What size slab do I need for a hot tub?

Slabs for hot tubs generally are 8 feet by 8 feet.

So long as it is flat and without grade, it will likely work for your new portable hot tub. … Usually a concrete slab made to building code is suitable to hold a hot tub. However, many patios and other concrete slabs are pitched for drainage, which may make an unsuitable base for your hot tub.

The concrete base needs to be a minimum of 4 inches thick (ideally 6 inches) so it is able to withstand the weight of the hot tub. It is also a good idea to place rubble to the foundation for maximum support or reinforce the concrete base with rebar.

A concrete slab costs $5 to $10 per square foot or between $500 and $2,500 for a hot tub. Other options for a hot tub foundation pad are an existing patio, gravel base, pavers, reinforced deck, or plastic spa pad.

The minimum thickness safety requirement for a basic hot tub pad is 4″ thick reinforced concrete with a diameter of 6″ less than the diameter of the bottom of the tub. Therefore, a 5′ round straight sided wood hot tub would require a 4′ 6″ square pad.

Gravel has two main advantages, it is good for drainage and easy to install. First, you will need to remove about 6 inches of soil before lining the hole with landscaping cloth and placing a 4 inch layer of gravel on top. … So yes, a hot tub can sit on gravel!

Outdoor hot tub placement, such as decks, concrete or brick patios, is common. However, the hot tub can be placed on any solid, uniform, level surface. Do not place your hot tub on grass or bare ground.

– The pavers should be solid and level for the hot tub All hot tubs need a solid and level surface for support. Hot spas have very minimal flexibility. So placing them on uneven surfaces for a long time would cause permanent damage to them. … Because of these factors, check that the pavers provide an even surface.

For most DIY concrete slabs, the best material to use is a ready-mix crack-resistant concrete mix like QUIKRETE. A concrete base for a spa should be around 4 inches thick. This means that for an 8’x8′ spa pad, you’ll need enough concrete to fill 21.33 cubic feet (that’s 36 80-lb bags of QUIKRETE).

We recommend a concrete pad that is at least 10cm thick. We also recommend the concrete to be sloped at 1.5cm per 3.5m, this ensures water runs off the pad and prevents pooling.

A concrete surface is an excellent base for your hot tub as this material is extremely sturdy and long-lasting. If you have an existing patio made of concrete bricks, make sure it’s in good condition and is level (not angled for drainage). A customized poured concrete pad is an even better choice.

To pour a typical 10×10 concrete slab will cost $670 to $930, a 12×12 slab for a patio will cost $796 to $1,476, a 20×24 driveway slab runs between $1,440 and $3,360, and a 24×24 slab for a garage will cost $3,058 to $5,944. Get free estimates from concrete companies near you.

The concrete people said I need to wait a week at least before putting a hot tub on it. They said one week is the MINIMUM; they said it takes up to 28 days for the concrete to completely cure, so they recommend 28 days before putting something really heavy (like a hot tub) on it.

Never use an extension cord for your best hot tub. The cord provided with your spa is the proper length and gauge for current to travel safely from the electrical outlet to your spa. An extension cord forces the current to travel a longer distance and may result in a voltage drop or the cord overheating.

Concrete Slab The base of reinforced concrete should be about 4 inches thick and be able to withstand a weight of at least 115 pounds per square foot, especially for larger spas. The concrete should be fully cured prior to placing the tub.

Level the ground where you intend to place the hot tub by removing bumps and filling in holes. A tractor works well for this, but you can use a shovel and a hoe if you prefer. Remove any large rocks or other debris, and do not place the hot tub in an area where there are large tree roots above or near the surface.

Make sure you are digging at least 6 inches for your base, but nothing more than that. Without enough gravel, drainage can be compromised. With too much gravel, the hot tub base may become too soft and cause damage over time.

It might seem like a good idea but you should not put a hot tub on grass. The bare ground cannot support the weight of a hot tub, which can be close to 5,000 pounds when filled with water. … A hot tub requires a stable surface — whether it’s a concrete slab, reinforced deck, or firmly compacted soil with crushed gravel.

A good rule of thumb for a hot tub is to give yourself about a foot of space on each side of the tub. This leaves room for things like opening the cover. Most covers require at least 18 inches of space behind the tub as well as a few inches on the left and right side for the arm that helps you lift the cover.

Ever been annoyed by an annoying constant sound? Bubbling hot tubs may not be for your neighbour and could be classed as a nuisance due to noise. Only cut back tree branches to the extent that they overhang your land. If you cut back into your neighbour’s property it is illegal.

Spa pads are wonderful hot tub accessories that provide a sturdy base for most hot tubs, while still allowing for flexibility in location. People who opt for an indoor hot tub typically use spa pads so that they won’t need to do any major renovations, however, spa pads can be implemented outdoors as well!

Hot tubs require a level base that is able to support the weight of the hot tub when it is filled with water and bathers. You can use a concrete slab, gravel, a deck or patio pavers as options to support your hot tub.

A reinforced concrete slab of at least 100mm (4”) thick is a suitable foundation for your spa; this must be increased to a minimum of 125mm (5”) thick when installing swim spas. You must ensure this base is an even, level surface free from cracks or hollows.

A hot tub should not be placed on soil or on a lawn. … Exposure to wet soil and grass will reduce the life of your hot tub and expose it to insects and moisture. The extreme weight of a hot tub filled with water could also cause it to sink into a lawn or wet soil. A hot tub should never be installed in soil or on a lawn.

A 24×30-foot slab covers 720 square feet. With an average price of $6 per square foot, you may pay about $4,320 for a slab foundation. However, the price can range from $4 to $8 per square foot, resulting in a total cost between $2,880 and $5,760.

For example, for a concrete slab that is 24′ X 24′ X 4”, simply enter 4 in the Thickness/Depth field, 24 in the Width field, and 24 in the Length field. Click “Calculate”. Your answer should be 7.11 yards. Note: The Concrete Volume Calculator can also be used to determine yardage for aggregate products.

Slab SizeSquare FeetAverage Cost10x10100$60010×12120$72010×20200$1,20012×12144$864

Your concrete should be solid enough to walk on, without leaving footprints, after anything from 24 to 48 hours. By seven days, your concrete should be cured to at least 70 percent of its full strength.

ALLOW PROPER TIME TO WATERCURE SLABS The enclosed area is continually flooded with water. Ideally, the slab could be water cured for 7 days. Some builders on a tight schedule water cure for 3 days as this achieves approximately 80% of the benefit of water curing for 7 days.

Concrete, when applied using the shotcrete process, or cast-in-place, needs to cure for 7 days. Water is the best curing method (7 continuous days).