Deck Specifications For Hot Tub
If the deck level is higher than the top of the hot tub or the deck is built on uneven ground the hot tub is placed on top of the deck.
Deck specifications for hot tub. Given how relatively small most hot tubs are that s a lot of weight concentrated into a fairly small area on your deck. The size of your hot tub will determine the length of the 4x4s that you mount beneath the deck. That being said it is generally understood that decks situated just a few feet above the ground can hold roughly 100 pounds per square foot. 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.
The larger the deck the larger the joists. However larger tubs may require something more substantial. We don t recommend dropping the tub so that it s flush with the deck though a couple of clients have opted for this. You will also need 4x4 lengths long enough to connect the bottom of the deck to the ground.
Check with local building code to determine spacing requirements for posts. It is also to speak with a renovation expert about the status of your deck before starting any projects on your own. If you re building a new deck the slab should be formed and poured at the same time as your concrete footings. You will always want to build a separate frame within your deck to support a hot tub.
Adjust the height of the hot tub deck. Make sure you have enough boards for two supports the same size as the the diameter of the hot tub. A flat level surface such as a concrete slab is the ideal location for a hot tub. As you can see from the above chart a hot tub full of water and people weighs a lot.
Choosing the right decking material is just as important as choosing the right hot tub. A hot tub can be installed on top of a deck flush with a deck s surface or somewhere in between. In typical deck construction with a ledger on one side of the joist and beam on the other the size of the joists is driven by the size of the deck and based on the general maximum spans mentioned above. Can a deck support a hot tub.
The area under the hot tub should be framed as a separate system with its own footings. For flat ground you will want four foundation cinder. Needless to say this is much more than a typical deck frame is designed to support. The rule of thumb.
Because stepping down into a slippery spa is unstable at best a handrail should be installed. A 3 1 2 to 4 inch slab is usually sufficient experts say. Designing a deck specifically for a hot tub requires a lot of forethought.