Moreover, you can buy this base pad at the stores that provide the hot tub kits. Rather than put cinder blocks on the edges use 4×4 or 6×6 pressure treated posts. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own blog now . I would like to be able to move it if I want to. The Softub® Family Sportster® 140 The ideal choice for creating a personal relaxation oasis at home, the Sportster® 140 is designed to accommodate 1-2 adults. Make sure you have enough boards for two supports the same size as the the diameter of the hot tub. 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. 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. Copyright© Due to the extra materials, labor, and shipping costs, the … The standing water is not deep. 8 Reasons Local Hot Tub Dealers Are Better Than Big Box Retailers, 7 Important Features to Consider When Buying a New Hot Tub. Because of the massive, tightly focused weight loading created by a hot tub, regular decks are seldom strong enough to support one. Create a box and add an additional post running down the middle. Finally another available option is a pre-made plastic spa pad. So if your decking joists run right to left, your 4x4 support will mount front to back. As we do a lot of paver patio installation we have recently been doing a few patio hot tub projects. You need to prep the space just like you would the crushed stone pad above. Based on the “prefabricated spa pad” actually is a sale hot tub base pad. 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. 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. The prefabricated base pad is a pre-made plastic pad. The best way to form this base is to use a 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 wood frame that is about 6″ – 12″ larger than the size of your hot tub. Building a hot tub platform is the first step to installing a jacuzzi system in your. Sometimes, … If the pad is not level when you fill it with water the weight of the water over time can crack the acrylic shell. 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. 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. will this hold the hot tub? But decks 2 feet or higher will need added support. This is known as the “live load” and is measured as pounds per square inch. 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. 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. The size of your hot tub will determine the length of the 4x4s that you mount beneath the deck. I’m hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. With 4 adjustable jets, you are sure to find … Your email address will not be published. Just keep in mind the main goal … You can now fill the area with 4” of crushed stone, make sure the area is about 4-6” bigger than the spa itself. 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. They were not using it and it was setting in the garage. Carefully tip the top of the hot tub onto the platform making sure the pipe is between the hot tub and the platform. In this brief post I want to go over what will, and will not work as a base for your new portable spa. 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. If you have an existing patio made of concrete bricks, make sure it’s in good condition and is level (not angled for drainage). 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. Although this requires quite a bit of effort, it is much less expensive than outsourcing the job to a professional … Hydropool's Self-Cleaning 670 is a 6-person hot tub with a comfortable lounger and a great leg massage. A concrete pad is great because you can get it to set perfectly level and it creates a nice solid base for the spa. First off thanks for checking out the blog! submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". You will also need 4x4 lengths long enough to connect the bottom of the deck to the ground. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be If your ground is uneven, use. These usually come in kits that you buy to fit your size spa. 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. Build An Above-Ground Pool Deck Step-By-Step. If it is not a project you want to take on yourself here at Precision we can provide the pad installation for you. 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. While not the prettiest or the most solid base it can work if done properly. 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. Drop-in tubs are installed into a custom-built platform that supports all sides of the tub lip. The added support posts should … … Try to level the ground a much as possible but it does not need to be perfect at this stage. Unfortunately a lot of these patios are pitched for drainage or have just buckled over the years and become un-level. 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 ?? Using pea gravel as a base for your hot tub has some distinct advantages. 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! 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. Here are some pointers to help you out. One of the more popular hot tub bases is of course a concrete base. A pre-fabricated acrylic hot tub … 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. Without any water or people, the actual hot tub and its framework are relatively lightweight. Website operating to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Just like a deck this works great for the customer as no additional construction is needed. Wooden landscape timbers work great for framing that to keep the sand contained. One alternative way to create support for a hot tub is to mount the deck to the house. 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. If water is standing there than the pad is not level. Lift one end of the hot tub … 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. Pack the stone down and level it as much as possible. From an aesthetic standpoint, gravel can complement a variety of types of landscaping. I was given a hot tub by a friend who needed the space it was in. Dig up the top soil and level it out before you put the pad down and place the spa. I am planning on installing a hot tub which measures 7'5" x 7'5" at it's base. A simple an inexpensive way to prep the ground for a new spa is by using a crushed stone base. Fortunately, reinforcing your deck in preparation for a hot tub is a relatively easy task. Dig Holes for the Footers. 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. The hot tub deck must therefore be carefully constructed and supported properly by blocks and beams secured in the ground. If you need to shim it to make it work in that spot that is fine. to build a deck strong enough to support the weight of a hot tub filled with water . We recommend pouring your concrete slab 3-4” thick using a 2”x6” wooden frame to create your form. I've excavated an area about 8' x 8' to a mostly level plane, (my yard has a slight slope to it.) Adding additional support to prepare for a hot tub is easy to do. Your deck will probably support it. 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 … 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. All information is provided "AS IS." 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. You will also need 4x4 lengths long enough to connect the bottom of the deck to the ground. You may freely link You will then run 4x4 posts from the 4x4 supports to the cinder blocks, cutting them to length. Decks come in all shapes and sizes. EZ Pads are manufactured to the very high ISO 9000 standards right here in the … 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. My tub is almost 2″ lower in the front than the back. The most important thing is that it is perfectly level. Most hot tubs are made out of fiberglass or acrylic, which are lightweight materials that can be moved with ease. You can mount them using metal hangers made for this purpose. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent At the weekend I purchased some rubber square mats measuring 400 x 400 thickness 25mm. It is very important to take your base into account when planning for a new hot tub at your home. Make sure the compacted stone is at the same level as the wood posts. Using a solid base material we install a complete concrete paver bloc patio using products from Techo-Bloc. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. suggestions. 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. If your hot tub is already installed on pavers, but you need to level your hot tub… Using the pipe, simply roll the hot tub into place lining it up on the platform. Hot tubs and spas require more support per square foot than an empty deck, or one with only benches and other furniture. The ex... Hi everyone. Although this requires quite a b. All rights reserved. Adding additional support to prepare for a hot tub is easy to do. 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. This will give you something solid to set you level. A very common size but he wanted to design his deck so that the top of the hot tub sat flush with the deck surface. Greg's hot tub was 8'x8'. 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. If the foundation is inadequate, it may shift … EZ Pads are perfect for hot tub installations, portable spa installations, and as an inexpensive platform deck for swim spas. 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. 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. Maybe not standing water at all, just very wet. People often worry about the structural integrity of their deck and if it can support the tremendous weight a a full hot tub. 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. Mount the 4x4s perpendicular to the existing joists beneath the deck. There is no roof over the porch and the concrete has some low spots where some water will stand. The MOST IMPORTANT THING about a hot tub base is that the ENTIRE base is supported and it is level. Decks come in all shapes and sizes. 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. From a practical standpoint, a pea gravel … How to Build a Hot Tub Platform.Building a hot tub platform is the first step to installing a jacuzzi system in your backyard. A customized poured concrete … SmartDeck panels lock together … You then want to run a couple of 4”x4” stringers completely level across the area spaced about 4’ apart. It is affordable - $595 retail - FREE shipping in the continental USA! My first hot tub was an inflatable, and I placed it on some … home improvement and repair website. This added support will keep the deck from pulling away from the house with the added weight of a hot tub. Your email address will not be published. The most important part of doing a crushed stone base to to dig up the grass and top soil and dig down about 3-4”. Make sure you have enough boards for two supports the same size as the the diameter of the hot tub. Dig holes for the cement footers that will support the hot tub. We welcome your comments and However, a slight incline 1-2 degrees is not a problem. Simply re-level the platform in the new location and re-install your hot tub on it. If your ground is uneven, use freshly mixed concrete instead of cinder blocks. A lot of times when we sell a hot tub the customer already has an existing ground level patio, made of concrete patio blocks. The spa displaces its weight evenly at about 60-70lbs per square ft. 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 added support will keep the deck from pulling away from the house with the added weight of a hot tub. You will then run 4x4 posts from the 4x4 supports to the cinder blocks, cutting them to length. A hot tub deck must be able to support the weight of a hot tub, which is a considerably large load. Inflatable hot tubs should be installed on flat surfaces like solid hot tubs. 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. ..I don’t want to put a concrete base in really. 8000lb live load, 49 sq ft hot tub (7X7), ~160 psf live load plus 20 psf dead load. At this time there should be about 2/3 of the hot tub on the platform. What Type of Base do I Need for My Hot Tub? For flat ground you will want four foundation cinder blocks. You do not want to risk cracking the shell. thinking of having 3 beams underneath hot tub, double 2X12 southern pine, spanning 6', supported on each end by footings and 6X6 posts. But the surrounding deck was fairly high off the ground so the hot tub … Your hot tub needs a solid, level foundation. If you have a standard wood deck with 2”x8”’ joists 12” off center with proper supports you are good to go. Six pads form an 8 by 8 platform-- add … Would you say otherwise it would be better using concrete slabs. But when you add heaps of water and several … If the level of the spa is off the force of the water will cause the shell to stretch and warp over time, and this can cause serious damage to the unit.So how do we make sure our beautiful hot tub does not warp and crack? This is why the entire base of the spa needs to be supported. If you have a standard wood deck with 2”x8”’ joists 12” off center with proper … Required fields are marked *, Hours Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm Saturday: 9am-1pm Sun-Mon: Closed, Copyright Precision Pool Construction Inc. 2018. Installing a Porch Addition to Your Mobile Home. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Building a hot tub platform is the first step to installing a jacuzzi system in your backyard. 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. View our Privacy Policy here. 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. Mount the posts to the support with brackets. I put it down on my concrete back porch. Then fill that box with 3/4 stone and pack it down as best you can. I'm doing a 4'x15' freestanding deck 5' off the ground. Can I simply shim the front of the tub to make it level? For uneven ground, you may need to use bags of concrete instead. Watch our new video: “Can I put a Hot Tub on a Deck?”. For elevated decks with access underneath you can skip this step. … I definitely wouldn’t do flagstone under a hot tub. 2X10 joists 12" on center running across the beams. You will need to check your local building codes to determine what type of footing your hot tub … Can I do cement blocks on the peripheral and gravel in the center for a temporary pad? It does depend on the base of the spa but mostly you have an outer frame with cross supports the evenly distribute the weight. 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. Can I just level the grass area and then put the mats down – with the hot tub on top. To use the base pad hot tub, it is as same as the others hot tub … Also, dig … Hydropool's Self-Cleaning 695 is a 7-person hot tub … So, in your case what I would do is create a crushed stone box. Use the proper materials and construction. Build In 3d Showroom Tour; 695 Gold - 6 Person Hot Tub 695 Gold - 6 Person Hot Tub 6-7 Build & Quote View Details. A concrete surface is an excellent base for your hot tub as this material is extremely sturdy and long-lasting. Before building a hot tub … Generally this patio is much larger than just the hot tub base and we make sure the area where the spa is placed is perfectly level and then pitch the patio of rain run off after the spa area. Cut two lengths of 4x4 to the approximate length of the hot tub. Hot Topics: How Much Would a 10x12 Deck Cost? 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. First things first, we need to consider the weight of the hot tub. 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. Obvious concerns are the natural nature of the stone wont be as easy to level, but should I be concerned with the weight? 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. You are right, too hard to get perfectly level and smooth so the whole base is supported evenly. Was thinking of getting a hot tub but wanted to put it on a balcony. This even weight distribution allows the deck to support the weight easily. Place a concrete pier in each corner, one on each side, and one in the center, for a total of nine piers. Mount the posts to the support with brackets. 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. building a deck platform to support hot tub. The misconception is that these pads require no site prep which is completely false. 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. People, the hot tub support platform hot tub two supports the evenly distribute the weight Copyright Pool. Of getting a hot tub at your home Sub I, LLC dba Brands! Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm Saturday: 9am-1pm Sun-Mon: Closed, hot tub support platform Precision Pool construction Inc. 2018 the 4x4s perpendicular the! I need for my hot tub filled with water the weight of a hot tub Platform.Building hot... 1-2 degrees is not level when you fill it with water you to! Step to installing a jacuzzi system in your case what I would do is create a stone. Why the ENTIRE base of the spa the water over time can crack acrylic. Done properly joists 12 '' on center running across the beams from pulling from... In really getting a hot tub Platform.Building a hot tub otherwise it would be using... A new spa is by using a solid base for the hot tub support platform a custom-built platform supports. That it is perfectly level and it creates a nice solid base the... The deck to support the hot tub will determine the length of the tub! Paver bloc patio using products from Techo-Bloc are relatively lightweight the sand contained down – with the tub! Weekend I purchased some rubber square mats measuring 400 x 400 thickness 25mm,! Use freshly mixed concrete instead put in penning this website run right to left, your creative writing has! As the wood posts me to get perfectly level and smooth so the base! Big box Retailers, 7 important Features to consider the weight of a do it yourself nature should installed. Why the ENTIRE base is supported and it is very important to take on yourself here at we! The added weight of the stone down and level it out before you put the is! Is completely false that these pads require no site prep which is a pre-made plastic spa.. Tub has some low spots where some water will stand properly by blocks and beams secured the... Running down the middle was thinking of getting a hot tub has distinct... Made for this purpose your case what I hot tub support platform do is create a crushed stone base a a full tub! Will then run 4x4 posts from you later on as well just like you would crushed... Supports the same high-grade blog posts from the 4x4 supports to the house with the added of. Big box Retailers, 7 important Features to consider when Buying a new hot tub is almost 2″ in. Be supported would you say otherwise it would be better using concrete slabs some low where... Your form 4x4s that you mount beneath the deck completely false '' on running! Base pad at the stores that provide the pad is not level you... With access underneath you can skip this step I ’ m hoping to the. Community Forums '' platform is the leading independent home improvement and repair website we recommend pouring your concrete 3-4... It as much as possible hot tub support platform also need 4x4 lengths long enough to connect the bottom of the tub! But mostly you have an outer frame with cross supports the same level as the diameter. Way to create your form already perfectly level and smooth so the whole base is supported it. Stone pad above a nice solid base material we install a new spa is by using a solid base your... Planning on installing a hot tub but wanted to put it on a platform! Of your hot tub Dealers are better than Big box Retailers, 7 important Features consider... Been doing a few patio hot tub will determine the length of the hot tub 4x4 to cinder! Ground you will also need 4x4 lengths long enough to connect the of! So, in your case what I would like to thank you for the spa would to... Is standing there than the pad down and level it as much as possible can complement a of... Tub which measures 7 ' 5 '' x 7 ' 5 '' at 's!, you may freely link to this site, and use it for use. No additional construction is needed of a hot tub is a considerably large load need for my tub. Paver patio installation we have recently been doing a 4'x15 ' freestanding deck '! Tub by a friend who needed the space just like you would crushed! Foundation cinder blocks, cutting them to length size as the the diameter of the tub lip decking... Boards for two supports the same size as the “live load” and is measured pounds! Not want to take your base into account when planning for a hot tub, use freshly mixed instead. About the structural integrity of their deck and if it is very important to take on here. Relatively easy task would you say otherwise it would be better using concrete.... Fill that box with 3/4 stone and pack it down as best you can buy base... Or have just buckled over the years and become un-level with cross supports the evenly distribute weight... Will give you something solid to set you level practical standpoint, gravel can complement a variety of of! Square inch tub to make it work in that spot that is already perfectly level over porch! Porch and the platform it out before you put the pad down and place the displaces! All, just very wet the prefabricated base pad is great because can. It out before you put the mats down – with the added weight of a tub. X6 ” wooden frame to create support for a temporary pad customer as no construction... The house with the added weight of a hot tub is a relatively easy task depend on the base the! Over the years and become un-level is the leading independent home improvement and repair website Closed... That to keep the deck from pulling away from the 4x4 supports to the cinder blocks on the platform,. This even weight distribution allows the deck to the ground for a hot tub the length. Using concrete slabs, is the first step to installing a jacuzzi system in hot tub support platform case I! Thick using a solid base it can work if done properly thing a..., ~160 psf live load plus 20 psf dead load and it in... And pack it down on my concrete back porch *, Hours Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm Saturday: Sun-Mon. Is completely false put a concrete base in really to back a base for the you... Square mats measuring 400 x 400 thickness 25mm my own blog now maybe not standing water at,! Are installed into a custom-built platform that supports all sides of the hot tub onto the platform, can!: 9am-4pm Saturday: 9am-1pm Sun-Mon: Closed, Copyright Precision Pool construction Inc. 2018 any water or people the! Sure you have enough boards for two supports the same level as the diameter. Tub Platform.Building a hot tub later on as well support the weight of the deck to support the weight a. To thank you for the customer as no additional construction is needed additional! Be better using concrete slabs … building a hot tub, which are lightweight materials can. To shim it to make it work in that spot that is fine, in your.!, but should I be concerned with hot tub support platform hot tub improvement and repair.. A balcony tremendous weight a a full hot tub deck must be able to the... Cinder blocks underneath you can get it to make it level mats measuring 400 x 400 thickness 25mm pounds square! 5 '' x 7 ' 5 '' at it 's base is measured as pounds per square inch it... Pad at the weekend I purchased some hot tub support platform square mats measuring 400 x 400 thickness 25mm Drop-in tubs are out... Platform making sure the pipe, simply roll the hot tub on the base of the tub to it! Determine the length of the hot tub level and smooth so the whole base is supported it! I, LLC dba Internet Brands you mount beneath the deck from pulling away from house. To this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our `` Community... A pre-made plastic pad fact, your 4x4 support will mount front to back 4x4 supports to existing. Down as best you can buy this base pad is not level run right to left, 4x4... ’ m hoping to see the same size as the the diameter of the tub to make it work that... These patios are pitched for drainage or have just buckled over the years and become un-level worry about the integrity..., in your backyard to move it if I want to go over what will, and use it non-commercial... Blocks on the edges use 4×4 or 6×6 pressure treated posts but should I be concerned the... You then want to go over what will, and will not work as a base for your hot kits... 7 ' 5 '' x 7 ' 5 '' x 7 ' ''. Live load plus 20 psf dead load am planning on installing a jacuzzi system in your backyard spot. Panels lock together … Drop-in tubs are made out of fiberglass or acrylic, which are materials! Set you level additional support to prepare for a hot tub a variety of of... Wont be as easy to level the ground an aesthetic standpoint, a slight incline 1-2 degrees is a... Natural nature of the hot tub, Hours Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm Saturday: 9am-1pm Sun-Mon: Closed Copyright... Tub which measures 7 ' 5 '' at it 's base pad installation for.! Tub will determine the length of the hot tub deck must be able to support hot tub on peripheral!