You can sit, relax and watch the gorgeous scenery from our My Mountain Cabin deck! 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 If 7 people sit in my hot tub that is an additional 1050 lbs. 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). Because inflatable hot tubs weigh almost nothing when empty, they are quite a bit lighter than a permanent hot tub. This is our full set of plans for a deck with a hot tub. 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. Given how relatively small most hot tubs are, that’s a lot of weight concentrated into a fairly small area on your deck. Simply complete BuyerZone’s request form below. Further, it also is highly resistant to mold, mildew, and moisture in general. You essentially need to double the supports of the deck for it to hold a hot tub. Obviously you can tweak it for your own design, but our free deck … Have you read my all-time most popular post? A hot tub deck must be able to support the weight of a hot tub, which is a considerably large load. The weight would be concentrated in a single location, though, putting much more stress on that section of the deck frame. But decks 2 feet or higher will need added support. You might eventually want to add a full-sized hot tub later on! 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. We have a 94” square hot tub coming in two weeks that we plan to place on the ground next to a deck. Check out this handy calculator from Calculator Soup. Now fill your hot tub with water and people. #vacationrental #cabinrental #hottub pic.twitter.com/rTpp9Wq0w0, — My Mountain Rendezview (@MRendezview) August 21, 2020. I have arranged with BuyerZone.com to provide free quotes from all the best hot tub manufacturers – with no obligation to buy. But the surrounding deck was fairly high off the ground so the hot tub had to be supported by an elevated substructure. The software made a breeze of this little hot tub conundrum and gave a number of options for beam sizes, post sizes, joist sizes and footings. This is known as the “live load” and is measured as pounds per square inch. A concrete slab is effective at supporting a hot tub. This hides the bulk of the hot tub body and hides its real size. The hot tub place said I should build some type of wooden frame into the gravel so the tub … Just click that link to learn more on their website. Before building a hot tub deck, however, the builder must consider a few factors: first, do I need a building permit? Wondering how to reinforce a deck for a hot tub? Especially if you want to build it yourself. Yes, you can put a hot tub on a deck. 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. 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. Trex is simply a brand name for what’s called composite decking. Can Your Deck Support a Hot Tub? 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. 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. If you have a deck that is high off the ground, regardless of the type of hot tub, you will need some type of support. Not sure what the scope is? 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. To safely support a hot tub, a deck needs to handle upwards of 150 pounds per square foot. It is usually only necessary to add extra structural support to the area under the hot tub or spa, not the entire deck. With the calculations we just did, your deck might be able to support that. Next, drop your hot tub into the deck. You need to consider everything from ensuring adequate structural support to determining the optimal location for the tub to understanding electrical requirements. But there’s a lot more to know about hot tubs and decks. Carefully Consider the Gap Between the Deck Boards. We can help! Not... Are Sunrise Hot Tubs Good? Using the example in my chart towards the top, we see that even a large inflatable hot tub will likely be about 2,000 lbs lighter when full of water and people than the equivalent regular hot tub. You can use the plan below to construct a hot tub deck in one afternoon. How to Get Detergent Out of Your Hot Tub - 3 Simple Steps. 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). How and when you are looking to use the space? The spa filled has 320 gallons or 2672 lbs. 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. That’s like asking your body to hold not just the 40 lb tile we talked about before, but a 125 lb tile. 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. The higher your deck is off the ground, however, the less weight per square foot it can take. 2. That IS enough to hold most small to medium-sized hot tubs with water and people. A 7’x7’ hot tub can be somewhere in the range of 1,000 lbs empty. The added support posts are 30″ apart from one another. Let’s break it down, using the large 6-8 person hot tub in my chart above as an example. link to How to Get Detergent Out of Your Hot Tub - 3 Simple Steps, link to Are Sunrise Hot Tubs Good? Have your deck design wrap entirely around the hot tub. We are looking to understand your dream and vision for the outdoors, but we don’t stop there. Just click the link to read it now on my site. If you’ve been using a bathtub on the deck and want a hot tub on a deck, you’re in the right place. Now fill your hot tub with water and people. You will need to check your local building codes to determine what type of footing your hot tub requires. Naturally, you want to inspect your deck to ensure it can hold a fair amount of weight. The property is sloped so closest to the house, the deck will be only 12" high … Check out our mountain hot tub! Complete Sunrise Hot Tub Review. The added support posts should be no more than 30″ apart & ideally placed in poured concrete. Read all … Middle Class Dad also participates in affiliate programs with Siteground, Clickbank, BuyerZone, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Other than ensuring that your deck will have proper support there are a few other factors that you should consider which can influence your hot tub enjoyment. While your deck may only last 15 years, many wonder just how many years a hot tub will last. Wait! Now multiply that 40 lbs psf live load by 49 sq ft of deck and you get a total of 1,960 lbs -- that’s what the average deck built to code can theoretically support. A residential deck should be designed to hold 50 psf (40 psf live load and 10 psf dead load). O pic.twitter.com/DPsH1Xz0cu, — avery wambles (@AveryWambles) April 18, 2014. I did some research, and here's what I... Hi! You could hold that, but it’s pretty heavy and you wouldn’t want to hold it for long. The weight of that hot tub just ballooned to 6,000 lbs. You’re risking heavy property damage, and people could be seriously injured. In this article, we took a look at hot tubs sitting on decks. Often, a corner location is preferred. That’s why I always recommend consulting a structural engineer before placing a hot tub on your deck. Balancing the water, cleaning filters, dealing with rashes, and trying to figure out which chemicals to buy and add can make you feel more like a chemist than someone who just wants to relax after a long hard day! That is a total of 4,322 lbs. 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. You will need larger lumber and more of it. Sunrise Spas aren't the best-known brand of hot tub out there. In a recent article, I break down exactly what the expected lifespan is of in-ground, above-ground, and even inflatable hot tubs. If it can’t, there are ways to add the proper amount of support. So are Sunrise hot tubs good? That being said, if you have a deck that’s just over the ground, it can take about 100 lbs per square foot. Save time and receive multiple quotes for hot tubs from all the best-known brands! 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! The deck will be free standing - not attached to the house. Composite decking is roughly 20% more expensive than traditional pressure-treated lumber, so it doesn’t fit into every budget. 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. What I handed you a 12” by 12” tile that weighed what your deck can support -- 40 lbd psf live load? The second is to build a deck strong enough to support the weight of a hot tub filled with water and people enjoying themselves. Bear in mind, this is what was done at my house (by the previous owners). 3. Consider how windy the area is. 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. Hot Tub Owner HQ is owned and operated by Jeff Campbell/Middle Class Dad. That is on the heavy side. Mixing a deck and a hot tub can truly create some amazing places to hang out and soak but what does it take for a deck to support a hot tub? Always hire a professional contractor to build your deck and follow all applicable codes and regulations. (8.35 lbs / gallon). My engineer informed me that my current deck needed more support even before adding a spa or hot tub. Note: The supporting structure of the deck can most likely be modified to take the additional weight of the hot tub or spa. A deck built to support a hot tub must, therefore, be sturdy and well-braced. When in doubt, I would have a general contractor inspect your deck and tell you if it will require additional support. The weight of that hot tub just ballooned to 6,000 lbs. Framing a deck for hot tub installation diy plans hot tub deck support supports building your deck for a hot tub decks how to determine if a deck can support hot tub do it framing a deck for hot tub installation diy plans platform deck with material list step by instructions hot. But the average hot tub weight, empty, is about 500 lbs. I founded Woodland Deck in 2000 to create decks and outdoor spaces to be enjoyed for generations. Complete Sunrise Hot Tub Review. As for spaces between the deck and the hot tub, you need to factor in, among other things, soaker safety and lumber longevity. While a traditional wood deck might last up to 15 years, Trex and most brands of composite wood will likely last 25 years or more and most come with a 25-year warranty. But fear not, we’re getting into the exact calculations below. 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. I even let you know some key tips on maximizing that lifespan too, including the one thing sure to shorten your lifespan by years. For comparison, a 7-person hot tub is roughly 7′ x 7′. The hot tub deck must therefore be carefully constructed and supported properly by blocks and beams secured in the ground. 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. As a deck-building company, we are always looking for ways to better our products, services, and ourselves. Came home to a hot tub on the back deck. If your deck was designed to meet current codes, it would have been built to withstand a 40 lbs per square foot (psf) live load. But decks 2 feet or higher will need added support. But we’ll also get into calculating how much weight your deck can support, where to add additional supports to an existing deck. Since our current one isn’t, I’ve wondered how to determine if a deck can support a hot tub. So in this article, we’re exploring how to safely put a hot tub on an existing deck. 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. The added support posts should be no more than 30″ apart & ideally placed in poured concrete. This is due to the weight of the water, the more water in the hot tub, the heavier the hot tub … A solid, flat surface is required for a hot tub. The hot tub will add about 100 PSF load to the normal live and dead loads. I appreciate your info. The wood deck should be flush with the top of the tub. 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. Probably! The advantage of Trex comes from the fact that it, like all brands of composite decking, won’t splinter, crack, or rot. I am building a 10'X11' deck to support a hot tub. I’ve owned 4 hot tubs, but until our current one, they’ve always been on a stone or concrete pad. Stop and think about how much 40 lbs weighs. (average 150 lbs). We are interested in learning as much as possible about the specifics of the project. Get Started. So just know that a normal deck raised 2 or more feet off the ground, which might have support posts every 6 feet, won’t be enough to hold the weight of a hot tub. 2. 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. With the calculations we just did, your deck might be able to support that. The Best Hot Tub Cover Lifters by Type and Price. Of course, that’s assuming your deck was well-built in the first place AND is still in great shape. 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. Build the permanent frame for the deck out of 2x6 pressure-treated beams (Images 1 and 2). 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. We have collected some great tips and advice from deckmagazine.com and other online sources. This added support will keep the deck from pulling away from the house with the added weight of a hot tub. For demonstration purposes only. I want to make sure that this deck has plenty of support. The answer for hot tub people is both; sitting in a hot tub while out on your deck. Where it meets into the house, run additional posts from the decking to the ground, flush with the house, on both corners of where the hot tub will sit. 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. We are offering simple online/remote consultation during this time of precaution. Unless your deck was specifically built to support a hot tub, probably not. So, will you be able to support a hot tub on your wooden deck? This lets you walk around the outside of the hot tub and create the illusion of more space. Does that mean draining and refilling it? Let’s also assume we’re NOT talking about in-ground hot tubs. We are passionate about life outside and believe that enjoying God’s creation is a rich gift to us. The weight would be concentrated in a single location, though, putting much more stress on that section of the deck frame. “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. But we also looked at how to figure out how much weight your deck can take. As hot tubs have become increasingly popular to install in gardens across the country, decking has become the platform of choice. We start with a phone or email consultation to gather preliminary info that will help us in providing effective deck construction solutions. You can always remodel your deck to be able to support a hot tub. The end plates where the floor framing joists are attached should be double 2 x 12 or triple 2 x 10 for structural integrity. 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. *Please note that I am not liable for quotes, products, claims or any work performed through BuyerZone or its suppliers. I've been asked to build a 20' x 20' deck that will have a 4 to 6 person hot tub resting on top. 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. 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? 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. See all of our free deck plans here. Looking to put a hot tub on my deck and would welcome any opinions as to whats needed to support such a load. What are your likes and dislikes? My spa started off at 600 lbs. Think about what happens if your deck isn’t designed to support that full hot tub. Ultimately, we answered how to determine if a deck can support a hot tub. Hot tubs and spas require more support per square foot than an empty deck, or one with only benches and other furniture. But being lesser-known isn't always a bad thing. Deck reinforced. Book your stay with us today! His tips on chemicals can save you $100/year just by making sure you buy only what you need. 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… You should consult a general contractor and check with your city planning office for guidance and permit info. Lay out a perfect 8 foot square at the location you plan to build the deck. Strongsville, OH 44149, 30700 Bainbridge Rd Suite J I'm thinking of using 2x12 joists 12" on center. Solon, OH 44139, Deck Replacement Costs: Get your Dream Deck for Less, How to Make Your Deck (Virtually) Maintenance Free. 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. To do can most likely be modified to take the additional weight of a hot tub deck 2000! 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