Deck Ideas: Add a Hot Tub

Enhancing your exterior always adds value to your home. Whether it be gardens, patios, or porches, it’s never a bad idea to invest some money in your backyard. However, the one snag that comes with landscape investment is the fact that it’s a seasonal asset: you only get to enjoy the great outdoors during the warmer months. And if you live in the Northeast or Midwest, those warmer months are sometimes few and far between. Therefore, many people wisely limit their exterior expenditures, never blowing their budget on elaborate designs. However, one outdoor remodel to consider is a deck hot tub. With this particular add-on, you can enjoy your backyard year-round while creating value and living space to the landscape.

Hot Tub Additions: Exterior Outcasts

Unfortunately spas often sit by themselves, off to the side of the yard, resting on a concrete slab or wooden platform. Though most people don’t complain about location when it comes to pool parties, letting a focal point go adrift can actually hurt the overall appearance of your exterior. Many people even erect a fence around their “floating” spas in order to hide the eyesore. Instead, why not embrace the thing and make it part of the landscape. Most homeowners try to install them right off the deck anyway so they seem adjoined, so plant one right in the decking itself and let it become the highlight of the patio instead of the ugly outcast of your yard.

Be Supportive

When investing in a deck hot tub, there a few considerations to keep in mind. First, are you building decks around the spa, or are you installing a new unit into a preexisting structure? If adding new construction, the tub is probably sitting on a concrete slab and you won’t have to worry about special modifications. But most people already have a deck, and so accommodating a new hot tub addition will require additional support in the frame. They’re heavy when empty but filled with water and people they can weigh several thousand pounds. So to avoid sagging, cracking, or other mishaps, always fortify the center of your decking with extra braces. Also, you’ll need other forms of support in your plans, including electrical service and plumbing. So hire a professional who has experience with these remodels and can properly calculate the project’s requirements.

Deck Hot Tub Enhancements

To make the most of the investment, any hot tub addition will need a little creative pre-planning. As you design the space, here are some ideas to consider beforehand:

Privacy: Install the top of the tub flush with the deck’s surface in order to hide it from the neighbor’s view. Also, privacy screens or raised seating around the spa helps to create a relaxing, secluded mood.

Built-in Seating: Built-in benches and planters can dress up any deck hot tub. Plus, it offers a place for guests to hang out whenever the spa gets full of bodies.

Lighting: Soft light always enhances the mood. Whether it’s a soft glow for a romantic getaway, or bright beams for a summer pool party, it’s always smart to illuminate the space. Also, plan to have low-level lights around the area so you can get to and from the spa safely while still enjoying the starry skies without a light bulb glaring in your eyes.

Keep It Safe

When it comes to water features you always want to take the proper safety measures. Here are a few precautions to mull over as you install your deck hot tub:

Hot Tub Enclosure: Building shelter helps to protect your spa from outdoor elements. Heavy rainfall can overflow the unit. High winds blow the water around. And sometimes the sun is just too hot for the occasion. So maybe build a hot tub enclosure, such as a gazebo or pergola, above your spa. Or install plexiglass around it to screen the wind without blocking the view (though this will require special supports as well).

Childproofing: If you have small children, it may be safer to elevate the spa in order to prevent accidental trips, spills, or plunges. Also, if you have teenagers, elevated units can be easily seen and monitored so you can keep an eye on it at all times.

Waterproofing: You always want to waterproof your decking against rain and snow, but it will now be even more vulnerable to water damage so make sure to keep up on the maintenance of the wood and treat it as often as possible.

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