Installing a Personal Wood Hot Tub Worth the Effort

by: Michael O’Brien

So you’ve made the decision to indulge yourself and purchase a traditional yet modern wood hot tub. Opting for an acrylic spa might have been easier but there is something aesthetically more pleasing about the look and warmth of a wooden tub filled to the brim with warm water. Self-contained acrylic spas do have the edge when it comes to installation since all of the required plumbing, heaters and pumps are built right into the unit. A poorly built or less expensive acrylic spa may not have a sufficient amount of soundproofing insulation and the noise of all that machinery is not conducive to a relaxing good time. If an acrylic spa is installed indoors, the noise may be magnified if the room or enclosure is small and trapping and amplifying the sound.

Though the installation may be a little more complex, wood hot tubs have an advantage of their own over their acrylic cousins. Many if not most wood hot tub installations separate and isolate the machinery from the tub, resulting in a greatly reduced noise level.

Aside from the extra quiet achieved by isolating the tub, wood tubs can be installed using an almost endless variety of designs and layouts that can be both functional and beautiful.

The days of the nineteen sixties, when a hot tub may have been just an old oak barrel cut in two and filled with hot water, are gone. Manufacturers of modern wood hot tubs incorporate different species of wood, from heart cut cedar and cypress to teak. Each species of wood presents various grain patterns and colors that are both pleasing to the eye and able to withstand exposure to water. Traditional redwood cedar is a popular choice for durability while the cypress woods offer a tight grain pattern and a clean, finished look.

Wood hot tubs can be seen placed on top of wood decking or placed on a suitable foundation like a concrete pad with decorative decking built around the tub giving the tub a recessed, floor level look. The shapes and styles of decking are often designed to compliment and even match the tub providing a seamless built-in look.

Many homeowners will consult a design professional when deciding where to place the tub. A design professional can help with location as well as deck or platform design. Ensuring some level of privacy may an important consideration for both you and your neighbors, so pick a spot that will accommodate all those concerns. A professional designer can also assist in creating plans for any required electrical of plumbing connections. Make sure that these systems are designed and built to conform to all applicable building code requirements. By taking the time needed to preplan your installation the end result will both functional, safe and an enhancement to your home.

So let your imagination fly and imagine the possibilities when installing you new wood hot tub.

About the Author

Michael O’Brien