Hot Tub Deck – Make it a Reality with Structurally Speaking!
A hot tub deck is a growing outdoor living space trend among homeowners. This luxurious home improvement provides many benefits to homeowners. The benefits go far beyond the fact that hot tubs are relaxing and increase your home’s value.
You might be wondering if you can add a hot tub to an existing deck. Or, you might be considering adding one on your new deck plan. There are certainly many factors to consider when creating your very own hot tub deck.
The design ideas are virtually endless. There are so many fun ways to create a unique and custom space for hot tub decks.
At Structurally Speaking, our experienced team can skillfully guide you through the entire process of hot tub deck building… from design to completion. We break down the top four categories of hot tub benefits, dive into all the various variables to consider when building a hot tub deck, and provide some creative and fun ideas to inspire your future design in our blog below.
Ready to start today? Give us a call at 919-786-4825 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Structurally Speaking owner, Jim Brennan.
Benefits of a Hot Tub Deck
Hot tub decks are a hot topic of discussion in the home improvement and outdoor living industries. Both Travel + Leisure and HGTV recently covered them and provide numerous creative design ideas. If you are considering adding one to your house, then it is important to consider all the advantages they provide homeowners.
There are four categories of benefits that a hot tub deck offers homeowners. Those are:
- Homeownership benefits
- Physical health benefits
- Mental health benefits
- Social benefits
Homeownership Benefits
One of the biggest advantages to homeowners who choose to build a hot tub deck is that it increases their house’s value. How much value it adds depends on various factors, including the condition of the spa and deck. In some instances it can add to your home’s value up to 50% of the cost.
Another great benefit to homeowners is they create their own private luxurious backyard retreat right at home. They do not feel the need to go out and pamper themselves, because their home feels like a vacation destination.
Physical Health Benefits
There are many physical health benefits to soaking in a spa or hot tub. A few of the top ones include:
- Creates muscle relaxation
- Relieves joint pain, like arthritis
- Lowers blood pressure
- Burns calories
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Restores flexibility
- Alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms
- Lessens lower back pain
- Reduce headaches
Now that you know the numerous physical health benefits, it is important to know regular hot tub soaking also provides several mental health benefits.
Mental Health Benefits
People often focus on their physical health but tend to overlook their mental well-being. However, Psychology Today experts share this way of thought is not good for your overall health, as your mental health is equally, if not more, important. Luckily, regular soaking in a hot tub provides vital mental health benefits. A few of the top mental health benefits include:
- Decreases anxiety
- Reduces stress
- Enhances sleep
- Improves self-esteem and confidence
- Encourages socialization
That last bullet point hints to our final category of benefits, which are social benefits.
Social Benefits
Socialization is imperative not just to our society, but to every individual human. It is how we grow, learn, and connect. Therefore, it is crucial to know that a hot tub or spa deck provides multiple social benefits to homeowners.
First, it is a great space for bonding among couples. Quality time together drives a healthy relationship. Luckily, a hot tub deck provides a place where couples can relax and talk together in nature – without the distractions of electronics or the need to leave home.
Next, it is also the perfect outdoor living space for spending quality family time. Do not forget children love hot tubs just as much as adults! This pediatric site provides some great safety tips and guidelines for hot tubs and children.
Finally, it is the ultimate entertaining space. Your friends will be thrilled to come over to enjoy sipping wine, talking the night away, and relaxing in the hot tub together.
Now that you know the abundant benefits of a hot tub or spa deck, it is time to consider what types of decks are compatible for holding hot tubs.
Compatible Types of Decks for a Hot Tub
There are two aspects to consider when installing a hot tub on a deck.
- Do you already have a deck and want to modify it to include a hot tub?
- Are you designing a new deck that will include a hot tub?
Both have the potential to include a hot tub, but several factors will impact your finished deck. Those include:
- Deck design
- Size of deck
- Hot tub or spa design
- Weight of hot tub or spa
- Deck materials
- Location of hot tub or spa on deck
- View from deck
Deck Design
If you already have a deck, then the design will need to be modified to accommodate the hot tub. However, if you are building a new deck you can simply design the deck with the hot tub in mind.
The first question to consider is will the deck be fully recessed, partially recessed, or completely above ground? It might seem easier to step into a fully recessed hot tub or spa, but it can make it trickier to get in and out. A full recessed hot tub often leads to people falling in or slipping. Additionally, hot tubs require a lot of maintenance, so it is beneficial to homeowners to have a partially recessed or completely above ground hot tub or spa. Most professionals recommend that it be at least 17 to 24 inches above the decking.
Below are a few questions that we often ask in our free, no-obligation consultation regarding deck design.
- Is your deck, or your future deck, a short deck, raised deck, or multi-leveled deck? These design aspects play a vital role in if, and where, it is possible to place a hot tub on the deck.
- Do you have a pool already and are you adding on this hot tub deck as an additional outdoor space?
- Would you like the deck or patio door near the hot tub? This is a great idea if you plan to use the hot tub in the cooler months. It means there is less time between being out of the water and back into the heated indoors.
These are only some of the questions to consider when adding a hot tub to your existing or new backyard deck.
Size of Deck
The square foot size of a deck directly impacts if and where you can place a hot tub or spa on your deck. Hot tubs range in size. They can be smaller for two people only or larger to accommodate more than seven people. Everything in between is available so there are numerous options to choose from for homeowners. When discussing building a hot tub deck, the size of the deck is among one of the first things we will need to know.
Hot Tub or Spa Design
Like size, the design and shape of the hot tub or spa plays an instrumental role on where it can be placed on your existing or new deck. There might be limitations on exiting decks to what options of hot tubs will work on that deck. However, on a new deck you can design the deck to accommodate any desired hot tub design.
Weight of Hot Tub or Spa
There are three weight factors to consider when building a hot tub deck.
- Actual weight of hot tub or spa.
- Weight of water required to fill the hot tub or spa.
- Approximate weight of maximum people hot tub or spa fits.
Depending on the size and design of the hot tub or spa, its weight will vary from approximately 600 to 800 pounds. That is the average empty weight. It is important to factor in how much overall weight support is needed; therefore, the weight of the water and occupants must be factored into the equation.
One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds. Depending on the size, the range of how many gallons of water a hot tub holds varies. On average, a hot tub or spa holds anywhere from 300 to 675 gallons of water. This means the weight of water needed to fill a hot tub ranges from 2,502 to 5,629.5 pounds.
Do not forget about factoring in the weight of the people planning to use the hot tub. The average person weighs 181 pounds. Therefore, if you have a two-person hot tub then you need to factor in around 362 pounds. Whereas, if you have a seven-person hot tub then you need to factor in around 1,267 pounds.
When you consider all three of these variables the average loaded weight of a hot tub or spa usually ranges from approximately 3,000 pounds to 8,000 pounds. That is a lot of weight! This means it is imperative to have a deck made of materials that can support that weight.
Deck Materials
If you’re designing a new deck, then it is easier to initially select materials that you know will support the full hot tub or spa weight.
The most common deck materials are:
- Composite decking
- Pressure treated lumber
- Exotic hardwood
Each has pros and cons, especially when considering its use for a hot tub deck. A composite deck tends to be one of the most common choices for its easy maintenance, lower cost, and durability.
During our free, no-obligation consultation we will discuss what decking materials you want to consider and their effectiveness for hot tub decks.
Another material to consider is reinforcement materials. Deck contractors use these materials both for modifying a current deck or building a new deck to support the hot tub weight.
The top four ideas to reinforce your deck are:
- Fasteners – adding to the ledger board
- Extra joist hangers – installing those and securing with stainless steel deck screws
- Beams – adding extras beams at every corner
- Concrete slab – adding a reinforcement concrete slab
Location of Hot Tub or Spa on Deck
A deck design also plays a key role in the hot tub placement. First, it should be somewhere that has the structural support for the hot tub or spa. Additionally, it should not be somewhere that people would easily run into the hot tub or fall into the hot tub.
View from Deck
The placement of the hot tub or spa often depends upon the view from the deck. One question to ask yourself is, do you want it against the house for more shade and privacy? Or would you rather place it further out on the deck to capitalize on your view. If you have a secluded backyard that provides a beautiful nature scene among the trees, then you might want to place it where the view is unobstructed.
Hot Tub Deck Design Ideas
One of the best parts about designing a hot tub deck is the many additional add-ons or features available for consideration. Below are some of the most popular design ideas to ponder:
- Hooks/rack for towels or robes
- Pergola
- Privacy fence
- Lattice fencing with fabric or curtains
- Bench around hot tub
- Steps
- Outdoor furniture
- Gazebo
- Bar and seating around hot tub
- Plants to create backyard oasis
- Trellis
- Fire pit
- Screened-in area to keep bugs away
- Outdoor kitchen
- Lighting to create ambiance
- Handrail
- Outdoor home theater
We are happy to discuss these and any other hot tub deck design ideas you have in a free, no-obligation consultation.
Why Choose Structurally Speaking to Design and Build your Hot Tub Deck?
At Structurally Speaking, we are 100% focused on providing the best possible experience to our clients. From consultation to providing a stunning structure, we will be with you every single step of the way. We provide the following superior services to our clients:
- Streamlined project management process
- Excellent customer service
- Attention to detail in designing and building every project
- Professional and responsive communication
If you are interested in more than just building a hot tub deck, we also offer the following services listed below.
Build Your Dream Hot Tub Deck Today!
Do not wait any longer to make your dream a reality. Call us today at 919-786-4825 or complete our simple contact form to request a free, no-obligation consultation. We will discuss all aspects of your hot tub deck project during that call or meeting, provide expert advice on the project, and talk about pricing and budget factors. A hot tub deck does not have to be a mere fantasy, at Structurally Speaking we will make it a reality for you!