Build a Hot Tub Platform
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Template:NointroimgBuilding a hot tub platform is the first step to installing a jacuzzi system in your backyard. Although this requires quite a bit of effort, it is much less expensive than outsourcing the job to a professional company. You can also pick your own materials to ensure the high quality of the job.
Contents
Steps
- Decide where you want to place the platform. If you plan to place the hot tub in a location that was previously lawn, you have two ways to do this.
- The first is to take an 8 foot (2.4 meters) by 8 foot (2.4 meters) section of lawn out and dig down past the sod to undisturbed soil. Then fill the excavation with gravel and level.
- The second is to build a deck strong enough to support the weight of a hot tub filled with water and people enjoying themselves. You can use the plan below to construct a hot tub deck in one afternoon.
- Lay out a perfect 8 foot square at the location you plan to build the deck. Pound stakes in the corners and then measure the diagonals. They should be the same, about 11' 3.5"
- Wrap a string around the corner stakes and make two diagonal strings to locate the center. Pound a stake at the center location.
- Pound stakes at the center of each side (4' from the corner stake). Now you have a cross. Measure {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} from the center of the cross and pound a stake at these four locations.
- Now find the last four stakes by measuring 32" from two of your last four stakes as shown in the photo to the right. Repeat this for each corner. Now you should have 9 stakes inside your 8' square. These 9 locations are where your pier footings will be placed.
- Dig a 15" by 15" square hole at each of the inside nine stakes. The hole should be about a foot deep. The bottom of the hole should be on undisturbed soil. You can use the grass to fill in bad spots elsewhere on the lawn.
- Fill the bottom {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of the hole with sand. You can purchase play sand at most home centers.
- Flatten the sand with a square end shovel or a piece of plywood. Try to make it as level as possible. Make a 15" by 15" template to lay on the sand and check for level in each direction.
- Place the footing on top of the sand with the straps aligned with the direction of the beams.
- Wiggle the block until it is level in both directions. Note that the spirit level shown in the picture is lying on its side for clarity.
- Repeat this process with each hole and footing, making sure that the rows are aligned. You can lay a 4" by 4" post down the middle of the straps to check alignment.
- Tamp excavated soil into the holes around the footings compacting the ground so the footing can't move. Add enough soil so the ground slopes away from the footing to prevent puddles.
- You should now have 9 footings in a 64" square in the middle of an 8' staked off square. You are now ready to set the posts. Before you set the posts create (3) 4"x6" beams by nailing two 2"x6" 8' boards together. Nail the beams with 10 to 12 16d nails on each side.
- Set the center post first. The deck will be the post height plus 12 1/2". Determine the first post height. The second post will be the length that is level with the first post. Repeat with the remaining posts checking level from the same center post. Don't nail the footing straps at this time.
- Place the "Post to Beam" ties on top of each post and nail through the holes provided. This is more easily done on a sawhorse. Do one at a time so you don't mix them up. Mark the beam 16" from the end and place it over the outside posts.
- Do the same with the other outside beam. Measure the diagonal from outside corner to outside corner. Adjust until they are exactly the same. Add the center beam aligned with the two outside beams. Tack one nail in each footing strap and one in the beam holder.
- Recruit others to fill in the nail pattern for each beam holder and footing straps with galvanized 8d nails.
- Toenail a 2" x 6" joist to each end of the beams. Check the diagonal to be sure it is square. When you are sure it is square, wrap a string around it and fill in with the remaining joists as shown in the plan above.
- Nail a rim joist to the ends of the joists and nail blocking down the center.
- Mark the outside joists every 6.25" from each side. You should meet in the middle at 50 inches (see plan). Nail deck boards at each end so that it covers the rim joist. Do both ends. Have your family members nail two 16d galvanized nails through deck board into joists at the 6.25" marks.
Tips
- Hot tubs weigh about 700 to 800 pounds dry and about 3700 pounds when filled. Placement of the hot tub should be planned well ahead of delivery. The location should be accessible to the 50 amp service most require. Other than that requirement, it should be located where it pleases you. If it will be located on a patio slab you will not need this article.
- If you live where the Earth freezes in winter, be sure to think about deeper footings!
- A cutoff saw works best for posts and blocking.
- Always check with your local building department before you start construction. Permits and inspections may be needed for your project. Failure to obtain permits may result in a delay/cancel of the sale of your home in the future.
- Have all your materials at the job site.
Warnings
- Make sure your measurements are precise when completing this project. If the pieces don't line up because of measurement errors, then the sturdiness of your platform will be seriously compromised.
- If you have an existing deck, cut the beam and joist spans in half to provide the additional support.
- Don't use any ordinary deck plans for a hot tub. They are designed to support 40 pound live load. These plans should support an 80 pound live load plus a 20 pound dead load per square feet.
- Be careful handling heavy equipment and materials during the construction process. You could seriously injure yourself.
