Setting up a good base for your new outdoor inflatable hot tub is the first step to the relaxing and fun experience you’ll get from investing in it.
Despite the excitement, you should not let it get in the way of choosing the right base for your hot tub. Remember that the base can be your hot tub’s make or break factor. So you have to make sure that it is carefully thought out.
If you don’t know what base to put, this article will outline the best bases you can put in your new inflatable hot tub and what makes each of them beneficial. Make sure to stick to the end and pick a suitable choice.
Is A Hot Tub Base Important?
A short and simple answer is yes. The weight of your inflatable hot tub is the most important factor to consider. Even a very tiny hot tub will weigh hundreds of pounds.
One water gallon alone weighs 8.34 pounds. That works out to 3,336 kilograms of water weight in a typical 400-gallon hot tub, excluding the hot tub body.
Understandably, the weight of the hot tub that raging from several thousand pounds won’t rest level on grassy or uneven ground. Instead, it will drastically sink, destroying your yard. You should also consider the harm that setting your hot tub on grass or dirt may do.
Even in dry weather, the lower soil layers are damp; over time, this moisture will severely compromise the structural integrity of your hot tub. A hot tub’s outside surfaces are not intended to tolerate prolonged exposure to water, even though they are made to contain water.
This is enough good reason to consider having a hot tub base first.
5 Top Base To put Under An Inflatable Hot Tub
While putting your hot tub directly in your backyard is tempting, you don’t want to risk damage early on in your hot tub ownership. Here are 5 top hot tub bases you can use when setting up your outdoor hot tubs.
1. Gravel Hot Tub Base
Gravel is a common option for several inflatable hot tub owners because of its low price and capacity to offer continuous drainage. This is crucial since you must ensure that any rainwater or hot tub overflow can disappear from the foundation. Additionally, gravel won’t collapse over time.
Here is how you’ll build a gravel base for your hot tubs:
- Start by determining the hot tubs’ ground area before building the gravel base.
- Add extra inches on the edges for safety when you have designated a space in your yard sufficient to accommodate that.
- After that, dig a pit six inches deep, and as straight and smooth as you can at the location you marked.
- A ground cloth should be used to line the pit’s bottom before medium-grade gravel is added to cover the first 4 inches of the pit.
- Add a layer of smaller pebbles, such as pea gravel, and brush it smooth.
2. Cement or Concrete Pad
Hot tub bases made of cement and concrete are very common. Cement, water, and aggregates like rock, sand, or gravel are, in fact, all components of concrete.
A concrete pad is relatively inexpensive, extremely strong, and long-lasting, even if they are a little more costly than gravel alone.
You won’t need to think about your concrete base again for a very long time once it’s finished because of its long lifespan and durability. It can be made in a manner quite similar to that of gravel.
Here is how you’ll build a gravel base for your inflatable hot tubs:
- Starting with an area that has been dug out, you just need to dig four inches down, as this will be sufficient for the bottom of the hot tub.
- Next, construct a frame within the pit using 2-inch by 4-inch boards.
- Finally, add roughly an inch of sand to the pit’s bottom before pouring all of the concrete on top of it.
- After using a board and a bull float to level out the wet concrete, trowel the finished surface once it has started to set.
- Simply run a fast internet search to get several extensive manuals on the process to acquire a more in-depth explanation of the procedure.
3. Deck Base
Your base is already constructed if you have a deck and wish to place your inflatable tub there. Having your deck examined before you place your hot tub on it is essential. Because of how weighty your hot tub will be, your deck might not be capable of supporting it.
If your deck cannot support enough weight, it will have to be strengthened, and you will need the help of professional or additional construction, such as extra joists, to get the job done.
While you can DIY it if you’ve got some previous construction and reinforcing experience, this is normally something that should be completed by a professional.
4. Spa Pad Base
A pre-made synthetic spa pad is another option for your inflatable tub. These pads are roughly 2 inches thick and made of interlocking plastic squares that are strong enough to withstand the load of a full hot tub. They are also customizable and may be used for swimming or a larger hot tub and is an ideal portable hot tub.
Remember that the smallest pad they can create will be 8 by 8 feet. This implies that the plastic edge pad will be exposed if you own a small hot tub. Although this isn’t always bad, keep in mind that they are clearly made of plastic, and you might not like how they look in your yard.
Here is how you’ll build a gravel base for your hot tub:
- The numerous parts of the spa pad are simply screwed together with a screwdriver.
- All you need is a screwdriver to connect the separate parts of the spa pad, and you’ll be able to put the spa pad on top of any ground, which can be in grass, dirt, veranda, gravel, or concrete.
- If you do not have a flat surface, you’ll need to dig up a space for the spa pad, or you could fill dips with gravel until you get a level place for the spa pad.
5. Pre-made Base
If the idea of bolstering your deck, pouring gravel, or mixing concrete does not appeal to you, you should consider buying a pre-fabricated hot tub base.
Depending on the manufacturer, these bases can range in price from $100 to $600, with the majority available for around $150 to $200.
Although pre-made hot tub pads are more costly than DIY gravel, concrete, or deck bases, they can save you time and provide peace of mind. This is particularly true if you are unfamiliar with the landscape design or basic construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequent questions to guide you in knowing the base you can put under a hot tub.
How Should Deep Be A Base For A Hot Tub?
The concrete base must be at least four inches deep or ideally, a six-inch deep pit. It is also a smart option to add rubble to the groundwork for added support to the hot tub’s weight or to reinforce the concrete foundation with rebar.
Can You Put An Inflatable Hot Tub On The Pavers?
For the base of an inflatable hot tub, pavers are a fantastic choice. They are really durable and strong, and there is a wide selection of styles available, so you can choose some that will exactly match your new hot tub and the design of your home or backyard.
Conclusion
The most important thing is that you establish a base right away, regardless of the sort of base you decide to use. Your hot tub can deliver dependable relaxation and enjoyment for several years to come with the placement of a good base. Make sure to select the foundation that best fits you and your hot tub.
