How to Build a Hot Tub
How to Build a Hot Tub
Hot tubs are the latest trend if you are in the mood to have a luxurious time. Moreover, when you are in the mood to pamper yourself in a hot tub bath, you could as well build it.
Undertake laying out 8-feet square at the place where you have set your heart on building the tub. You can pound the stakes at a corner and measure whether the diagonals are about 11′- 3.5″. Two diagonal strings can be made to locate the centre of the square by wrapping a string round the corners. Now, you could try marking the centre by pounding a stake on it. 4-feet from the stakes at the corner, you have to pound stakes at the centre from each corner. When you have the cross, measuring 32 inches from the centre of it, start pounding stakes on the four locations. Now, from two of the last stakes, measure 32 inches and find the last four stakes. Of course, you have to repeat this for every corner to have nine stakes inside the 8-feet
square. So, the footings for your 9 piers are ready! Inside the nine stakes that you have created, start digging a 15-inch by 15-inch square hole. Make it about a foot deep and leave the soil at the bottom of the hole undisturbed. Grass can possibly fill up the other bad patches on the lawn.
You can attempt buying play sand and to fill up the bottom to about 2 to 3 inches. Try making the bottom as level as you can. You can try to flatten the sand with a piece of plywood or a shovel. Align the straps in the direction of the beam. Now, place the footing on the sand. Until the ground is levelled in all directions, keep wriggling the block. Make sure that the rows are aligned. Repeat the process having each hole and footing.
To check the alignment you could use a 4-inch by 4-inch post by laying it in the middle of the straps. To ensure that the footings are fixed, you can compact the ground with the excavated soil. Again, no puddles should be allowed, so add enough soil to slope off the ground. Now, there are nine footings in the 64 inches square, in the 8-feet square. By nailing, tow 2″x6″.8′ boards together, create 4″x6″ beams before setting the posts. The center post should be placed first. Determine the heights and repeat the procedure for the rest of the posts. Nail through the posts provided on the top. Now place the beam once you have marked it 16″ from the end. Apply the same for the rest of the beams. The center beam should align with the beams outside. One nail in the beam holder and the other in the footing strap, tack a nail. Fill in the nail patterns and other joists. Add the rim joists and nail the decking to complete your hot tub!