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Hot Tub on Ground Level Deck - best practices and materials?

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betsbillabong:
Hi all! Thanks to a lot of advice here, I have a Nordic Crown 2 coming next month, and I have decided to build a ground-level deck that it will live in/on in my backyard.

What are best practices here? The contractor plans to use 2x8 joists and dig down about 10" with 2" of class 5/6 road base crushed rock on the bottom, spacing the joists at 16".

Am I safe to put the hot tub right on the deck? I am hoping to use 5/4 4" Ipe boards (or Cumaru or Garapa, which are slightly cheaper). I'd really prefer that to composite, but will go with composite if a grade-level hardwood seems like it will rot.

Or should I put it right on the gravel and build the deck around it, with some way to access the control panel? I'd prefer to have the deck right on grade but want to do what will be best.
I don't think I can afford to pour a concrete pad below the deck - it's either/or, but trying to improve the value of the house and I think a deck will make a big difference (plus I like the look MUCH better). The deck price is not much more than the concrete price was going to be and I will like the look MUCH better.

Thanks!

A.O.:
My vote is the concrete pad, more stable, cheaper to heat the tub as the concrete makes a great heat sink under the tub. Maintenance is pretty much nill, and if you want you can have them add a color to the concrete for looks. I've had both and the concrete would be my call.

betsbillabong:
Thanks for your input. I really dislike the look of concrete so am looking for the best way to put the deck in on the ground level.

A.O.:
You could always dress the concrete up with stamps, or tile it after or something.. but if you just don't like it I understand and hope you find something that works.

betsbillabong:
Yep. I really like wood decks. It seems that lots of people have them in their backyards for their hot tubs, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to have enough ventilation and support.

The big question is, should the hot tub sit on the deck or on the ground (Crushed rock, etc). Sounds like the latter but was hoping to hear from folks who have done it, or techs.

I appreciate your chiming in though!

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