Original > Hot Tub Forum

Advice for building a gravel base on top of a sloping patio

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Tembroke:
Thanks for the advice! I called my local hot tub dealer and talked with the technician about different options. I don't want to go with concrete, because if I ever change my mind about the hot tub location then I've ruined a perfectly good patio. He suggested turning my box into a simple deck, sitting directly on the patio as before but with 2x6s every 16" and a layer of boards on top. I ripped and attached the 2x6s this afternoon, so now I just need to put a set of 2x6 boards on top, perpendicular to the joists. I think this simple 8' x 8' 3" deck will be a reasonable solution to my patio slope problem, but maybe I'm missing something.

cranbiz:
That works too.

If supported in both directions with 2x6 decking, it certainly will be strong enough.

Sam:
I have a good amount of experience with this.  Do not use pea gravel.  It is too "mushy".  Use 3/4" to 1" crushed rock.  It's definitely the ideal.  We've seen it all and this stuff reaches a good compaction level under it's own weight. 
Also, do not put any additional boards inside the frame.  Just do the outer perimeter.  You want the hot tub to sit on the rock (not the wood) and be uniformly supported.  You do not need to anchor it to the pad.  It won't move. 
These gravel boxes do not need to be complicated.  Just the frame and filled with rock.  No need for crusher or road base underneath. 

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