Where to Put Your Hot Tub?
There are four major considerations on where to put a hot tub in a residential application.
1/ Hot Tub Shapes/Sizes
You need to find an ideal location with adequate space. The hot tub you decide on purchasing will dictate where you are able to place it and sometimes your hot tub choices will be limited by your location choices.
Aside from size, other concerns when picking the location in your yard might be ease of access for bathers, privacy from neighbours, views, delivery access and accessibility for a service/repair technician.
One way to help you visualize the hot tub as you look around for the ideal spot is to take chalk, rope, or cardboard and create the desired size and shape you are looking for and place it in those locations to make sure they are adequate.
2/ Hot Tub Foundation and Configuration
The second consideration is site preparation/foundations. If the foundation is not perfectly level and stable when your new hot tub is filled with water it could twist and distort the tub.
Any subsequent damage or performance issues will not be covered under warranty
Below are some foundation options...
1/ Hot Tub Shapes/Sizes
You need to find an ideal location with adequate space. The hot tub you decide on purchasing will dictate where you are able to place it and sometimes your hot tub choices will be limited by your location choices.
Aside from size, other concerns when picking the location in your yard might be ease of access for bathers, privacy from neighbours, views, delivery access and accessibility for a service/repair technician.
One way to help you visualize the hot tub as you look around for the ideal spot is to take chalk, rope, or cardboard and create the desired size and shape you are looking for and place it in those locations to make sure they are adequate.
2/ Hot Tub Foundation and Configuration
The second consideration is site preparation/foundations. If the foundation is not perfectly level and stable when your new hot tub is filled with water it could twist and distort the tub.
Any subsequent damage or performance issues will not be covered under warranty
Below are some foundation options...
Concrete Pad/SlabA concrete pad or existing patio is the most common type of foundation prepared for a hot tub. Pouring the slab a minimum 4” thick and rebar reinforcing is recommended to prevent the slab from cracking over time.
Also allowing proper curing time is important to prevent settling and sinking. Cure times for concrete can vary based on type of concrete used, time of the year (weather and temperature), and size/thickness of slab. How to lay a concrete pad (video) |
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Crushed Gravel PadCrushed gravel or stone can also be a cost effective and fast way to create a hot tub foundation. The recommended thickness of the crushed gravel bed is 4 or more inches. It is also important to make sure this bed is compacted so as to avoid settling after the spa is placed on the bed.
Furthermore, using treated 4’ x 4’ timbers and screwing them together to build a square frame is a good way to keep the loose gravel in place when the hot tub is set. |
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Paving BlocksThese are another cost effective option when creating a foundation and can be very decorative and aesthetically pleasing as there are a multitude of shapes, sizes, and stone types to utilize. It is important to level out the area ahead of time with sand or crushed gravel before setting the pavers to avoid sinkholes or settling. The recommended paver thickness is at least 2 inches.
How to lay your paving (video) |
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Wooden Raised Deck Or Wooden PadDecking is also a very common foundation for a hot tub since there is a great deal of flexibility with design to meet anyone’s taste and budget. It is important to consult a licensed contractor or structural engineer when placing a hot tub on an elevated deck due to the weight which can be anything up to 2 tonnes.
Use screws and not nails when building your deck (if the tub is set into the deck) just in case you need to gain access at a later date. If placing your tub on top of your deck, the beauty of the tub can be better appreciated. How to build a Wooden pad (video) For our recommended contact for building a hot tub pad, deck, pergola or any other landscaping needs in the Auckland area, click here |
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3/ Hot Tub Service Access
Another important consideration when doing a deck application is service/maintenance access. Most hot tubs are self contained units and have at least one service panel that needs to be accessible to get to equipment (controls, pumps, heater, etc…). This can be difficult if one decides to sink the spa or lower it into a deck part-way or flush with the surface of the deck to achieve a more custom or built-in look.
This can be done properly by creating access hatches or trap doors in the decking surface all the way around the tub so that a service technician can easily remove that particular section of decking and climb down to access the equipment.
4/ Hot Tub Electrical Requirements And Permits
Consult an electrician to ensure you have a large enough electrical panel to support adding a hot tub. Our hot tubs typically require a 15amp (3kw heater) power cable. This heater requires an electrician to install it as it won't fit into an average power socket. Our larger 6kw heaters require a 25amp power cable. This heater also requires an electrician to hard-wire the connection.
In either case there must be a dedicated line and circuit which means the location for the hot tub can be dependent on how far it is from your home’s main electrical panel.
The final consideration for a hot tub is permits and approvals. In most areas, hot tubs are considered portable structures that are not permanently attached to the home, therefore they don’t usually require a permit or approval from your city’s building and planning departments but our advice is that it is best to check with your local council just to make sure.
