What Can I Put Under an Inflatable Hot Tub

What Can I Put Under an Inflatable Hot Tub? Awesome Ideas for Longevity

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

An inflatable hot tub is an excellent addition to your home. It’s not as expensive as traditional hot tubs, but it still boasts almost the same features. You can use it as a great way to bond with your family and friends over a barbecue. You can use it for hydrotherapy and relieve some of your stress. You can even customise it to make it more appealing! The list can go on and on and on…

With these considered, it’s only essential that you know how to take care of your inflatable hot tub.

If you own an inflatable hot tub, you might be looking for ways to maximise its security during use. Caring for hot tubs requires work, and so does finding the perfect ground cloth or base for your home spa. For this reason, you might be wondering, ‘what can I put under an inflatable hot tub?’ Today, we’ll answer that question for you.

Inflatable Hot Tub Base Ideas

You’ve spent a lot of money and time on finding the perfect hot tub for you. Aside from cleaning your hot tub regularly, there are other things you also need to consider.

One consideration is to find the most effective ways to support your new purchase—whether that’s on decking, grass, or a solid foundation. While choosing the right floor for your hot tub, consider that the surface must be solid and level. It should also be durable and strong and not too close to electrical components.

Below are some foundation ideas for inflatable hot tubs.

Grass

It is probably one of the most popular surfaces used as an inflatable hot tub base. Its soft texture provides plenty of cushioning for an inflatable hot tub. However, you must make sure that there isn’t any broken glass or pieces of wood underneath that could damage or pop the hot tub.

A grass plot isn’t the perfect insulator, so you may need to add a ground cloth underneath for better heat insulation. Doing so can also make the surface puncture-resistant. It would help if you also remembered that it isn’t a great idea to keep inflatable hot tubs in the same place on grass without moving them from time to time. It can leave a mark on the floor and may even kill the grass. Plus, you may have to fork out on grass-enhancing sprays if you rent your house.

Paving Slabs

This base idea for inflatable hot tubs is an easy and effective method. This material has the benefit of more design flexibility than many other bases. You can experiment with various designs and colours to match your garden’s layout, style and surroundings. You may wish to place the paving stones further around the hot tub rather than just underneath to ensure that all of the paving stones are level and fitted correctly. Otherwise, you might encounter the stones moving away from each other and the hot tub subsiding.

Concrete Pad

Another great material to use as a base is a concrete pad. But before you use any concrete area, you should check that the surface is level. It is to avoid the hot tub from falling or settling to one side once you get in it. The concrete pad’s thickness should support a hot tub’s weight and spread out the hot tub’s water evenly.

Additionally, the concrete surface should be the size of the hot tub or bigger. Anything too small will create an uneven layer on the ground.

Crushed Gravel

It’s perfectly okay to use crushed gravel in your backyard because your hot tub will more than likely be placed outside anyway. However, bear in mind that its thickness should be at least four inches.

You will also need to construct a frame surrounding the ground to keep the hot tub perfectly in place. Also, bear in mind sufficient channels for drainage to keep your hot tub more durable. For an easier option, install low-level showers surrounding the hot tub, so you can wash your feet before you enter.

Tub Pads

Tub pads are highly effective for both indoors and outdoors that require little maintenance. They are also easy to set up and use with minimal expense while also boasting a lightweight. And if you need to dismantle this base, it’s easy to do so should you ever want to switch your hot tub’s location.

Interlocking Tiles

There are three types of tiles you’ll want to consider for your hot tub: foam tiles, plastic tiles and wooden tiles.

Foam Tiles

Foam tiles are the cheapest choice out of the two that you can interlock quickly and easily! Additionally, the foam material protects the hot tub base and can help keep it insulated to prevent heat loss through the ground. Not to mention that it’s also a comfortable material to stand out while having water-resistant characteristics.

Wooden Tiles

You’ve probably seen this type of base more commonly in luxury hotels as it provides a more memorable moment. Wooden tiles raise a hot tub off the ground while providing a solid surface to place your tub on. They’re also quick and easy to install and lock into place without any tools or qualifications. Best of all, this ground base provides a quality finish that makes patios look stylish, and the gaps can help water quickly drain through.

Plastic Tiles

This base tile is the best solution if you’re looking for maximum flexibility and customised design elements. You can choose individual colour schemes to match your spa and patio surroundings.

Impressively, there are even water-resistant LED lighting plastic lights that enhance your garden’s charisma while also boasting a safety aspect for getting out of the hot tub when it’s dark. If you’re concerned about using plastic, you can choose a supplier that creates tiles manufactured from 100% recycled plastic materials for an eco-friendly solution.

What Is a Hot Tub Pad and Do You Need One?

A hot tub pad offers an excellent solution for people who don’t have a hot tub base that’s garden-appropriate. It’s also for those who don’t want to invest their time, energy, or money to make a permanent patio setting for the tub.

Hot tub pads are convenient that you can find underneath your hot tub. They typically consist of a foam material that easily interlocks. To install a hot tub pad, you’ll have to dig a shallow space under the deck where you want to place your hot tub.

Can You Put an Inflatable Hot Tub on Gravel?

Gravel is a suitable base option for a hot tub. However, you shouldn’t use inflatable hot tubs directly onto loose gravel, as the surface wouldn’t be flat enough or even. Plus, you’ll need an additional layer of protection as a ground cloth to place underneath the hot tub to keep the surface flat.

Although, if you want to use gravel for an easy foundation option, you’ll need an insulated ground mat to help with insulation and minimise heat loss through the spa base. This item will also add protection under the hot tub base to prevent any damage caused by sharp stones.

Can You Sink a Hot Tub Completely Into the Ground?

Suppose you’re looking for the easiest solution to installing your inflatable hot tub. In that case, you might be considering sinking it into the ground, which is an entirely efficient choice, although you’ll need to know some information first.

The first thing you’ll want to consider is drainage. For example, if you drop a hot tub into a hole where there’s no drainage, you run a risk of that hole becoming flooded, leading to damage to the components. Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening by incorporating a drainage feature. For an access panel, speak to a hot tub manufacturer to decide on the best panel to make the hole suitable for service and maintenance.

Things to Consider When Putting an Inflatable Hot Tub Outside Your Home

Owning a hot tub is like having a mini spa at your home. Below are some essential factors to think about when choosing the best area and condition for your tub.

Ease Of Access and Maintenance

You want people to get in and out of the hot tub quickly, especially if you’ll regularly use the inflatable hot tub. When thinking of the best area on your patio, consider convenience. For example, a spa at the far end of the garden involves a long walk to access. But if you live in an area where people can overlook your garden, this might be the best spot for privacy.

Furthermore, you’ll need to keep on top of maintenance for your inflatable hot tub. Ideally, you want the spa to be easy to reach when there’s bad weather so that you can conduct regular water checks. The hot tub’s placement is also essential for regular maintenance, such as fully opening the access panel, because the last thing you want to have to do is remove heavy obstacles so that you can fix your spa.

Drainage

Another essential factor to consider with your inflatable hot tub is the placement for drainage. A couple of times a year (or more if you use your spa regularly), you’ll need to drain the water. At this point, it’s common to have an accidental overflow, so the spa should be near a draining system. If you don’t have one, ensure that you install one close to where you’ll store your inflatable hot tub.

Also, if you decide to place your spa on top of a wooden deck, ensure that you use an oil-based sealant to prevent any rotting, damp or mildew from forming.

What Foundation Do You Use For Hot Tubs?

We hope we’ve answered the question, ‘what can I put under an inflatable hot tub?’ Whether you have a patio or use sand for the base of your hot tubs, there are many different ways that you can evenly distribute a spa’s weight and size for an enjoyable and relaxing experience.

Do you know how other hot tub owners have set up their tubs? Let us know what floor ideas you have to support your hot tub in the comment box below!

2 thoughts on “What Can I Put Under an Inflatable Hot Tub? Awesome Ideas for Longevity”

  1. 3/4″ thick rubber mats that are commonly used for horse stalls are a great base! They are about $40 each for 6′ x 4′. Great insulation, too.

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