You may have seen articles or video clips on YouTube about hot tub building. However, I can almost bet you that none of those articles/clips detail the important things you really need to know to have a successful DIY hot tub building project. I’ve reviewed dozens and dozens of those posts and with only one or two exceptions they all leave out way to many of the really important details and critical steps you need to know about and utilize to build a successful DIY hot tub project. Here at Custom Built Spas we’ve been providing DIY hot tub information and help for over 17 years now, we know what we are doing!
Like any project, the planning stage is essential for getting a good handle on the steps you will be undertaking. When you try to view a DIY hot tub building project as a whole picture, it may be a little daunting or overwhelming if you are a beginner DIYer. However, in the planning stage, if you take the time to break the process down to a series of simple common sense steps, your project won’t be overwhelming and will go a lot smoother.
In my series of spa and hot tub building books this is exactly the approach I take. Same with the video I provide, it’s all broken down to a series of common sense steps. Now, I understand that when you do something for the first time, there is likely a degree of nervousness involved and that’s normal. This is exactly why I offer my customers personal one on one coaching throughout their projects. That nervousness greatly dissipates when you have someone working with you during your hot tub building project.
So, what I’m going to cover here in this blog is the initial set of the 5 first basic common sense steps needed to be addressed when you are considering your own DIY hot tub building project. You can get the rest of the information in my books available here.
4 Hot Tub Building Basics to Address
First: Depending in where you live, (city, county, rural etc…) Check with your local building officials to see what they are going require from you before you actually start your hot tub building project. This information will help smooth the project as you move forward. The requirements vary widely in our country, so you what to know ahead of time what’s required where you live.
Second: Make sure you have enough space for your project. If you plan to do any digging for your hot tub building project, have the ground area checked to make sure no utilities, (gas, water, electric etc…) are buried in the area you plan to excavate. Call 811 at least a few days before you start any digging project. Whether you are planning to do it yourself or hire a professional, smart digging means being prepared. It’s the law in almost all areas of the continental US.
Third: Footings and a concrete base are generally the first steps of actual construction for this project. Code requirements for these also vary around the country. Ground conditions and ground frost levels may dictate many of the requirements you may be asked to follow, again this depends on where you live.
Forth: Are you going to have sufficient access for a concrete delivery truck to get close enough to where the concrete is going to be poured? In addition to access, is where the likely hood of any property damage from the weight of the concrete delivery trucks access path across your yard? If the trucks weight and/or access path become an issue, you have a couple of alternate choices to get the job done. One option would be to have the concrete “pumped” in. This will save your yard but can get a little expensive. A second option, offload the concrete from the truck to a skid steer or small bucket loader, minimal if any yard damage for this method. A third option, wheelbarrow it in from the mixer truck. Labor intensive for sure but it can be done. Use only double wheel, wheelbarrows, (less likely hood of dumping one over). Last option and least appealing, hand mix 80lb bags of concrete mix, or mix them in a small portable mixer.
Fifth: Regardless of what the method of concrete delivery and or mixing is used, the end results will still be the same. Make sure that the weather forecast will favorable the day you plan to pour the concrete slab. Rain will not be your friend that day. And make sure you have sufficient tools for you and anyone that will be helping you. When concrete arrives, its go time! There is no time to be running around looking for tools etc… that should have already been on site.
Preparing the base for the concrete pour
After a few days of curing your concrete pad will be ready for the next steps of your hot tub building project. The good news here is that for most projects, you’re now past one of the hardest parts. And remember, you can get all the rest of the information you need in my books available here.
In my next blog, we will cover some of the next hot tub building steps.
Gene Trumbull
Custom Built Spas
