{"id":1149,"date":"2021-11-22T20:10:46","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T20:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hottubzone.com\/?p=1149"},"modified":"2023-02-06T18:41:27","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T18:41:27","slug":"hot-tub-gravel-base","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hottubzone.com\/hot-tub-gravel-base\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Put a Hot Tub on a Gravel Base?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
I’ve moved home quite a few times over the years, requiring me to have to lay a new base for my hot tub each time. So can gravel be used, and does it make a good base for spas?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gravel is one of the best materials to use as a base for your hot tub. The gravel must be laid with a depth thick enough to support the weight of the spa. Gravel has many benefits such as being easy to install, providing excellent drainage, and is self-leveling. Pea gravel is the ideal size for using under your hot tub.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, I show you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gravel is inexpensive, simple, and low-maintenance. It is everything you want in a base for your hot tub. Gravel comes in an enormous range of styles and sizes and has many advantages over concrete, decking, patios, and synthetic pads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are seven reasons why gravel is the best base for your hot tub:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the least amount of effort, you can have a gravel pad ready and level for your hot tub to sit on. There is no waiting for gravel to dry as with concrete and, unlike other base materials, you do not need specific skills or specialist tools to lay gravel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a good chance that your hot tub will sit outside with a cover. But even if you build some sort of housing over your tub, there will be a lot of splashes as people step out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gravel provides excellent drainage for rainwater and any overflow should you accidentally fill your spa with too much water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gravel helps to keep the area around your hot tub looking organized. Gravel comes in a range of colors and sizes, making it easier to match your home, yard, and tub’s color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gravel is the perfect material for separating mud from your tub. It won’t show footprints and is easy to clean. Gravel may need the occasional raking, but you can spray it down with a hose, and it will look like new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Concrete is prone to cracking, as is wooden decking, and both are difficult to repair. Synthetic pads may wear over time due to splashes and overflow, as well as movement from the spa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Large slabs of concrete can begin to move on mud, which can cause the entire platform to tilt or slide downhill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The growth of grass or other vegetation beneath a hot tub can also cause it to move around or lean. Gravel will self-level, filling in voids in the ground as it shifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For cost-effectiveness, the price of gravel is hard to beat. The delivery of industrial bags of gravel is a quick and easy arrangement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The truck should be able to lift the bag to the spot you need it on, meaning minimal work for you to spread and level it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gravel will not rot or go moldy like wooden decking, so you do not need to treat It with special chemicals or paints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moisture build-up beneath the hot tub should also be minimal, and gravel will prevent direct contact with standing pools of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The recommendation for hot tub gravel is that its size is around one inch (25mm). Depending on the gravel you use, you may want stones with a smaller dimension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Too large, and it is going to be uncomfortable to walk on. The drainage will be poor if the stones are too small. Classic gravel choices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may find that smaller diameter gravel sticks to your feet, and larger chunks appear industrial. Pea gravel is a happy medium and one of the most popular choices. It is inexpensive, drains well, and looks great.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n There is little point in making your gravel patch too thick unless you are trying to set your hot tub on mud. A depth of around a half-foot (15cm) of gravel is enough in most situations. This allows for settling and plenty of airflow for moisture release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get away with a couple of inches of small pea or river wash gravel if you lay it over concrete. A landscape cloth may also help to reduce the amount of gravel you need to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As with every building project, laying gravel goes much smoother if you have a plan. You want to finish with a level, smooth, and sturdy base that you can be sure is stable enough for a hot tub containing a few hundred gallons of water and people to sit on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The 8 Benefits of Using Gravel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Installation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Drainage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Aesthetic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Clean<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Robust<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Drifting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Price<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Mold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which Gravel Is Best for a Hot Tub Base?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How Thick Should Hot Tub Gravel Be?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Do You Build a Gravel Base for a Hot Tub?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n