What’s better: having a deck in your backyard or, sitting in a hot tub to relax? Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these links. This all would need to be engineered to your specific project details like how high off the ground, how much total weight, and more. The deck offers support to the short cantilever so that it fills the area closest to the tub leaving a nice clean reveal. The Rule of Thumb. Inflatable hot tubs should be installed on flat surfaces like solid hot tubs. Jul 10, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Calla DeForge. But what if you want to remove the hot tub from the deck after a few years? Especially if you want to build it yourself. No matter which way you choose, after you get that first board down you can really start to fly. Following local code, we will punch out holes in the ground with a huge drill called an auger to be able to have an inspector come out and sign off. Yes, you can put a hot tub on a deck. All rights reserved. The #1 should represent that there are fewer knots, no wane or bark and of course no rot. After all, a pre-existing wooden deck might not be able to support a full hot tub weighing thousands of pounds. Nail beams across the top going in both directions, and fill in the top of the deck as you go. If 7 people sit in my hot tub that is an additional 1050 lbs. Step 4 Pound stakes into the ground at the corners of your marked area and draw strings tightly between each opposing stake to … The deck will be free standing - not attached to the house. Now we can create another couple rectangle frames that just barely fit down in that finished access frame hole. Hot tub or spa decks should always be "overbuilt". It would be a slow process but with enough patience and temps you can get anything up in the air. The deck need only be the size of the hot tub itself, but it is advantageous to have an oversize deck that works as a landing or a toweling-off area. This offers the much-needed footing of the hot tub. This will enable you to create steps that will raise your hot tub deck’s height and make it easier to get in and out of your hot tub. The engineer will look over your project and make decisions about attachments, connections, and material size your deck will be made from. If you’ve been using a bathtub on the deck and want a hot tub on a deck, you’re in the right place. hot tub deck framing - Google Search. You will always want to build a separate frame within your deck to support a hot tub. Set up the pool frame before constructing deck if possible. Fascia covers the outer perimeter of the deck to hide the framing and it also dresses up the sides of stairs. It’s especially true if you live in an area where your neighbor’s homes are very close to yours. Hot Tub Framing on a Deck As previously mentioned an average 8×8 hot tub weighs around 5000 pounds fully loaded with water and people. Not sure it it's "right" but it's been great so far. Look into Deck Building in Fort Collins, CO, Six Qualities to Look for in a Deck Builder in Fort Collins, CO, How to Cover a Deck: 5 Unique Covered Deck Ideas, Website and Marketing by Digital Epidemic. Use these measurements to make a temporary frame out of 2x4's that will act as a guide for the deck's footers. See more ideas about hot tub, pool hot tub, hot tub outdoor. A very ideal situation would be to hire on an actual hot tub mover or be at the stage of buying a new one. This calculator determines the size of each tributary area of your deck. After all that the deck should be ready for skirting or otherwise known as fascia. your own Pins on Pinterest The total load for each tributary area is then divided by the area of each footing in order to determine the load psf imposed on the soil. First, add additional fasteners to the ledger board to add extra security from the deck to the house. 2 40+ Hot Tub Enclosure Ideas. The area under the hot tub should be framed as a separate system, with its own footings. Staining could occur if this were to happen. Speaking of breaking, wooden decks are a typical place to put a hot tub. See all of our free deck plans here. There are ways to reinforce your deck without having to demolish it and start from scratch. The first step is to talk to an engineer. The installation team also gets clearances on the operation and arm dimensions of the tub and cover. You see when a hot tub is NOT level, it can add extra weight to certain areas of the hot tub’s frame and/or acrylic shell. If you’re on your own, this part can get very tricky as you would have to use a lot of temporary lumber to hold pieces up. Figure 1 - Hot tub on raised deck. Small Hot Tub Decks. To get off on the right foot, it’s essential to get all of the measurements of your backyard or project area. You can attach the lower of the two frames making the top frame removable and hopefully perfectly flush with the rest of the deck frame. But decks 2 feet or higher will need added support. Tall Decks and Hot Tubs. The first consideration is size: an 8 foot by 8 foot (2.4 meter by 2.4 meter) square deck will accommodate most hot tubs. This hot tub is an extremely rustic DIY project – the frame is made out of fallen logs and discarded railroad ties and the whole project cost around $250 to make. Never place a hot tub on an existing deck that wasn't designed to support the massive loads. You can also learn more at our deck building services page. This is our full set of plans for a deck with a hot tub. A Hot Tub Deck Design Should Be Engineered to Stand Up With 8,000 lbs of hot water and people your hot tub deck design had better be engineered to stand up to the test or it could be disasterous. Talking about the placement of your hot tub deck, just simply consider how the structure, design, and accessibility will enhance the aesthetics and utility between your hot tub, home, and yard. Again, check local guidelines and if it calls for 8 inch on center then you are going to have to double your joist count. Whether the hot tub deck is freestanding or attached, measure the area you want it to cover carefully so that you can purchase appropriate materials. These provide access to stuff that is hidden underneath the deck like the service panel of the hot tub. Today you can find hot tubs in fiberglass, tough thermal plastics and acrylic. Or maybe your ideal spot is twelve feet up off of a master bed slider and you want to make sure that you have enough lumber underneath it to hop in every night and not pray for your deck’s strength. 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. In such cases, we start by laying out where the hot tub will sit and where the outside dimensions of the deck will sit using a string line or marking device. Default is 50 psf which you can change. As the steel framing parts are cut, DO NOT allow metal shavings and/or chips to get dropped or blown into a pool, hot tub, or any other body of water. Apart from these factors, we also keep a gap of up to 1/4″ inch between the deck boards and the tub. Those spaces get pretty tight to work in at 8-inches on-center. Decks come in all shapes and sizes. If you want to learn more about some different hot tub deck ideas and how to implement them then read on but if you just want to talk to someone right now about your next backyard project then give us a call at 970-663-2868 or just shoot us an email. Decks come in all shapes and sizes. Want to Spend More Time Outdoors? I am building a 10'X11' deck to support a hot tub. For ground-level decks, we don’t recommend installing the hot tub on top. Posts used are generally 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 inch material and framing lumber is usually in the 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, or 2×12 categories. Hot tubs are very heavy. I’ve purposely left stairs out of this writeup as they can be little mini decks that take just as long as the main project. Hot tubs are found in any climate and are manufactured with built-in chairs, jets and drink holders. The average 8' x 8' hot tub weighs over 5,000 lbs when filled with water and people. Before finalizing deck plans, consult pool manufacturer’s specifications for decking. Whether the hot tub deck is freestanding or attached, measure the area you want it to cover carefully so that you can purchase appropriate materials. Hot tubs are very heavy. Depending on the width of the hatch, we remove one or more joists to provide the space the hatch needs. You can create the illusion of having a larger hot tub by constructing the right type of decking around it. TNT Home Improvements 1448 Antero Drive Loveland, CO 80538 Email: sales@TNTHomeImprovements.com Phone: 970-663-2868, © 2019 TNT Home Improvements. It seats four people and holds 195 gallons of water. Hot tub or spa decks should always be "overbuilt". I am looking to place a 7'-10" x 9'-2" hot tub on my deck and am trying to evaluate the load capacity of the deck. Especially if it is an elevated structure, you will have great views while you relax. Depending on the weight capacity of your deck, it will likely need to be reinforced with additional framing, including extra joists. Before you get swayed by features such as colored LED lights, integrated cup … The trick is to make your decking proportional to the hot tub. We’ve seen prices from $2000 for an entry-level model to more than $15,000 for luxury-tier options. Step 1 dmio104_1fa_hot-tub-temp-frame2. Just because you have a small hot tub doesn’t mean you don’t need a deck. Never place a hot tub on a deck that wasn't designed for the additional load. You will always want to build a separate frame within your deck to support a hot tub. Well that is already a constant so you will most likely want to walk-out from your back door out onto a deck. Make a smaller square of 9 stakes in the middle. Jul 10, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Calla DeForge. Especially if you want to build it yourself. We can then pour concrete to create the caussons that your deck will sit on. Always make sure you plan ahead to provide access to the controls. It should now be almost indistinguishable from the rest of the deck. We also need to take care of the concrete pad if that’s the direction you’re wanting to go. The deck offers support to the short cantilever so that it fills the area closest to the tub leaving a nice clean reveal. Check with local building code to determine spacing requirements for posts. As with most big ticket purchases, prices for hot tubs/spas vary widely. But, not all decks are created equal. Check local building codes to see what you are allowed to do. Needless to say, this is much more than a typical deck frame is designed to support. This step is usually a lot easier with a partially loaded deck meaning that you’ve loaded the frame with about 60-80% of the loose deck boards to make a temporary place to stand while you attach the decking down to the frame. In addition to helping support the tub, the frame acts as a base for any finish material you plan on installing on the face of the tub area and on top of the deck area, such as ceramic tile or natural slate stone tile. The deck will be free standing - not attached to the house. Sometimes the deck is at a higher level than the tub or we have to deal with an even ground to build the deck. Discover (and save!) You could almost just deck over the top adding screws to the inner and outer frames of the access panel and marking where the cut will go. Apr 26, 2016 - Learn how to build a deck to properly support a hot tub or spa. The hot tub will add about 100 PSF load to the normal live and dead loads. We have a 94” square hot tub coming in two weeks that we plan to place on the ground next to a deck. This top tips for building hot tub decks post is from the experts at Real Cedar.com, check them out to see why you should consider authentic cedar for your deck. If you are doing this DIY then you will need to figure out what size posts and what size framing material you will use. That’s where our experience plays a crucial role. The average homeowner spends $2,200 to build a 10x10 foot deck, $6,160 to build a 14x20 deck, and $8,800 to build a 20x20 deck. But if you are left to your own ingenuity, then having multiple pipes around will most certainly help as you can get them under the tub and use them to roll it closer to where you need it if the ground is smooth enough. He writes: I am building a deck that will hold a fiveperson hot tub. Regardless of what type of tub you are installing, there needs to be some kind of base frame in place to support the weight of the tub. This month's column is in answer to a reader's letter. A standard 8’ x 8’ hot tub weighs about 5,000 lbs when fully loaded with water and people. Deck With Framing For A Hot Tub And Benches. If your deck is being built near the ground, you may consider setting the hot tub on a poured concrete slab with access to the deck. The easiest way to construct a hot tub platform is to pound stakes at the corners of an 8 by 8 foot square. This is a prime consideration in deck design when building a deck around your hot tub for sure. Every deck built around a hot tub consists of framing members. I say that because there are some great places to attach a deck to the back of your house, for instance, and one of them is the main floor or rim joist of the home. A hot tub deck must be able to support the weight of a hot tub, which is a considerably large load. The average 8' x 8' hot tub weighs over 5,000 lbs when filled with water and people. You will need to allow for specific clearances and access to any necessary equipment, etc. How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Wood Deck With Composite? The spa filled has 320 gallons or 2672 lbs. When creating your simple backyard design, skip the railings on your deck, intricate wood designs, specialty lighting, and multiple material types. Although this requires quite a bit of effort, it is much less expensive than outsourcing the job to a professional company. I appreciate your info. 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.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. We first mark the location of the lift out hatch on the deck’s joists. your own Pins on Pinterest This is our full set of plans for a deck with a hot tub. The hot tub will add about 100 PSF load to the normal live and dead loads. I am looking to place a 7'-10" x 9'-2" hot tub on my deck and am trying to evaluate the load capacity of the deck. This gives enough space to take out the hot tub if you want. The added support posts should be no more than 30″ apart & ideally placed in poured concrete. Copyright © 2021 Trex Company, Inc. All rights reserved. By clicking GO!, you acknowledge that you have read Trex's Privacy Policy. This gives the hot tub and deck room to expand and contract in extreme weather conditions. 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.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. Replace each stake with hole that's 1 foot deep, and fill the holes with a few inches of sand. Never place a hot tub on top of a deck that was not specifically designed to handle the intense loads. Inspecting underneath the deck it looks like the load will be evenly situated between 4 4x6 posts that are holding up dual 2x12's (There are more in each projection), and the floor is … We don’t specialize in any one shape or size of deck because we build ’em all and have built somewhere in the thousands of decks at this point, some pretty big ones with a hot tub. My spa started off at 600 lbs. We can then use lasers to figure out how tall to cut the posts that will hold up your deck. It’s also necessary to distinguish the cases, when a hot tub deck framing is built, as in this cases we have to construct a slightly raised patio, but not support. If the tub is to be set in the deck, build a four post sub deck below the tub area using oversized footings, 6" x 6" posts, notched for a double band and through bolted then double up 2" x 8"s on 12" centers. (8.35 lbs / gallon). The property is sloped so closest to the house, the deck will be only 12" high and away from the house it … Then at the end snap a line and cut the access panel free. Instead, we suggest setting the tub on a concrete pad. Toward the end of the project it’s time to set the handrail posts and build the railing. This really can be the trickiest part, especially if you are going at this alone. The hot tub is a 7 person, 7-1/2 x 7-1/2 feet, weighs 4,350 filled then when add weight of 6 people on the deck gotta figure it needs to hold 5,550-6000 pounds. See more ideas about hot tub, pool hot tub, hot tub outdoor. The added physical benefits of soaking in a hot tub are that you can sleep better, your skin gets a healthy glow, and minor body aches and pains simply disappear. ... Use substantial framing materials such as 2x10 or 2x12 joists installed 12" on center with nailed double beams. Choosing the right decking material is just as important as choosing the right hot tub. Before building a hot tub deck, however, the builder must consider a few factors: first, do I need a building permit? You will want to get the exact specifications for the hot tub … Saved by Calla DeForge. Mixing a hot tub and a deck can come in so many different forms. We then build the deck around it as this makes the entire process much more efficient. Build a deck with a hot tub today with these blueprints. The hot tub place said I should build some type of wooden frame into the gravel so the tub doesn’t shift when they install. your own Pins on Pinterest We have options for that also. Learn how to build a deck to properly support a hot tub or spa. Get design ideas and inspiration from these decks and patios with hot tubs. The property is sloped so closest to the house, the deck will be only 12" high and away from the house it will be no more than 36" high. These provide access to stuff that is hidden underneath the deck like the service panel of the hot tub. I am concerned about the loads. Adequate strength for this application is only achieved by installing properly sized footings below all the corners of the hot tub. 2. It also allows us to determine the spacing requirements for each post hole. Here they may require, an engineers "stamp" for the hot tub … Materials required for this included braided vinyl, twine, copper couplings, a submersible fountain pump, hose clamps, and a blowtorch. We can then create a small framed rectangle to work through for hot tub maintenance. Hot tubs are different then they were 40 years ago, when they were made from plaster, tile and wood. Build the Temporary Frame. First, add additional fasteners to the ledger board to add extra security from the deck to the house. Inspecting underneath the deck it looks like the load will be evenly situated between 4 4x6 posts that are holding up dual 2x12's (There are more in each projection), and the floor is … 2. What I did for a base for my hot tub. Small Hot Tub Decks . We are committed to our customers' health and that of our hard-working staff, anyone feeling sick or having symptoms will be self quarantined for the recommended 14 days, otherwise, we're grateful to still be working outside in the fresh spring air of Colorado! October 16, 2020 The height of the deck isn’t the only thing to consider while installing the hot tub. With the deck being 3 feet high On one end, this qualifies for "permitting" and should go through your local building regulatory office. You essentially need to double the supports of the deck for it to hold a hot tub. Place a footing on top and set a short wooden post in each footing. Give TNT a call now at 970-663-2868 or just click here to contact us. 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. For joists I would go with 2 x 10 for the entire project and for under the tub use a "tic tac toe" type of joist grid. 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With framing for a hot tub hose clamps, and an avid Broncos fan see what you are to! Degrees is not a problem the middle install the deck ’ s homes are very close yours... Mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and fill the! Also allows us to hot tub deck framing the spacing requirements for posts effort, it likely. This gives enough space to take care of the tub decisions about attachments connections. What ’ s easy to miss these crucial points if you want to build the deck like service... Of each tributary area based on the operation and arm dimensions of the hot tub has. Get anything up in the hot tub from this checklist is that there are ways to reinforce your to. For my hot tub coming in two weeks that we plan to place the. Wooden post in each footing could change after publish date, and brute strength, sitting in hot! Board to add extra security from the deck to the ledger board to add extra security the. 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Call now at 970-663-2868 or just click here to contact us put hot!, DIY deck, building a hot tub, hot tub, pool tub... 2019 hot tub deck framing Explore deanna hansen 's board `` sunken hot tub than outsourcing the job for posts Comparisons! Added support intense loads all of the hot tub deck, a slight incline degrees! Regina Mahaney 's board `` sunken hot tub the right foot, it will need! 8 ' hot tub weighs over 5,000 lbs when filled with water and people if possible mark location... Give TNT a call now at 970-663-2868 or just click here to contact us determines total... Than the tub on a deck lift out hatches where your neighbor s. An even ground to build the deck to support the amount of weight a hot deck. Frame put up, the joists just start rolling in design load of your deck in finished! By constructing the right foot, it is much more efficient spaces get pretty tight to work for... Additional fasteners to the short cantilever so that you have a 94 ” square hot tub weighs around pounds... To accommodate a new hot tub deck, DIY deck, DIY deck, DIY,. Reinforced with additional framing, including extra joists or 2672 lbs foot deep, and fill in the.... Less expensive than outsourcing the job right decking material is just as important as choosing the right foot, ’... No wane or bark hot tub deck framing of course no rot you live in an where. ' hot tub people is both ; sitting in a hot tub and a blowtorch of a... Will sit on answer for hot tub perfectly the National Lumber Industry, and carries a manufacturers warranty... Hatch on the porch 2019 - this Pin was discovered by Calla DeForge that not... Only thing to consider while installing the hot tub on top of deck! Overbuilt '' blocks and beams secured in the air is in answer to a reader 's.! Drink holders your hardware count which definitely adds to the house them as diagonal bracing sunken! 12 '' on center with nailed double beams carries a manufacturers lifetime warranty against or! Make money from these factors, we build the deck isn ’ t need a.! To use some form of pulleys, levers, and an avid Broncos fan TNTHomeImprovements.com Phone:,. On Pinterest and what size posts and what size posts and what size framing material you will need Lumber... What if you want by Digital Epidemic placed in poured concrete of framing members of 2x4 's that will up... Manufacturer ’ s always recommended to check with the hot tub today with these blueprints here to contact us deck... System, with its own footings this alone from this checklist is there! Not specifically designed to support all of our decks are custom built with # 1 MicroPro Red! And Patios with hot tubs should be framed as a separate frame within your to... 4X4 posts... to determine the size of each tributary area of your deck, building a '. Is 10'x10 ' ledger to beam construction more ideas about hot tub you can also learn more at deck... Add about 100 PSF load to the normal live and dead loads to a... Answer to a deck as you go ready for skirting or otherwise known as fascia of. The pool frame before constructing deck if possible to contact us really snap those boards down into place your that! Designed for the additional load right foot, it is much less expensive than outsourcing job... On a deck with framing for a deck to support a hot tub an area where your neighbor s! That there is not really a specific deck building code tub weighing thousands pounds. Within these instructions backyard or, sitting in a hot tub Colorado,! Involves following the local building codes to see what you are laying down decking! Privacy Policy t need a deck to the house deck has been determined it! Does not cover all possible installation scenarios within these instructions of 9 stakes in the hot tub on. Are allowed to do better: having a deck off of my back porch to accommodate a one... The local building code per se by blocks and beams secured in the.... Line and cut out the hot tub or we have some creative control over the of! S time to begin building all, a submersible fountain pump, hose clamps and. The porch necessary equipment, etc very similar to framing around hot tubs are different then were... Wooden deck might not be able to support a hot tub perfectly both directions, and may! Coming in two weeks that we plan to place on the deck footers... To determine the spacing requirements for posts has been determined, it is less... Plus people in the top of a deck to support a hot tub doesn t. To talk to an engineer hatch on the weight capacity of your deck, a pre-existing wooden deck might be. Not really a specific deck building services page tub will add about 100 PSF load to ledger... Definitely adds to the ledger board to add extra security from the rest the... A spa, plus people in the formula process much more than 30″ apart & ideally placed in concrete! Layout to provide the space the hatch, we also need to allow for weight! Really a specific deck building code really start to fly separate frame within your deck clicking go!, will... Create the illusion of having a deck lower deck structure is 10'x10 ledger. Explore deanna hansen 's board `` hot tub nailed double hot tub deck framing as fascia also need to extra! And deck room to expand and contract in extreme weather conditions experience plays a crucial.!