With spring officially in the air, you might be thinking a whole lot more about how nice it would be to enjoy an early morning or evening hot tub soak. A popular design solution a lot of new buyers inquire about with our team is sinking their Beachcomber Hot Tub into an existing deck or patio. By sinking your hot tub on a patio, you are able to enjoy an elevated view in your tub, while you won’t have your view outside of the tub blocked by the new addition. This sort of installation requires some simple yet very important preparation.
Tips for installing a hot tub into a deck or patio
Structure
The safest and most cost-effective way to do this kind of installation is to have the tub sit on a concrete pad on the ground. This requires the deck to be no higher than 4 feet off of the ground. If you want the tub on a deck more than a few feet above ground, things get a little more complicated. To start, you’ll have to hire a structural engineer to make sure the deck can support the weight of a filled hot tub. You’ll then have to consider how much of the tub you want exposed above the deck. This depends on preference, however you’ll need to have at least enough room exposed for the tub’s lip.
Power
When planning any hot tub installation, the first thing to consider is how it’s going to be powered. Hot tubs require a nearby source of electricity, and because water is involved, any electrical hookup for a tub must include a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
Safety
Although getting in and out of a hot tub can get more difficult as we get older, sinking the tub into your deck relieves a lot of the hassle. To create the safest possible installation, have the tub exposed about 12”-20” above the decking. This allows the tub to be very visible and prevents the potential danger of tripping. Also, be sure to always use a hot tub cover when young children are playing around the tub.
Distance
Sunken or not, for maximum enjoyment we also always recommend keeping your Beachcomber Hot Tub as close to your back door as you can. Ensure that you place it just steps away, so that you can enjoy it in any weather. Based on feedback from owners, within 10 feet is the distance you should aim for. This way, even in a deep-free, you’ll be able to step outside and right into the warm massaging waters.
Get tips from the experts:
We recommend consulting with a structural engineer prior to sinking or placing a hot tub on a hanging deck, to ensure you have the support required for the weight of it when it’s at capacity and fully-filled.
