Hot Tub Deck

Concept was never to put the hot tub on the deck, via retrofitting a particular area of the deck. So I wanted to build the hot tub it's own platform... debating between having set REALLY low (relative to the deck) and pour a phat concrete slab... or try to elevate it (ai-i-i-i-i-i... elevating 5,000 lbs... I may be Frank Gehry artistically , but I'm no Webcor).

X-brace with a bolt in th' middle... helps a tremendous amount on any sway.... rumble-rumble-from-underneath-in-the-rubble...


Some triangulation as well... spread some weight, allow for movement (but not in the deck...)

To be honest... I'm not sure what strapping a 4x12 beam to the 6x6 post that anchors a lot of the deck. I guess should the hot tub take off to the side... it might drag the deck with it (thanks to the straps).


The finished tub deck. Note the 16-gauge strapping underneath. I'm not so worried about the weight pushing down (really I'm not), it's more about when/if 5,000 pounds of water should decide to rock back and forth. The different sized boards (all pressure-treated) was at random to mix strength, but still allow for gaps if/when water gets under the tub. With the gaps, water would sit, and eventually compromise the wood. I might even still drill a slew of small 1/4 inch holes a top the planks, to ensure complete drainage...much less stain/treat/prime the hell out of the wood. I'm still not convinced it's done... ugh.

Site of phase II, already begun... and probably done in parallel with topping the main part of deck... want the hot tub first, then adjust and build around, much less get the electricity out to it.