Hot Tub Woodworking Project

Outside decks have been the rage for the last decade. Nothing is nicer than spending time on your beautiful wooden deck whether in the back, side or front yard in the warmer months of the year. But you can also make use of that deck in the colder months by adding a hut tub or spa to your deck.

Of course it is always easier to incorporate the hut tub into the original deck plans but a retrofit is also possible but will require careful planning. The first step in do a retrofit is to decide whether to just extend the existing deck, modify it or just replace a portion of it.

Whether you do it yourself or hire a contractor to do all or part of the project, here are some suggestions for making your relaxation area special.

Safety – It is important to treat your hot tub or spa a potential hazard for young children. Some area may have building codes specifying what you need to do, nut even if there are no requirements in your area, safety precautions are necessary.

Put a railing at least 36 inches high with no more than 4 inches between the spindles around either the entire deck or, at a minimum, the areas around the hot tub complete with a latched gate. Building the deck above ground level also makes it harder for young children to injure or drown themselves. If you have children, you might want to invest in a child safety latch as well for the gate to the hot tub.

Seating – build seating around the spa area for guests and others who are not using the hot tub so they have a place to hand out and visit. If you build seating along the railing, you want to use four foot high railing so it can serve as a backrest. There are very attractive and comfortable cushions available for this type of seating.

Shelter – a gazebo is a nice touch for both privacy and shelter from the weather. However I have seen some nice Plexiglas setups and even some temporary removable shelter that can be used in the cold months.

Soft Lighting – make sure to add soft lighting around your hot tub so you can have a safe, relaxing environment. Personally, I like the party light strings for lightening. They are available in all kinds of decorative shapes and colors.

The bottom line is you want to create a private, safe and relaxing environment in your outdoor living area. Proper planning will make this easier and more afforadable.