Building steps for your hot tub is an easy DIY project depending on how elaborate you go. Never place a hot tub on a deck that wasn't designed for the additional load. It’s circular but has a hexagon bench. Legal Information. … -Terifb, Colorado Photo Gallery Hot Tubs Accessories Discover More Spa Pricing We offer spas for every lifestyle–all with our recognized quality and craftmanship. Things like heaters, pumps, control boxes, and ozone generators are components that typically get fastened to the frame of the hot tub. You can even make by yourself at home easily now! This deck includes plans for built-in benches flanking the hot tub. There are three types of frames on the market, metal, plastic, and wood. © 2016 All Rights Reserved - Hot Tub Insider -. Thanks.". https://www.thecoverguy.com/backyard-blast/tips-for-creating-a-custom-hot-tub-pad/, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-layout-right-angles-accurately/, https://rogueengineer.com/floating-deck-build/, https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-build-a-deck/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90762ef0cc, сделать платформу для гидромассажной ванны, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If I put my tub on a deck, should I leave space between the tub and deck for air to circulate? Our recommendation would be to get a fully treated wood frame that is 2”x3” thickness or greater. You can use the plan below to construct a hot tub deck in one afternoon. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. The easiest way to construct a hot tub platform is to pound stakes at the corners of an 8 by 8 foot square. Today we look at some elegant ways to add a hot tub surround, or custom hot tub decks to 'frame and set' your spa or hot tub. This article has been viewed 642,797 times. "Great massage n easy to use I am a new hot tub owner. Another recommendation would be to find a manufacturer who does a unitized frame. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Learn more... Building a hot tub platform is the first step to installing a jacuzzi system in your backyard. 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. Do I need to reinforce a 6-inch concrete base for my hot tub? "In my minds eye, it inspires me to give it a try. Related Posts. Although this requires quite a bit of effort, it is much less expensive than outsourcing the job to a professional company. Other than that requirement, it should be located where it pleases you. This tub is a gorgeous sight. References. Frame construction is also a consideration when shopping for a hot tub. An empty wooden hot tub weights 400-700 lbs. For precise measurements and ways to make your deck even more secure, keep reading! Failure to obtain permits may result in a delay/cancel of the sale of your home in the future. To create this article, 32 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. When working around an octagonal hot tub, the frame is built up to the hot tub, leaving a square opening with 1 inch clearance from the hot tub on four sides. Then fill the excavation with gravel and level. You’ll use about 200 blocks, around 25 bags of mortar mix and some PVC piping. Placement of the hot tub should be planned well ahead of delivery. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Hot tub construction is no different than any other project, and stating the obvious, you begin at the beginning. Deck Framing Building a Deck Around a Tree. Frames are what support the hot tub shell in portable spas. The frame also provides a structure to attach the hot tub equipment too. If you plan to place the hot tub in a location that was previously lawn, you have two ways to do this. Metal frames are great in theory because of their strength and longevity, however, since the hot tub is a moist and continuously damp environment there is a high potential for rusting. The perimeter frame of the hot tub is constructed from old railroad ties and sections of tree logs, but any type of wood you have on hand will work to build the frame. Level the ground (if necessary) and install deck piers along a grid to support the shed. How to Frame a Tub Wall. Sturdy Frame & Structure Each Bullfrog Spa is built on our patented EnduraFrame™ support structure, a sturdy molded ABS spa frame made with no wood or metal so it will never rot or corrode. Things like heaters, pumps, control boxes, and ozone generators are components that typically get fastened to the frame of the hot tub. Otherwise click … part of doing a crushed stone base to to dig up the grass and top soil and dig down . Outdoor hot tub placement, such as decks, concrete or brick patios, is common. If you live where the Earth freezes in winter, be sure to think about deeper footings! The disadvantage is it can be expensive, and it is not very environmentally friendly as some of the other options detailed in this article. Although you would think metal would be a great choice, in reality, it is not. Dig Holes for the Footers. The second frame option is PVC or plastic pillars. You can also pick your own materials to ensure the high quality of the job. Click here for the full PDF. If the pieces don't line up because of measurement errors, then the sturdiness of your platform will be seriously compromised. The site should be in an area that gets good drainage, so that the tub … The toe kick is topped with a 1×2 board that we grooved on the bottom to notch over the plastic kicker. Don't use any ordinary deck plans for a hot tub. A little tedious but can be done, good exercise though. It’s … But the surrounding deck was fairly high off the ground so the hot tub had to be supported by an elevated substructure. Dig holes for the cement footers that will support the hot tub. Pressure-treated 4x4 for posts. The complete satisfaction of our customers is our objective and the result Using pea gravel as a base for your hot tub has some distinct advantages.. Place 4 inches of medium-grade construction gravel on top of the landscape cloth, . Then fill the excavation with gravel and level. Deck Framing Building Your Deck For A Hot Tub. Place a footing on top and set a short wooden post in each footing. I have severe back pain with numbness. The frame also provides a structure to attach the hot tub equipment too. If you have an existing deck, cut the beam and joist spans in half to provide the additional support. The first is to take an 8 foot (2.4 meters) by 8 foot (2.4 meters) section of lawn out and dig down past the sod to undisturbed soil. In this article we will take a deep dive into steel frame hot tub construction with the predominant material of choice being galvanized steel. How do I figure out if my deck is strong enough to handle a hot tub? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 642,797 times. Designing a deck specifically for a hot tub requires a lot of forethought. Prepping for and pouring the concrete pad, (basic size hot tub), we’ll call it $500 dollars for concrete and frame boards. If it will be located on a patio slab you will not need this article. Hot tubs weigh about 700 to 800 pounds dry and about 3700 pounds when filled. . Install angled blocking one inch away from the remaining sides of the hot tub made from joist material. Many manufacturers use untreated wood to reduce manufacturing costs or they will use some hybrid where the base frame pieces (bottom) are made of treated wood and the upper frame and vertical supports are made from untreated wood. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You may wish to obtain the Swimming Pool, Hot Tubs, and Spas handout listing all requirements and safety barriers required for your spa. The nice thing about building your own hot tub or spa steps is that you can build them as big or small as you want. Yes, you definitely need to add a rebar to your pour. This kind of base pad … The location should be accessible to the 50 amp service most require. This will retain the pad if a break does occur in the future and the reinforcement will assist greatly in distributing the weight uniformly to the entire pad. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Our state-of-the-art spa construction methods provide enduring support for your hot tub and the thousands of pounds of water it will hold. How do I find the load capacity for sizes and spacing of lumber on a hot tub platform? I have heard that pea gravel is best although it doesnt pack down. For designers, the spa or hot tub is a focal point, and hot tub surrounds are used to dress it up and provide conveniences and privacy. After 20 min a day I can go without pain for 1-2 hr." It is easy to make level and will out-live your hot tub if built correctly. $825 with costs based on October 2020 prices Includes auger rental, 5000 psi concrete, rebar, concrete form tubes, 4x4 posts & beams, Simpson strong connectors and screws. After that the first layer was some polystyrene, which fits between that 1×2 … Concrete hot tub base Concrete has been used to build hot tub bases for years, and as a building material, it is very versatile. Nail beams across the top going in both directions, and fill in the top of the deck as you go. However, the hot tub can be placed on any solid, uniform, level surface. Replace each stake with hole that's 1 foot deep, and fill the holes with a few inches of sand. For most hot tubs the building of steps is just building … Walls for a tub alcove or offset are basically the same as other framed walls, with a bottom and top plate and studs at 16-inch intervals. When you purchase a Vita Spa, you can be sure you've made one of the smartest and best investments possible. 1. By using our site, you agree to our. With six average-sized adults in the tub, it might weigh as much at 7,500 lbs, so you should plan for that kind of weight when you’re building the foundation. You could seriously injure yourself. How much does it cost to build this deck if I do it myself? A cutoff saw works best for posts and blocking. Make a smaller square of 9 stakes in the middle. The third and most widely accepted frame material is treated wood. Last Updated: June 16, 2020 These plans should support an 80 pound live load plus a 20 pound dead load per square feet. The first is to take an 8 foot (2.4 meters) by 8 foot (2.4 meters) section of lawn out and dig down past the sod to undisturbed soil. The word “treated” is very important as it will last substantially longer than an untreated wood frame. In the example design, the piers are spaced 6 feet (1.8 m) apart in one direction and 4 feet (1.2 m) apart in … Building the hot tub wrap We started by replacing the newly painted toe toe kick. Japanese Soaking Hot Tub. Select a site for the hot tub. The first is metal. For precise measurements and ways to make your deck even more secure, keep reading! Obviously you can tweak it for your own design, but our free deck blueprint is a good start. Greg's hot tub was 8'x8'. Do not place your hot tub on grass or bare ground. Permits and inspections may be needed for your project. If you want to enjoy a soak in a hot tub but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars, this is the perfect DIY project… Beams could either be treated 4x4 as well, or treated 2x6. Basically, when the hot tub shell goes thru the fiberglass stage the horizontal supports are laid onto the top rail of the shell and sprayed with fiberglass until they are completely covered. If you choose this, it is an excellent base for your hot tub. Frames are usually made from one of three different types of materials (metal, plastic, and wood). Because the environment of a hot tub is constantly humid and moist it can cause rusting of the metal frames. One of the more popular hot tub bases is of course a concrete base. However, you may want to consider an even larger pad to accommodate steps or a … Always check with your local building department before you start construction. What are the sizes of the posts and beams? Decide where you want to place the platform. PVC is better than metal because it won’t rust, however, it isn’t very strong and over time the constant, deadweight of the filled hot tub can cause the PVC to crack or fail. Next the shell with the pvc pipes that go in the blocks before wall construction. % of people told us that this article helped them. How to Build Hot Tub Steps. You could do something similar, but with the tub resting on a … Frame Construction Frames are what support the hot tub shell in portable spas. 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