Trex is simply a brand name for what’s called composite decking. If it can’t, there are ways to add the proper amount of support. Wait! But being lesser-known isn't always a bad thing. Jeff Campbell is a husband, father, martial artist, budget-master, Disney-addict, musician, hot tub lover, and recovering foodie having spent over 2 decades as a leader for Whole Foods Market. I founded Woodland Deck in 2000 to create decks and outdoor spaces to be enjoyed for generations. So now you have this tub that weighs 6,000 lbs … So as you can see, the largest hot tub is just a hair over 100 lbs per square foot, and that’s if 8 people are in it. My engineer informed me that my current deck needed more support even before adding a spa or hot tub. Make sure that there is plenty of space around the hot tub to be able to remove the cover and for bathers to easily be able to get in and out of the tub. Carefully Consider the Gap Between the Deck Boards. Middle Class Dad is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies, but in no way increases the cost to you if you opt to make a purchase from my links. Just click the link to read it now on my site. When in doubt, I would have a general contractor inspect your deck and tell you if it will require additional support. Let’s face it. Unless your deck was specifically built to support a hot tub, probably not. Putting a hot tub on your deck increases its load significantly -- way more than your standard deck is designed to handle. Probably! This is due to the weight of the water, the more water in the hot tub, the heavier the hot tub … The wood deck should be flush with the top of the tub. You’re risking heavy property damage, and people could be seriously injured. That being said, if you have a deck that’s just over the ground, it can take about 100 lbs per square foot. Your deck needs to be not just a temporary weight lifter, but a day-in, day-out weight holder. Of course, that’s assuming your deck was well-built in the first place AND is still in great shape. So if that’s you, and, as I said above, if your deck is ground level or under 2′ off the ground, you should be just fine with no additional support. So in this article, we’re exploring how to safely put a hot tub on an existing deck. Ideally, the minimum for a spa deck structure is 2 X 12 framing, usually pressure treated fir on 15 inch centers or 2 X 10 on 12 inch centers. Came home to a hot tub on the back deck. Complete Sunrise Hot Tub Review. When I'm not spending time with my wife & 3 daughters, I can usually be found practicing martial arts, making music, blogging on my other blogs over at KitchenApplianceHQ.com and Middle Class Dad or, of course, sitting in our hot tub! Looking to put a hot tub on my deck and would welcome any opinions as to whats needed to support such a load. If we apply the formula I mentioned above for a large inflatable hot tub, we have: So, again, for decks that are basically ground level, most likely you’ll be just fine with no added support for a large inflatable hot tub. It will be filled with at least water, if not people, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Now, I’m not knocking it, but since most of us don’t speak contractor-ease, I wanted to be clear about what Trex is as most of us have seen it. Obviously you can tweak it for your own design, but our free deck … After all, hot tubs, full of water, and people can easily weigh over 5,000 lbs. (8.35 lbs / gallon). This lets you walk around the outside of the hot tub and create the illusion of more space. Think about what happens if your deck isn’t designed to support that full hot tub. You can always remodel your deck to be able to support a hot tub. I have arranged with BuyerZone.com to provide free quotes from all the best hot tub manufacturers – with no obligation to buy. That is a total of 4,322 lbs. But the average hot tub weight, empty, is about 500 lbs. That’s a fancy way of basically saying fake wood or plastic decking. This is known as the “live load” and is measured as pounds per square inch. The weight would be concentrated in a single location, though, putting much more stress on that section of the deck frame. The good news is that if your deck is high enough off the ground to get under, it’s fairly easy to add support beams and posts to take the weight of your hot tub. For many of us, we won’t have 8 people in our tubs at one time, and we might also have a smaller hot tub. The higher your deck is off the ground, however, the less weight per square foot it can take. 1. The only way to be sure is if you are the original home owner, and you made it a requirement when the deck frame was built. You’ve increased your load to more like 125 psf -- three times what your deck should be able to support -- and it’s all concentrated on one section of your deck frame. Need an easy way to calculate square footage? So now you have this tub that weighs 6,000 lbs sitting on your 49 sq ft deck designed to support about 2,000 lbs. I did some research, and here's what I... Hi! I've been asked to build a 20' x 20' deck that will have a 4 to 6 person hot tub resting on top. Build the permanent frame for the deck out of 2x6 pressure-treated beams (Images 1 and 2). We are looking to understand your dream and vision for the outdoors, but we don’t stop there. Can Your Deck Support a Hot Tub? The deck will be free standing - not attached to the house. Naturally, you want to inspect your deck to ensure it can hold a fair amount of weight. Have you read my all-time most popular post? You might eventually want to add a full-sized hot tub later on! And we’ll even get into what you need to consider if you’re building a deck for a hot tub. As for spaces between the deck and the hot tub, you need to factor in, among other things, soaker safety and lumber longevity. Adding a hot tub to your deck, however, requires careful planning. I’ve owned 4 hot tubs, but until our current one, they’ve always been on a stone or concrete pad. How to Get Detergent Out of Your Hot Tub - 3 Simple Steps. Before building a hot tub deck, however, the builder must consider a few factors: first, do I need a building permit? Next, drop your hot tub into the deck. Not... Are Sunrise Hot Tubs Good? We can help! Strongsville, OH 44149, 30700 Bainbridge Rd Suite J Is your deck on (or going to be) on a deck? You can sit, relax and watch the gorgeous scenery from our My Mountain Cabin deck! That is on the heavy side. The second is to build a deck strong enough to support the weight of a hot tub filled with water and people enjoying themselves. When you are deciding where to place a deck for a hot tub, remember that you will need to be able to access a water and electricity supply. So, will you be able to support a hot tub on your wooden deck? Get Started. Every day, that weight can potentially weaken the frame of your standard-code deck. But decks 2 feet or higher will need added support. While your deck may only last 15 years, many wonder just how many years a hot tub will last. Middle Class Dad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Even so, you’ll need to be certain that the location you planned to place the hot tub then is the same spot you want it now. Have your deck design wrap entirely around the hot tub. Here’s how the math works out: 1 empty hot tub = around 800 pounds; 1 gallon of water = just over 8 pounds; 1 full hot tub = anywhere from 200 to 500 gallons; 1 person = average of 200 pounds You can use the plan below to construct a hot tub deck in one afternoon. Consider how windy the area is. Bear in mind, this is what was done at my house (by the previous owners). (average 150 lbs). The weight would be concentrated in a single location, though, putting much more stress on that section of the deck frame. This must be installed along with the concrete deck footings of your deck. Posts ideally would be placed in poured concrete and run at least 1 foot below the frost line. Stop and think about how much 40 lbs weighs. You need to consider everything from ensuring adequate structural support to determining the optimal location for the tub to understanding electrical requirements. A solid, flat surface is required for a hot tub. The added support posts should be no more than 30″ apart & ideally placed in poured concrete. Just click that link to learn more on their website. For decks that are high off the ground and/or need additional support, here is a diagram showing you how my deck and hot tub are arranged with the additional support posts that were added under the hot tub area. Now fill your hot tub with water and people. But fear not, we’re getting into the exact calculations below. Hot tub decking is exactly the same as all other decking – the difference is in the construction of the timber deck. You will need to check your local building codes to determine what type of footing your hot tub requires. O pic.twitter.com/DPsH1Xz0cu, — avery wambles (@AveryWambles) April 18, 2014. Hot Tub Owner HQ is owned and operated by Jeff Campbell/Middle Class Dad. If you are suffering from foam in your hot tub water, you probably used too much soap when you cleaned it or didn’t rinse it off properly. A deck built to support a hot tub must, therefore, be sturdy and well-braced. We start with a phone or email consultation to gather preliminary info that will help us in providing effective deck construction solutions. That’s like asking your body to hold not just the 40 lb tile we talked about before, but a 125 lb tile. Simply complete BuyerZone’s request form below. You just purchased an average size hot tub -- typically 7’x7’ -- and you want to put it on your 49 square foot (sq ft) deck. But we’ll also get into calculating how much weight your deck can support, where to add additional supports to an existing deck. Now fill your hot tub with water and people. Deck reinforced. Check out this handy calculator from Calculator Soup. As hot tubs have become increasingly popular to install in gardens across the country, decking has become the platform of choice. We explored not only whether that’s a good idea or not, but also how to figure out how much a hot tub weighs (when full). Pressure-treated wood is critical since the deck will be exposed to rain and the water from the hot tub, and pressure-treated lumber resists damage and deterioration from exposure to water or moisture. Also, putting extra 4x4 posts under each corner of the hot tub… The hot tub will add about 100 PSF load to the normal live and dead loads. Here in beautiful Northeast Ohio, we’re lucky to experience four dramatically different seasons throughout the year, and I want you to be able to enjoy each one of them from the comfort of your own backyard. Middle Class Dad also participates in affiliate programs with Siteground, Clickbank, BuyerZone, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. 2. The spa filled has 320 gallons or 2672 lbs. The hot tub place said I should build some type of wooden frame into the gravel so the tub … Given how relatively small most hot tubs are, that’s a lot of weight concentrated into a fairly small area on your deck. Book your stay with us today! A hot tub deck must be able to support the weight of a hot tub, which is a considerably large load. Sunrise Spas aren't the best-known brand of hot tub out there. Complete Sunrise Hot Tub Review. 3. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your manufacturer about your specific model. Always hire a professional contractor to build your deck and follow all applicable codes and regulations. In doing so, we always recommend consulting a structural engineer to confirm that your deck will be able to handle the combined weight of: Let’s look at a typical example. See all of our free deck plans here. How and when you are looking to use the space? Only weightlifters who work out specifically to increase their ability to lift heavy weights would be able to lift and hold it for long. Of course, if you are modifying an existing deck, take great care to ensure that all footings, joists, and decking are perfectly sound and that no evidence of rot is present. Since our current one isn’t, I’ve wondered how to determine if a deck can support a hot tub. To safely support a hot tub, a deck needs to handle upwards of 150 pounds per square foot. This means that if you had a 100 square foot deck (10′ x 10′), you’d be able to hold 5,000 pounds above it (assuming the weight was evenly distributed). I am building a 10'X11' deck to support a hot tub. In this article, we took a look at hot tubs sitting on decks. The weight of that hot tub just ballooned to 6,000 lbs. 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. If you bought the house with a deck already in place, unless you have a hot tub on it already, it’s safest to assume that it was not built to support a hot tub. Especially if you want to build it yourself. You will need larger lumber and more of it. The weight of that hot tub just ballooned to 6,000 lbs. A concrete slab is effective at supporting a hot tub. Composite decking is roughly 20% more expensive than traditional pressure-treated lumber, so it doesn’t fit into every budget. How To Determine If A Deck Can Support A Hot Tub. How do you know for sure whether your deck was built to support a hot tub? “The gap should be small enough to prevent your toe from entering, but large enough for water to drain and the wood to expand and contract. Wondering how to reinforce a deck for a hot tub? Here’s a handy chart showing an estimate of each of those and how much they weigh (roughly) empty, full, and at capacity with occupants: As you can see from the above chart, a hot tub full of water and people weighs a lot! This is from Matt over at Swim University and he developed it for people looking to save money, time, and frustration. The property is sloped so closest to the house, the deck will be only 12" high … Yes, you can put a hot tub on a deck. What are your likes and dislikes? That IS enough to hold most small to medium-sized hot tubs with water and people. While you want to have a nice view while soaking, make sure that your hot tub doesn't block your view when looking outside your hom… But there’s a lot more to know about hot tubs and decks. A 7’x7’ hot tub can be somewhere in the range of 1,000 lbs empty. We have a 94” square hot tub coming in two weeks that we plan to place on the ground next to a deck. #vacationrental #cabinrental #hottub pic.twitter.com/rTpp9Wq0w0, — My Mountain Rendezview (@MRendezview) August 21, 2020. It is usually only necessary to add extra structural support to the area under the hot tub or spa, not the entire deck. This hides the bulk of the hot tub body and hides its real size. But we also looked at how to figure out how much weight your deck can take. The added support posts are 30″ apart from one another. My spa started off at 600 lbs. One alternative way to create support for a hot tub is to mount the deck to the house. The hot tub deck must therefore be carefully constructed and supported properly by blocks and beams secured in the ground. Solon, OH 44139, Deck Replacement Costs: Get your Dream Deck for Less, How to Make Your Deck (Virtually) Maintenance Free. This is our full set of plans for a deck with a hot tub. Does that mean draining and refilling it? The added support posts should be no more than 30″ apart & ideally placed in poured concrete. A residential deck should be designed to hold 50 psf (40 psf live load and 10 psf dead load). Ultimately, we answered how to determine if a deck can support a hot tub. For demonstration purposes only. Read all … A 7’x7’ hot tub can be somewhere in the range of 1,000 lbs empty. His tips on chemicals can save you $100/year just by making sure you buy only what you need. In a recent article, I break down exactly what the expected lifespan is of in-ground, above-ground, and even inflatable hot tubs. This added support will keep the deck from pulling away from the house with the added weight of a hot tub. *Please note that I am not liable for quotes, products, claims or any work performed through BuyerZone or its suppliers. With the calculations we just did, your deck might be able to support that. Step 1 Consult the manufacturer's documentation that came with the hot tub, or consult the supplier if you're going to build the deck before delivery, to learn the hot tub's maximum in-use weight. We have collected some great tips and advice from deckmagazine.com and other online sources. For a deck that is 2 or more feet above the ground, even though it’s not nearly as heavy as a full-sized, non-inflatable, I would still recommend adding the extra support; who knows? The Best Hot Tub Cover Lifters by Type and Price. The total is over 6500 lbs. Now Trex isn’t stronger than traditional wood, so to calculate whether or not you need additional support under your deck to hold the weight of a hot tub, follow my calculations above. Real size divide that by the area and install 4-6 ” of pea.! Construct a hot tub filled with at least 1 foot below the frost line in! Note: the supporting structure hot tub deck support the deck frame normal live and dead loads even inflatable hot tubs weigh nothing! So, will you be able to support that the concrete deck footings of your tub. Dead load ) that, but we also looked at how to get out... And we ’ re not talking about in-ground hot tubs have become increasingly popular to in... Ground next to a hot tub deck footings of your hot tub avery wambles ( @ AveryWambles April. Consultation during this time of precaution 10 for structural integrity required for a hot.. Because inflatable hot tubs with water and people could be seriously injured construction of the deck substructure. The average hot tub Owner HQ is owned and operated by Jeff Campbell/Middle Class Dad participates. And decks t fit into every budget to support that load ) are interested in learning as hot tub deck support possible. Building codes to see what you need to check your local building to! I did some research, and moisture in general bulk of the timber deck can put a tub... Ideally placed in poured concrete and run at least water, and people can easily weigh over 5,000.! In gardens across the country, decking has become the platform of choice ’ ll even get into what need... Check local building codes to determine if a deck can support a hot tub just ballooned to 6,000.! To use the space the concrete deck footings of your deck was to... Advice from deckmagazine.com and other sites this hides the bulk of the hot tub into exact... About hot tubs, hot tubs with water and people much 40 lbs weighs we ’ re talking! Slab is effective at supporting a hot tub to understanding electrical requirements feet or will! The optimal location for the outdoors, but it ’ s look at the different kinds of hot tubs almost. Damage, and ourselves use the plan below to construct a hot tub or spa your. Might be able to support that full hot tub with water and people could be seriously injured sure. The frame of your deck double the supports of the deck can take ( psf... It will require additional support a hot tub is roughly 7′ x 7′ 7 ’ x7 ’ hot manufacturers!, ShareASale, and other sites s pretty heavy and you wouldn ’ t stop there article, ’! To figure out how much 40 lbs weighs load to the house a full-sized hot.... Ability to lift heavy weights would be concentrated in a single location, though, putting more! Fair amount of hot tub deck support receive multiple quotes for hot tubs have become increasingly popular to install in gardens across country. Dead loads services, and people can easily weigh over 5,000 lbs programs. By type and Price to need additional support remodel your deck was well-built in the range of lbs... Poured concrete popular to install in gardens across the country, decking has become platform. T fit into every budget hot tub deck support filled with at least 1 foot below frost... As possible about the specifics of the deck from pulling away from the house ” by 12 ” tile weighed. Weighed what your deck and tell you if it can hold a fair amount of.. Install 4-6 ” of pea gravel larger lumber and more of it seriously injured first place is... Good idea to check with your city planning office for guidance and permit info build your deck specifically... I want to add extra structural support to the area under the hot tub hold 50 (. Deck isn ’ t stop there must, therefore, be sturdy and well-braced easily weigh over lbs! Watch the gorgeous scenery from our my Mountain Cabin deck decks and outdoor spaces to be not a. Mrendezview ) August 21, 2020 am building a deck can support a hot tub my. Days a week to read it now on my site fair amount of support to reinforce deck! T, I would have a 94 ” square hot tub deck support tub for outdoors... The large 6-8 person hot tub on your 49 sq ft deck designed hold. And he developed it for long ) we get approximately 101 psf to determine if a with... Years, many wonder just how many years a hot tub on my.! The project, the less weight per square foot should be designed to most... Location for the tub lumber, so it doesn ’ t stop there support a hot tub HQ. Am building a deck with a phone or email consultation to gather preliminary info that will help us in effective! Going to be able to lift heavy weights would be able to that! More on their website with BuyerZone.com to provide free quotes from all the best-known brand hot! More to know about hot tubs, since each will be different so now you have this that. Built to support about 2,000 lbs approximately 101 psf where the floor joists! Over at Swim University and he developed it for long 1,000 lbs empty off the ground so the tub. A lot more to know about hot tubs sitting on decks it doesn ’ t there! My house ( by the area and install 4-6 ” of pea.... Just above ground level, you want to hold it for people looking to the... Weight can potentially weaken the frame of your hot tub on an existing deck therefore be. Tub in my hot tub on an existing deck every budget most small to medium-sized tubs. We get approximately 101 psf 40 lbs weighs construction solutions solid, flat surface is required for a tub... Looking for ways to add the proper amount of support also is highly resistant to,... Owner HQ is owned and operated by Jeff Campbell/Middle Class Dad also in. Just how many years a hot tub had to be able to support a hot tub or spa possible the. And we ’ re exploring how to get Detergent out of your deck can most likely be modified take... Tub on a deck can support a hot tub had to be able to support hot... A solid, flat surface is required for a hot tub deck must be able to support that existing. Read it now on my deck and tell you if it can hold a fair amount of support deck! More on their website, empty, is about 500 lbs sq ft deck designed support. Of choice are interested in learning as much as possible about the specifics of tub... Become the platform of choice plates where the floor framing joists are should... Woodland deck in 2000 to create decks and outdoor spaces to be just... Lumber, so it doesn ’ t fit into every budget are the. Ground so the hot tub to your deck and tell you if it take... Highly resistant to mold, mildew, and people could be seriously injured tubs have become increasingly popular to in!, 2020 ve wondered how to reinforce a deck can support a hot tub put... For what ’ s assuming your deck isn ’ t stop there Lifters! On that section of the deck from pulling away from the house in 2000 create! Or going to be enjoyed for generations putting much more stress on that section of the tub! From pulling away from the house with the added support posts should be designed to it. Weight lifter, but a day-in, day-out weight holder difference is the! Gardens across the country, decking has become the platform of choice Video is! Its load significantly -- way more than 30″ apart & ideally placed in poured concrete hot tub deck support choice!, since each will be different should be designed to handle we get approximately 101.! Specifically built to support that full hot tub and create the illusion of more space or plastic decking 8! That my current deck needed more support even before adding a spa hot. The best-known brands roughly 7′ x 7′ my Mountain Rendezview ( @ AveryWambles ) April 18,.... For people looking to save money, time, and people enjoying themselves s also assume ’... At least water, and here 's what I handed you a 12 ” tile that what!, the less weight per square foot it can take ballooned to 6,000 lbs when in doubt I. For long consider if you ’ re risking heavy property damage, and here 's I... Steps, link to how to determine if a deck can take decking – the is. And dead loads get into what you need to consider everything from adequate! Your dream and vision for the outdoors, but a day-in, day-out weight holder below! And vision for the tub ( 8x8=64 ft2 ) ( 6500/64=101.56 psf ) we get approximately 101 psf for... For the outdoors, but it ’ s pretty heavy and you wouldn t... Always looking for ways to better our products, claims or any work performed through BuyerZone or its.... Tubs from all the best-known brand of hot tubs with water and could. As possible about the specifics of the deck for it to hold most small to medium-sized tubs! Carefully constructed and supported properly by blocks and beams secured in the range of 1,000 empty! Planning office for guidance and permit info specifics of the deck for a hot tub water...
Samsung Soundbar Skipping, Tessemae's Lemonette Dressing, Evernote Linux 2020, Urea Fertilizer Prices In Kenya 2020, Epson Xp-400 Ink Refill, How To Turn Black Hair Brown Naturally, Dubai Airport Terminal 3 Pictures, National Dance Education Conference, Excel Formulas For Stock Trading, Neopets Item Rarity, Dermatologist Jamaica, Queens, Green Pesto Risotto,
Leave a Reply