Tub Deck Step 1. Intimacy. After the frame is shifted into place, place 4x4 support posts in the footer holes, one in each corner and a few in between. The first is to take an 8 foot (2.4 … Shown below is a Grandee Spa by Hot Spring Spas up against 2 sides of a deck. Use these measurements to make a temporary frame out of 2x4's that will act as a guide for the deck's footers. Simple concept. It may have stairs connecting the two decks, or abut at one or more sides. They have the equipment and know-how to get the job done without damage to the unit or causing injury. Alternatively, set the tub on a concrete pad at ground level and built the deck around it. Ease of access and safety also need to be considered. Make a plan. This hides the bulk of the hot tub body and hides its real size. Joists are commonly independent too but do not need to be if the decking is all the same height. They can be sunk fully or partially below the deck surface, or have a raised section built partially around them. Step 2. Both freestanding and attached decks need to be built differently to carry the extra weight and forces. 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. Footing, post, beam, and joist sizing, span, and spacing are required structural information for building a hot tub deck. The Swift Current is 6 feet in diameter, so setting it on a back corner makes a nice space around the outside to access the tub. These joists will act as supports for the deck. A 1/2″ space between decking and tub is better but fingers and toes can get caught more easily in the gap. The location of the hot tub is arguably as important as the deck construction. Lots of room for a table, chairs and umbrella. Measure diagonally from corner to corner to determine if it is. 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. If the ground is uneven or a pad won’t work, there are other options. Using a wood and glass as window are exactly a great idea that you can still look the mounds of snow outside. You go around the outside with foam lining and pallets to help it hold its shape. If you plan to place the hot tub in a location that was previously lawn, you have two ways to do this. Getting a hot tub onto a deck can take some imagination and a lot of muscle, or the outlay of cash for some mechanical assistance. Then, use a backhoe, shovels and rakes to clear the area of brush and debris. It also means there are no surprises with availability, hook-up requirements, or location of access panels. Hot tub installation can be at ground level or raised decks – wooden, concrete, or steel structures, or on pavers or patio stones. But decks 2 feet or higher will need added support. removable deck panels for access to hot tub front.. It may be the same height as the rest of the deck or lower to suit the location and design elements. Don’t make the top of the hot tub even with your deck. Locate the spa to take advantage of the views, trees, and the sun without obstructing views from inside the house. Relaxation. Build the whole deck to the specifications required to support the hot tub. It is also easier for older or injured bodies. The posts support the beam and transfer the load to the footings. Pump motors commonly use a 120v outlet with GFCI or 240v dedicated circuit, so make sure they match. Many people build decks around their hot tubs. Spas and hot tubs by themselves are wonderful, but when they are just plopped onto the back patio, they can look kinda plain. The deck can be built flush with the top of the tub, or lower to provide a step up. Service panels should have 18-inches of clearance and don’t forget the head and shoulder room if it is under a deck. You will need to build a 4'x4' removable panel that will be supported on each corner. Follow these steps to install a wooden fence in your own yard. Cover the ground inside the temporary frame with gravel to keep water away from the bottom of the hot tub. There are a number of framing considerations that need to be factored into constructing a deck for a spa. 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. (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.). However, the decking may extend and be part of the main deck. This two level hot tub deck design really does it nice. An 8’x8’ tub full of water and people can exceed 7,300-pounds and an inflatable 4-person one about 3,700-pounds. One last step when building a hot tub deck is to check the joist deflection under the spa. Buying the tub ensures you have the model you want, and for which the deck is constructed – no surprises. 3 lbs, weight of people: 6 people x 185 lbs (average weight) = 1,110 lbs, total weight: 872 + 4,128.3 + 1,110 = 6,110.3 lbs. Pouring a Code-compliant concrete slab for the spa allows for standard deck construction. Have your deck design wrap entirely around the hot tub. By the end of it, the hot tub looks nice and costs almost no money to build. 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. The cost of framing a small portion of the deck or building an independent deck for the hot tub is less costly than building the whole deck to meet the extra load requirements. Frame the panel with a double rim and joists 16" on center. Framing members are set back 1 to 2-inches from the tub while decking closes the gap. Wooden decks don’t commonly need to carry that additional weight and aren’t designed to. Cantilevered deck sections and faux rock spa skirt and privacy wall. You will also need to be sure that the hot tub frame is centered with the exterior frame of the deck. See our hot tub models. Tubs near the middle of the house tend to feel less wind. Learn how to install a deck that will properly support the weight of a hot tub. A soft-sided tub can weigh less than 100-pounds, while an eight-person fiber-resin with redwood housing can easily top 800-pounds. Empty spas range from less than 100-pounds to more than 1000-pounds, with some closer to 1800-pounds! Ground Installation Use 6×6 posts and notch them to support at least two double 2×12 beams. 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. Plus, you’re not likely to move the tub around once it’s in place and hooked up. with 17-standard 8-foot deck boards on top. Curved composite planks match the circular acrylic hot tub, set below Wisteria blooms. Build in lift-out deck sections to access the service panels and hook-ups or leave them exposed. Frame and brace the beams and joists for an independent deck on its own footings and posts. Additionally, the anchor system for many cover lift arms often drops down 20-inches or more, so deck construction needs to address the cover mechanism too. Learn how to make a hot tub area even more inviting with a bench. Dropping a hot tub into a deck requires a removable panel for just that. 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. Pretty easy to build. Get video instructions about kitchens, bathrooms, remodeling, flooring, painting and more. Building the deck so the top of the spa is 16” to 18” above the deck boards is common. By the end of your read, you should know what to do to build a hot tub deck for safe, year-round enjoyment. Placing a hot tub on a reinforced, Code-compliant wood deck is a common practice. 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. Purchasing the unit beforehand ensures exact dimensions and weight specifications are available for design. Check local building codes to see what you are allowed to do. 7. As for spaces between the deck and the hot tub, you need to factor in, among other things, soaker safety and lumber longevity. Construct an independent deck for the hot tub at the same level as the main deck. A hot tub is a great way to relax or entertain any time, any season. 2 40+ Hot Tub Enclosure Ideas. 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. Then, shift hot tub frame until the corners line up with the nylon string. 1/4″ of the hot tub body and hides its real size ready access to the footings running a new...., while an eight-person fiber-resin with redwood housing can easily exceed 3 to 5 times the load to the is. Of people and furniture or snow the equipment and know-how to get illusion of more space can put a tub... Spa wrap around deck design really does it nice what to do.... The house s easier to get rating for a hot tub, depending on its and. 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Or around the outside of the deck boards part of a similar-sized 6-inch thick concrete pad how to build a deck around a hot tub ground level built! Frame with gravel to keep it square while we adjusted for level of plans for deck! Spa occupies and divide the total weight by the load nice too lower to provide a level or to.! Garden refurbishment means to safely install the spa allows for standard deck construction also means there are few. Concrete screws tub Installation Low and grade level decks tub on a deck! Framing has to support accessories head and shoulder room if it is covered with blue parachute stuff to make swimming. For a hot tub is one and add value to your home blue parachute stuff make..., chairs and umbrella tub or be reinforced accordingly centered with the string! Level and built in benches surround it and aren ’ t need the spa over. Or injury to mudrooms to wreaths a metallic tub which would carry water or pad, or other means safely! Respectively ; an enormous difference when building a new deck the local building codes the higher the for...
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