Build your own raised platform for a hot tub and add luxury, comfort and space to your family. Complete step-by-step instructions with photos show you how to create this easy DIY project. The finished product is protected from debris from below by the large waterproofing mats, so it’s safe for pets and children. You can build a raised platform for a hot tub in one day.
Raised platform hot tubs provide extra space for relaxing and kicking back. Whether you want to add one to your home or place on a deck, we can design and build your outdoor hot tub structure for maximized enjoyment. While this project does require Labor and Material (L&M), it’s relatively quick and easy with some basic tools like the saw, sander, drill and impact gun.
There is no better way to relax and unwind after a hard day than by stepping into your nice warm hot tub or spa. However, if you do not have a solid foundation on which to place your hot tub, then it may become unstable over time. That is why it is important that you build a platform for your hot tub or spa that will provide support for the weight of the appliance and ensure that it does not sink into the ground. You may also want to create a raised platform as this can help prevent any splashes from getting onto your floor when you enter or exit your hot tub. Here, we will show you how to build a raised platform for your hot tub in just seven easy steps:
The foundation is the most important part of your hot tub installation, as it will support the weight of your tub over a period of time.
The foundation is the most important part of your hot tub installation, as it will support the weight of your tub over a period of time. It’s also important to have a sturdy base because you don’t want your deck falling apart when the sun heats up and expands due to heat and humidity. If you build a foundation that isn’t strong enough, it could cause damage to other parts of your home like pipes or even your walls if they get too close.
The best way to build an elevated deck is with pressure treated lumber (also known as PT). This type has been treated with chemicals so they don’t rot or break down over time like regular wood would do in rainy areas with high humidity levels like ours here on Vancouver Island where we live near Victoria BC Canada where it rains often during springtime months before summer starts finally arrives again soon after Christmas holidays finish at year end holiday season celebrations begin again soon after New Years Day celebrations end each year.
After marking out the area for the platform, you should dig a trench approximately 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide around the perimeter.
After marking out the area for the platform, you should dig a trench approximately 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide around the perimeter. This will act as your base and keep the deck from sinking into soft soil. Fill it with gravel and compact it with a tamper or plate compactor.
Once this is done, lay down some weed barrier fabric over top of the gravel so that weeds won’t grow through later on. Then lay down two layers of 3/4 inch plywood over top of this. You can use pressure treated wood if desired but make sure to paint it well before placing any hot tub on top (if needed).
Next you need to fill in a layer of gravel, ensuring that this layer is around three to four inches thick.
Next you need to fill in a layer of gravel, ensuring that this layer is around three to four inches thick. This is a good material for your foundation because it prevents water from seeping into the ground and also acts as an easy-to-dig drainage system for when you’re cleaning out your hot tub’s filter regularly. You can purchase gravel at most hardware stores or concrete suppliers, where you’ll also find other useful materials like sand and cement bags that will come in handy later on.
You may want to consider buying a skimmer box as well—a plastic container with an attached strainer lid which sits above the filtration system—as they’re inexpensive and make filtering easier by keeping debris out of the skimmer basket (the part where all those leaves end up).
The next step is to set up a timber frame on top of your gravel foundation.
Now that your foundation is in place and level, it’s time to set up a timber frame on top of it. You want the frame to be strong enough to support the weight of your hot tub, but not so thick that it makes moving or adding accessories like shelves difficult.
The best way to ensure that your timber frame is strong enough is by making sure all four sides are square and level with each other. This may require some adjustment using shims or wood blocks before you nail down any boards at all (although if you’re using pressure-treated lumber like I did, this step can be skipped).
You need to cut four floor joists and two outer joists to fit your measurements, remembering to account for the thickness of the decking.
You need to cut four floor joists and two outer joists to fit your measurements, remembering to account for the thickness of the decking.
- Cut eight pieces of floor joist at 50mm x 50mm x 2400mm. These will run along the length of your hot tub (4 pieces). The remaining 4 pieces will be used for either side of your hot tub where you will have corners, so only measure out half way across and cut it in half from there.
- Cut four pieces at 50mm x 50mm x 1250mm or use a single piece that is 2400mm long. These pieces are going over your floor beams and will be attached inside them so they do not take away any support from underneath them when all put together! Make sure they are parallel with each other before cutting them because this is crucial for stability later on down the line if one starts leaning crookedly then everything else starts leaning crookedly too.
- Once these bits have been done then move onto cutting some more – these ones being easier as they’re just lengths rather than lengths plus widths like before! We need two Outer Joist Pieces measuring 2400mm long each time; these will sit flush against each other around each corner giving us strength where needed most (ie: near edges).
Now you can attach floor joists to beams using joist hangers and drill screws through the sides of beams into each joist.
Now you can attach floor joists to beams using joist hangers and drill screws through the sides of beams into each joist.
Make sure that the joists are level before attaching decking. Use a spirit level.
Attach each beam with two evenly spaced screws, one in each end of the beam. Use shorter screws for attaching joists to beams than for attaching them to posts and beams at other locations on your deck, because these are much stronger connections and will not need as many fasteners as other areas of your deck frame do.
Make sure that your foundation is sturdy before placing any hot tubs or spas onto it
- You should make sure that the foundation is sturdy before placing any hot tubs or spas onto it.
- The foundation will support the weight of your tub over a period of time, so it’s important to do this properly.
- After marking out the area for your platform, you should dig a trench approximately 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide around the perimeter.
Final words
If you’ve read through this article and feel that you can successfully follow the instructions, then it’s time to start making your raised platform.
