Can an Inflatable Hot Tub go on Decking?

Are you thinking about buying an inflatable hot tub for your back yard, but do you have decking rather than a patio or terrace? You are probably wondering whether it’s possible to put an inflatable hot tub on decking or whether it would be too heavy and require a stronger base. I decided to do some research to find out more.

So, can an inflatable hot tub go on decking? An inflatable hot tub can, in theory, go on decking. However, the decking must be strong enough to support the weight of the tub, the water, and the users themselves – a combined weight of up to 3500 lbs. Most decking will need some reinforcement so it’s important to check whether yours will be able to accommodate it.

Although it’s possible that your decking could be strong enough to accommodate an inflatable hot tub and its users, it may be easier and safer to place yours on a concrete surface, a patio, or even on the grass. This would ensure that there is sufficient support. Nevertheless, if you’re determined to place yours on your deck, there are some things you can do to make sure that it will be sufficiently reinforced.

How Do I Know if my Decking is Strong Enough for an inflatable hot tub?

If you want your inflatable hot tub to go on your deck, you need to know several things to calculate whether it will be strong enough. These include:

• The tub’s weight
• How many gallons of water it holds
• How many people will be using the tub

Decking that has been constructed at ground level or just above is generally capable of supporting around 50lbs per square foot. However, if yours is higher than this, it will probably need extra support and reinforcement.

An inflatable hot tub will barely weigh anything when it’s empty, but when the water is added it will weigh around 2200lbs for a 2-3 person tub or around 2,700lbs for a 4-6 person model. When the tub contains bathers, it will weigh around 2700lbs for a small tub or around 3700lbs for a larger one. This adds up to a significant amount of weight being concentrated onto a relatively small part of the decking.

If you want a more accurate indication then this comparison table on the Lay Z Spa website will give you a good idea of the water capacity of your inflatable hot tub. Once you know the capacity then, bearing mind that a litre of water weighs 2.205lbs, you can work out the total weight of the hot tub. You then need to add to this the weight of the bathers to calculate the total combined weight.

If your deck is already at ground level or only just above it, you’ll probably find that it will be supportive enough to take this amount of weight. But, if yours has posts holding it up and it’s 2 feet above the ground or higher, you’ll either need to find a different site for your inflatable spa or you’ll need to add extra support posts and beams to take the additional weight.

There is also the additional possible problem of your deck sinking. You might have it reinforced so that is strong enough to support the hot tub but, if the posts are not footed properly, there is the possibility of the whole lot sinking into the ground.

If you want to look in much more detail at the load-bearing capacities of decking and how to properly reinforce a deck then have a look at this post here.

How Could I Modify My Decking To Support an Inflatable Hot Tub?

If your decking is high off the ground, you can still use it to support your inflatable hot tub as long as you add the necessary support posts that are required to bear the extra weight.

You can reinforce your deck by doing the following:

• Adding joists – a carpenter can add extra joists to the ones that are already under your decking. Ensure that they’re installed at the precise spot where you’re going to be putting the tub. A clamp should be placed between the new and existing joints to fasten them together and improve the weight distribution.
• Installing ledger board fasteners – depending on the amount of weight your decking will need to support, you can install up to 4 ledger board fasteners.
• Install joist hangers – this will also add more support between the hoists and ledge, however, you’ll need these to be installed on the house side of your decking.
• Use high-quality steel nails – when the modified blocks are nailed back into the decking, ensure that high-quality steel nails are used for maximum strength.

Can I Construct a New Deck to Support an Inflatable Hot Tub?

If you don’t have an existing deck but are considering building one and want it to support the weight of your inflatable hot tub, you can do this in several ways. The easiest is to install your new decking at ground level, but if this isn’t possible, you could fit a raised deck and sink the hot tub into it so that it is placed on a concrete or grass base beneath the deck, with the top at the same level as the decking.

While this may look attractive, though, it may not be the best option for an inflatable hot tub since it is designed to be portable and to be deflated during the colder months of the year. Once deflated you will be left with a hot tub shaped hole in your decking which may look a bit odd.

Another option is to use composite rather than wood decking. Composite decking is more expensive than regular lumber decking and it still needs some extra support to make it suitable for use with your inflatable hot tub, however, it won’t rot, crack or splinter which makes it an ideal choice for use with a spa.

Also, it’s very resistant to moisture and mildew, which is an added bonus. While traditional wood decking can last around 15 years, composite decking can last for an extra ten years and this makes it better value for money.

Are There Any Extra Considerations When Placing an Inflatable Hot Tub on Decking?

When you’re putting an inflatable hot tub on your decking, there are a few extra considerations to keep in mind for a private, relaxing and safe spa experience:

• Distance from your home – the distance between your home and your hot tub determines how pleasant your spa experience is going to be. If the weather changes, you may want to be able to quickly rush back indoors.
• Slip resistance – a wet deck can be very slippery and, therefore, dangerous to walk on. Ensure that rubber mats are placed around the tub so you can be protected from slipping and accidents when getting into and out of the spa.
• Positioning – if your inflatable hot tub and the decking are close to your home, you’ll enjoy better privacy. If it can be position close to the walls, you’ll not only enjoy a more private bathing experience, you’ll also be better protected from cold breezes while in the water.
• Accessibility – make sure the tub is positioned in such a spot to allow you to get into and out of it easily. You should also make sure there is sufficient space to put the cover on easily and to remove it when you want to get in. Also, ensure that you’ve positioned your tub is such a way that you can easily access the controls, water heater, and pump.

If I Don’t Put My Hot Tub on Decking, What Should I Put it On?

If you’ve decided not to put your inflatable hot tub on decking, there are some other safe options to choose from instead. These include:

• Grass – inflatable hot tubs can be placed on grass, but you’ll need to put a groundsheet down first to protect against puncture and to insulate the tub properly. There is a pool groundsheet here on Amazon which would be perfect.
• Concrete – if you have a concrete patio, your inflatable hot tub can be placed on it so long as it’s level and thick enough to support the tub’s weight.
• Synthetic tub pads – if you’re putting your inflatable hot tub outdoors or indoors, synthetic tub pads are a convenient choice. Lightweight and relatively affordable, they can be set up easily and quickly, require minimal maintenance, and can easily be dismantled should the need arise.

You could also choose to put your inflatable hot tub indoors, should you prefer, although again, you’ll need to ensure that there is a suitable surface on which to put it.

So, all in all the best idea, if at all possible is to avoid putting your inflatable hot tub on a deck. The chances are that your current deck will not be strong enough and, to make it stronger you will need to do a significant amount of strengthening or employ a joiner to do it for you.

Obviously this is going to be an additional expense and might make the low budget appeal of an inflatable hot tub much less enticing!

By far the best plan is to put the inflatable hot tub on another more solid surface and enjoy it there. You can always deflate it and move it if it starts to get in the way.

Related Questions

What are the potential issues with putting an inflatable hot tub on decking, apart from excess weight? Even without weight being taken into account, it’s important to remember that if you’re planning to put an inflatable hot tub on your decking you’ll need to ensure that it is close enough to a power outlet to plug it in and that there is sufficient ventilation and drainage space. You’ll also need to make sure there is enough room surrounding the tub for splashout.

How much space on my decking will an inflatable hot tub take? When thinking about the size of an inflatable hot tub, it’s important to remember that you’ll need to allow space surrounding it too, to allow you to enter and exit the water. A clearance area of 2 feet should be left all around the tub, and even more if possible.

This allows you to easily put the cover on and to clean the tub when necessary. Some small inflatable hot tubs measure around 71” in diameter. Therefore, if you add 2 feet on around its diameter, you’ll require a space of 10 feet to comfortably fit your tub. It’s possible to push the tub against a wall or into the corner.

However, when full it’ll be heavy, so it would need to be drained before being moved if you needed to access the side of the tub that is against the wall. This needs to be borne in mind before setting up and filling the tub.