Strengthening a Deck For a Hot Tub

by Bob

I have an 12x24ft deck,5/4 decking with 2x8 floor joists 16oc.

I'm going to put a hot tub on the deck, on one end. I used your DECK LOAD calculator (excellent tool by the way)to add more support piers. I also want want to add more floor joists in the hot tub area.

What would be stronger; using 8"o.c. or doubling up the joists and going up the joists and go 16"o.c.?

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May 05, 2012
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General Tips on Strengthening Hot Tub Decks
by: Editor - Rich Bergman

Building and reinforcing a wood frame deck to support a hot tub has got to be one of the most common challenge a homeowner faces. We get this question a lot. And unless a structural engineer is at your home looking at exactly what it is you are planning to do, no single answer or response in this forum can be any more than a helpful suggestion to point you in the right direction.

That being said, you can learn a lot from these discussions to help you get to that final decision point.

Regarding doubling up joists at 16" oc or single spacing them at 8" oc, I would probably go to 8" oc option as the deck boards will span a shorter distance. I would like to point you to some great links and even an a sample load analysis done in our forums.

Please read all this links and this should help you as you plan to build your deck for a hot tub.

General Points

Adding a hot tub to an existing deck
Support post spacing
Joist size and spacing
Print out of load analysis

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