Getting a hot tub. Questions about my deck...

[LD1]

What if you ran a double 2x10 right next to the house (under the existing connection to the house) and put in 3 4x4s (one at each end and one somewhere in the middle)?
It looks like you have a decent pad under the deck so you could run down to it.

Aaron Z

I thought about mentioning that, But I think that would be a bad idea. The posts are probably sunk in the ground below frost. The concrete pad is likely just a surface pour floating slab. Anything added that is gonna be tied to the deck for structural reasons, needs to be anchored below frost line.

 

[buickanddeere]

After many years, I'm finally giving in to SWMBO and agreed to a hot tub. Not getting a big one - just a two seater. You can see it here.

Hot tubs and tents are rated by the same occupancy standards. A four person tent or hot tub holds two people. An eight person tent or hot tub holds four people.

 

[RobertN]

Ours is a pretty light 4 person round tub. No way I would way to put it on that deck. Definitely beef that up.

One thing to consider. Our tub is sunk half way in to our deck. We actually have a very beefy sub deck that the tub sits on. It is much easier to get in/out of the hot tub that way.

 

[Dutch445]

Robert's idea isn't too bad. If you can live with a shorter space to store the lawn mower, you could go across the basement wall
with a 2x10, properly secured like the ledger board on a deck. Then do the same with a couple out on the 6x6 posts and run 2x10 joists
making a lower level to set the tub into. 12" or 16" on center may be fine here.
that lower basement wall where the door , window, and wood siding is, is it wood framed or concrete?
(i once built an addition similar where we used wood so we could frame the door/windows easier)

 

[mbohuntr]

I agree with others to reinforce the ledger board and hangers as well... Is there any way to move the tub to the right hand corner? there appears to be more/better ways to support it there....

 

[mark02tj]

What if you ran a double 2x10 right next to the house (under the existing connection to the house) and put in 3 4x4s (one at each end and one somewhere in the middle)?
It looks like you have a decent pad under the deck so you could run down to it.

Aaron Z

I was thinking about doing something similar. My thought was five 6x6's. Lay one on the concrete, three upright and one under the joists. I thought that the one laying would spread the load on the concrete pad. Actually, for the uprights, adjustable lally columns might be better as that would take some pressure off getting a really accurate measurement and cut for the 6x6's.

Moving it to the right corner of the deck isn't out of the question. But we're probably still looking at doing some excavating for posts for that. Not entirely out of the question though. That would require moving some electricity though. Right now the plug is on the house.

MANY THANKS to all of you who've chimed in on this. I just had a feeling that the deck might need some beefing up in spite of Bubba's very scientific "jump test" telling me that it was OK.

By the way, that's a 4 wheeler under the deck, not a mower.

 

[PILOON]

I fear the attachment to the house. Hangers are missing many nails and the actual attachment to house frame scares me.
Perhaps 2 new posts and a master beam up against the house would be in order.
As to actual deck and joists, the load will be well spread out so I think that is OK.
Hanger brackets in front should also have every hole nailed as well.
The front looks to be only hanger brackets on the face and not a master beam which would be advised.

Many tubs I have seen actually sit on totally separate bases with a hole cut out of the deck to accommodate the tub profile.

 

[EddieWalker]

Depending where the hot tub is going to be located, I would address the ledger board first. Like others have said, it's where decks fail. How many lag bolts are in there and how far apart are they? In the location of the hot tub, I would run two upright posts against the house that line up with the joists under the hot tut and secure them to the wall with lag bolts. Since the purpose of the post is to carry the load of the deck, I would also dig a hole several feet deep below the posts and fill them with concrete.

I haven't heard what the beam is made up of or how the joists attach to it over the existing posts. Ideally the beam should be on top of the posts and sized accordingly for the span. I always use two or three 2x12's since it has to carry the most weight at the center of it's span. Putting the joists on top of the beam gives you the maximum strength. What is your beam and how are the joists attached to it?

If your beam is just a pair of 2x8's or something like that, I would only consider placing the hot tub where the center joist under the hot tub is attached to one of your posts. The farther away from the post you get, the more stress you put on your beam and the greater likelihood of failure

For the joists, I would attach 2x12's to the side of each existing 2x8 for the area under the hot tub.

And for insurance, I might be tempted to add another 2x12 between them under the hot tub.

Eddie

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I was thinking about doing something similar. My thought was five 6x6's. Lay one on the concrete, three upright and one under the joists. I thought that the one laying would spread the load on the concrete pad. Actually, for the uprights, adjustable lally columns might be better as that would take some pressure off getting a really accurate measurement and cut for the 6x6's.

Moving it to the right corner of the deck isn't out of the question. But we're probably still looking at doing some excavating for posts for that. Not entirely out of the question though. That would require moving some electricity though. Right now the plug is on the house.

MANY THANKS to all of you who've chimed in on this. I just had a feeling that the deck might need some beefing up in spite of Bubba's very scientific "jump test" telling me that it was OK.

By the way, that's a 4 wheeler under the deck, not a mower.

With all seriousness, make sure the deck is sound. You'll want to enjoy life in that hot tub, not miss it.