Building a wood platform for a hot tub will make it more comfortable to sit and stand on, while also protecting the concrete pad underneath. Always use treated lumber in your hot tub deck’s construction, and make sure the vertical supports are spaced apart enough that they don’t interfere with the operation of the heater or bubbles.
A hot tub needs to be supported by a solid deck with sturdy, stable supports. If the water spills over the sides of the tub and onto the deck, you will have an unsteady structure that could cause your hot tub to tip. The first step in building a wood platform for a hot tub is to measure for lumber and determine what size deck you wish to build.
In this article we’ll show you step-by-step how to build a wood platform for your hot tub. We’ll cover everything from leveling the ground to final assembly of your spa.
Leveling the ground
First, you’ll want to check the ground level. If your hot tub is going in an area that isn’t level, you can dig out the low spots or put in fill dirt to make it level. Be sure to check for rocks and roots in the ground before digging out any dirt. You also need to be careful not to hit water lines if they’re buried under your site you don’t want them damaged.
Lay out the frame for the platform
Next, it’s time to lay out the frame for your platform. As a general rule, you’ll want to make sure that the frame is at least 12 inches above ground level and at least 2 feet wider than your hot tub. In addition, the total length of your platform should be no less than 12 feet long—ideally longer if possible. The more room you have in which to move around, work on and store tools and supplies during construction will help make things easier when building a wood platform for a hot tub becomes difficult or complicated (which it very well might).
Cut joists for support
You’ll need to cut the joists for support. You can do this with a circular saw, table saw, miter saw, jigsaw or handsaw. A router and saber saw (or recip) will also work if you want to make wider cuts on the ends of your beams.
Attach joists to the corner posts
Attach the joists to the corner posts using joist hangers. This will make sure that your deck is strong enough to support a hot tub. Use a level to make sure everything is level, and use the right size joist hanger for each side of the deck. You can also use 2×6 boards on top of the 2x4s if you want extra strength on those spots where people will be standing or sitting in their hot tubs.
Attach your joists with screws that are long enough to go through both pieces of wood, but not too long so they don’t stick out past either surface (you’ll need room for decks boards later). If you’re using pressure-treated lumber for this part (and I recommend doing so), drill pilot holes first so you don’t split any pieces during construction; then drive screws into each hole.
Place support beams
- Support beams are your main support for your hot tub. They must be strong and sturdy, made of wood, at least 3 inches thick and 2 feet apart from other support beams. You should also make sure that they are at least 2 feet away from your hot tub so there is space to walk around in case you need to access the water pump or filter.
- Once you have located where these beams need to go, use a pencil or marker to mark where each beam will sit on the ground (if it’s not already done). Remember that these marks are only placeholders until you have secured them into place with concrete blocks later in this process.
Attach deck boards to joists
Next, attach the deck boards to the joists using nails.
- With a nail gun: Set your nail gun to go as fast as possible, and squeeze it every couple of inches.
- With a hammer: Hammer each nail into place by hand, being careful not to pound through too far or split open the board with excessive force.
- With a level: Use this tool to ensure that all of the deck boards are sitting straight on top of the joists before attaching them with nails or screws; this will make sure everything looks nice when you’re done.
If you can build a wooden platform, you can install a hot tub
- Level the ground
- Lay out the frame
- Cut the joists
- Attach joists to corner posts
- Place support beams and attach deck boards
Final words
Whether it’s for a hot tub or any other project you have in mind, we hope this guide has been helpful in demonstrating how to build a wooden platform. It can be done with minimal tools and materials, and it will last for years if you use solid wood.
