Is it hard building a deck for a hot tub? It depends on a number of factors, but it’s definitely worth it if you’re a homeowner who loves to enjoy their deck all year long.
Adding a hot tub or spa can dramatically transform your deck, but you’ll need to plan the job carefully. It’s important to ask yourself questions like:
- Is my deck strong enough to support a hot tub filled with water and people?
- Should I try to build it or hire a builder?
- Where should it be located?
- What electrical upgrades are needed?
Keep reading to find out all the answers to your hot tub deck questions.
Can You Put a Hot Tub on a Deck?
Yes, you can put a hot tub on a deck! Decks and hot tubs are a great pairing, but can your deck support as much as 100 lbs. per square foot? That’s twice what a typical deck can handle, so before you begin planning your hot tub deck project, examine your deck’s structure or, better yet, have a professional do it.
Planning Your Hot Tub Deck
Hot tubs are self-contained and can be installed wherever space allows, provided there’s enough structural support. It’s up to you to choose the best location. You’ll also need to decide whether you want the hot tub at ground level next to the deck, recessed into the deck, or sitting on top of it.
Consider Using a Licensed Decking Contractor
Unless you’re well versed in structural engineering and electrical code, consider hiring a licensed decking contractor to manage your project. Not only do they understand how to combine decks with hot tubs safely, but they also can offer advice to improve your hot tub deck plans.
Select a Hot Tub
With all the different hot tub selections out there, it can be difficult choosing a hot tub. Make sure to measure for the exact specifications of the hot tub you want, especially its dimensions and its weight when filled with water and fully occupied.
Only then can you calculate the support required for a hot tub deck. A typical 8- x 8-foot hot tub weighs about 5,000 pounds, water and people included. As you shop around, you might notice that the terms “hot tub” and “spa” are used interchangeably. But there is a difference: A spa is a permanent structure attached to a pool or larger body of water. A hot tub is a freestanding unit you can install almost anywhere. For the best stability and thermal insulation, look for “full-foam” when choosing a hot tub.
Calculate Necessary Structural Support
In order for local building authorities to approve your plan, you must show that the structural scheme will support the hot tub when it’s filled with both water and people. That means providing details about the size and depth of the concrete footings or slab, as well as the size and spacing of beams and joists and how they connect. In some cases, hot tub deck plans must be approved by a professional engineer before they’ll be considered.
To measure the strength of a deck, start by calculating the load. The formula is simple. First, find the sum of the empty (dry) weight of the tub, the weight of the water in a full tub (8.3 lb/gal), and the weight of the maximum number of occupants (185 lb/person). Then divide that sum (pounds) by the size of the tub’s footprint (square feet). For example, an 8- x 8-foot tub (area of 64 ft2) that weighs 5,120 pounds—water and people included—would require a structure capable of supporting 80 lb/ft2. Many experts recommend a minimum of 100 lb/ft2.
Select Your Decking Materials
Whether you’re building a new deck or refurbishing an old one, you’ll have to decide what decking materials to use. Consider these options when you’re planning your hot tub deck project.
- Composite deck boards. Today’s composite boards, such as those made by Trex, have come a long way since the first generation. These new-generation boards are much more resilient and shed water better. They also eliminate refinishing and require only an occasional soap-and-water cleaning to maintain their aesthetics and performance. Trex composite decking guarantees the deck will still look and feel great after 25 years.
- Pressure-treated wood. This is the most common type of decking material. It’s inexpensive but it requires refinishing every two or three years. The wood is also susceptible to cracks and splinters.
- Red cedar. This soft wood feels good on bare feet and resists the elements fairly well. Like pressure-treated wood, you need to apply stain periodically to keep it the color you want, but cedar decks should last a little longer.
- Ipe. This Brazilian hardwood is free of knots, very hard, but quite expensive. It lasts twice as long as pressure-treated wood.
Ground Level, Above Ground, or Recessed?
How and where you install the hot tub will largely depend on your deck’s height, size, and load-bearing capacity. The configuration of the deck can also influence whether the hot tub will work best at ground level, above ground, or recessed into the deck.
Ground Level
If the hot tub is already installed on a concrete slab, it’s usually best to leave it there and extend your deck to it. A ground-level deck for hot tub installation might also be preferable if the existing deck doesn’t have the strength to support the hot tub. Small decks or decks with odd configurations might also warrant ground-level installation.
Above Ground
If an existing or new deck can support putting a hot tub on it, why not install it there? You’ll save money compared to other installation approaches, and you’ll have convenient access. Just be sure that the hot tub won’t impede the natural flow of traffic and that you have enough space to remove its cover and to perform maintenance on the hot tub deck
Recessed
Having a recessed hot tub built into a deck makes it easier to enter and exit and gives your hot tub deck a luxurious look. It does, however, require installing a concrete base or building a wood structure to support the hot tub. This can make the installation more expensive compared to hot tubs installed at ground level or above ground.
Considerations for Building your Deck
Other details to remember include the hot tub’s distance from the house, service access, safety, and privacy.
Contractor Recommendations
Most builders recommend that you recess the tub partially, not completely. With the edge of the hot tub at bench height—about 18 inches—people can sit on the tub’s edge and comfortably swing their legs over and in. Built-in benches or shelves for towels and drinks are another good idea. A good lighting design is also important if you want to enjoy your hot tub deck after dark.
Distance from the House
Hot tubs can hug an exterior wall or stand farther away. Installed close to a wall, the hot tub is shielded from the wind and will usually give you faster access to the indoors. If you install the hot tub farther away, create a direct and slip-resistant pathway to the house. Generally, the colder the climate, the closer to the house the tub should be.
Access for Servicing
Any time the deck will cover the hot tub’s service panels, plan to include removable access hatches. This will enable you or a technician to reach the hot tub’s electrical and mechanical components easily. Without access hatches, you might have to tear up your hot tub deck to reach the problem component. The best hatches span the full length of the hot tub and are at least 30 inches wide.
Safety
Add stairs or tiered platforms around above-ground hot tubs to reduce bending and climbing. Consult the local building code and the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance about tread and riser size. Recessed hot tubs that are flush with the deck can be less safe because you must step down into them, often without a handhold. In addition, the deck boards surrounding the hot tub can get slippery.
Privacy
Privacy can be an issue with hot tub decks. Many people install pergolas equipped with curtains or other privacy screens. You can also use fencing, lattice, hedge, or other foliage to preserve your privacy.
Turn Your Deck into a Backyard Oasis
Building a hot tub deck is a big undertaking, but don’t let that stop you. Take the plunge! If you plan ahead and keep the basics in mind, enjoyment is sure to follow. Your biggest decision is deciding to DIY or hire a professional builder. Once you decide that, you can start planning for your relaxing hot tub deck to enjoy all year long.
How to build a hot tub deck: Decks.com |. Trex Company, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved May 26, 2022, from https://www.decks.com/how-to/articles/building-your-deck-for-a-hot-tub
