Where’s The Best Place to Install Your Hot Tub?

Decided to buy a spa pool but don’t know where to put it? Read on.

You’re probably reading this because you’ve decided to buy a hot tub—welcome to the club. You’ve got hours and hours of relaxing, leisurely soaks to look forward to. But before you get to that, you’ve got to have the tub installed. 

Hot tubs are fairly versatile in that they can be installed outdoors or inside the home, they can be attached or detached and can vary in size. What this means is that you have to consider a lot of factors carefully when deciding where to place the tub. The location could play a role in the hot tub’s lifespan and how often it is used.

The main things to think about when picking a spot are: 

• Whether it has a strong foundation
• Whether it can be accessed easily 
• Whether it’s in a location you will enjoy spending time in

Where are hot tubs usually installed?

There’s no single answer to this question. Locations are chosen based on each customer’s requirements and circumstances. Some might choose to make the most of their backyard and install the spa pool there; some might choose their deck, others might choose an unused space inside. Those looking to make the most of the outdoors tend to go with backyard installations, while customers who want easy access all-year-round prefer indoor tubs.

The available area and size of the hot tub also factor into the equation. With the constant innovation in spa pool designs, there’s options for all spaces and budgets.

What should I keep in mind?

1. Layout of the space

This is the first step. Understand the space you’re looking to fill. Whether it’s outdoors or indoors, ensure there is enough room for delivery and installation of the hot tub. It might be a lot bigger than you think, because it’s not just the tub itself, but also for the supporting items like pipes. For instance, choosing your backyard ensures you have enough space for proper drainage and easy access for maintenance.

2. Structural strength

Hot tubs can be heavy items—our products can range from 600kg to 1200kg once they are filled with water. That’s not even counting the weight of its occupants. 

All hot tubs need solid flat bases as foundations. That could be a concrete platform, a deck or patio, or even the lower floors of a house, such as the basement. Concrete slabs should be about four to six inches thick. If you’re going to install the spa on an existing or a built structure, please make sure you speak to a structural engineer or contractor to check the strength of the base and to ensure it can take the weight. 

3. Permission

Depending on where you live and what sort of modifications you need to make to create space for your hot tub, you might have to obtain planning permits or consents from neighbours or the local council. The tub may need to be fenced off somehow, or you may need a building permit for a new structure to house it.

4. Privacy

While installing hot tubs in the backyard is a great idea, make sure you protect the privacy of the occupants. No one wants prying eyes while you’re in your bathers. There are many ways to create private spaces outdoors, such as tall bamboo hedges, wood panels or trellises covered with creepers.

But if modifying the outdoor space is a challenge, consider a room in the house for the hot tub. Privacy is guaranteed.

5. Access

Make sure you consider how you can easily access your hot tub. Don’t select inconvenient locations—like the far end of the backyard, which would require sprints across the garden in the cold weather, or the basement, which, though it might be the only space you have, has a flight of steep, rickety stairs leading to it. 

Indoor locations are great for access every single day, while outdoor locations let you enjoy nature. They both come with conditions. Indoor locations need to allow for filling and draining the hot tub and might get messy with spillage. Environmental factors could become a problem outside—like strong UV rays that may damage the tub’s synthetic materials gradually. 

6. Ambience

You can’t have a hot tub without the right ambience to enjoy it. Staring at a concrete wall in a room or worrying about whether the neighbours can see you takes the fun out of a good soak. Make sure whatever location you choose allows you to create an environment that compliments the hot tub. That could be room for plants to create a calming oasis or a framework for fairy lights or a seating space nearby so friends who don’t want to get wet can still hang out with you. 

We hope this helps you in deciding where to install your hot tub. Just like all real estate, your enjoyment depends on location, location, location.