If the conditions are right, these can make an effective base … I am putting a hot tub … You’ll use about 200 blocks, around 25 bags of mortar mix and some PVC piping. It will be worth your back and time to get it delivered. The DIY spa or hot tub is always going to have concrete base pad installed prior to the water vessel construction. Now the equipment package I supply can run between $3000 to $5000 depending on the extras and upgrades. Another obvious factor is available space and the last factor I look at but find is the most over looked factor is what is in the ground, if anything, under where you want to put your hot tub. It’s not my intention to give you the entire outline of the hot tub construction process in this blog, however, I do want to give you enough information so that you can evaluate whether building a hot tub on your property is feasible. However, you may want to consider an even larger pad to accommodate steps or a walkway around your hot tub. At least a 6” thick concrete slab using 3000lb or 3500lb concrete. Above you see the Gunite construction process. You may even want to prepare the surface with a compacted gravel base. One final consideration as to location is accessibility. The base of reinforced concrete should be about 4 inches thick and be able to withstand a weight of at least 115 pounds per square foot, especially for larger spas. So what is the beginning you ask, well fortunately Custom Built Spas has put together a comprehensive and highly detailed spa and hot tub building manual that will coach you through the very first step right up to the last step of this type of project, no details left out. Backfilling with Concrete. Everything you need to know is outlined in my series of easy to follow books and videos that cover a simple, step by step processes that I’ve developed and refined over the years. The preciseness at which concrete pads can be laid makes them very attractive bases for swim spas. A spa needs a solid level foundation. And years back pools were built the way we do hot tubs. You can do this! Once the concrete slab is cured, give it a couple of days, you’ll be ready to go on to the next step of your hot tub construction project, building the walls. Not only can you do it, you can build the entire hot tub yourself without anybody else’s help. The commercially built hot tub may not use the base we do because they may be using the “gunite” method of hot tub construction, not a DIY Hot Tub … All acceptable ways to do the base construction, but check building codes for your area. Need to find out how to pour a concrete slab? Make the slab 6" larger, all the way around, than the hot tub. Build a Solid Deck Base to Support The Hot Tub Weight When it comes to structural support, the safest bet is a solid base independent of the deck. Bet nobody told you that. Mine was 3500 PSI. Ideally, the concrete should be 6 inches thick and reinforced with rebar. DIY Hot Tub Construction may sound a little intimidating at first, and that’s understood. You will also need to connect a bond wire to the rebar grid that will connect to electrical grounding. Line the bottom of the excavated area with landscape cloth, cutting it to size with scissors. Just this week I started working with a new customer in upstate NY. This kind of base pad … | All Content Copyright 1999-2021 Custom Built Spas, https://www.custombuiltspas.com/get-instant-access/. However, your advantage will be that you’ll have me helping you all through your project until it’s done, and my personal coaching help is FREE! The biggest difference in DIY Hot Tub Construction methods and commercial built units is COST! I want to put a hot tub … Hi I need to make a base for a fairly large hot tub. For over 20 years now I’ve been helping people just like you, build their own hot tubs, spas and swimspa projects. Site selection is the first step I look at before any type of hot tub construction can be considered and here’s why. Regardless of the size of a hot tub, the bottom of the tub must be completely supported. I believe it's 4 inches thick. Then what are you waiting for, let’s do this! At least a 6” thick concrete slab using 3000lb or 3500lb concrete. A spa cannot be set on the grass! A good gravel base of at least 18" and make sure the landscaping around the pad pitches away from the pad to keep water from collecting around and under the concrete. You need 4 pieces of timber 150mm deep and 25mm thick to create a form, or mold, for the concrete. Look at any of my customer testimonials and you see that. First, site work and preparation. I’m only going cover spas and hot tubs in this blog even though pools can use our DIY Hot Tub Construction methods as well. One of the more popular hot tub bases is of course a concrete base. You can make them any size or depth you want so that you’re not sitting half out the water like what happens in most all portable spas unless you are a child. Fix a 50 x 50mm timber to the back of them, horizontally, to geive the boards strength and stop them bowing. and topped by 24"x24" concrete pavers with the tub on top. The three types of water vessel construction are, “gunite”, “poured concrete walls” and “block construction”, the construction type we use for all our DIY spas, hot tubs, swim spas, plunge pools etc… Here are example pictures of each. So, are you’re ready to let me help you build your project? The DIY spa or hot tub is always going to have concrete base pad installed prior to the water vessel construction. It might need a shallow bed of sand to fill the spaces and shapes on the bottom of the tub. Install stand offs, the orange thingies, (center picture-right), then ½” steel rebar, crisscrossed and spaced 12” apart. 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