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[pmillen]

The contractor that poured my patio put a board here (about ¾-inch).  I asked why and one guy said so it wouldn't fuse with the foundation.  Then they caulked it.

[pmillen]

How much weight will this hold?

IDK, but I'd ask the retailer what's required.  If the retailer doesn't want to share the information, I'd ask the manufacturer.  I'd buy somewhere else if neither would tell me.

[Bentley]

Looked at that site earlier, but could not figure out their formula.

I do not directly know, but this article might help:

They just give what it will weigh.  I really dont blame them for not recommending X.  They have nothing to do with getting the electrical in place or doing the pad, they are not contractors or concrete people.  So I can't hold them responsible for not recommending what it should be.

How much weight will this hold?

IDK, but I'd ask the retailer what's required.  If the retailer doesn't want to share the information, I'd ask the manufacturer.  I'd buy somewhere else if neither would tell me.

They say plan 4000 lbs.  But specs show the spa empty is 930 lbs. and holds 285 gallons of water which is roughly 2400 lbs.  I have to believe that 4 inches on a well compacted clay soil should hold 3300 lbs.

[Bentley]

Not sure on this one.  Really just want to use the foundation wall and patio as forms where I can.  Not sure if doing that is an issue.  Not sure if it fused if it would matter.  House settling should be done, very little seismic activity here.  Not sure I will need to skreet this small an area, but also not sure how to square those 2 sides.

I know just enough to dig the whole, now the real work starts and I have to use the brain.  Why I am asking so many questions.

The contractor that poured my patio put a board here (about ¾-inch).  I asked why and one guy said so it wouldn't fuse with the foundation.  Then they caulked it.

[pmillen]

They just give what it will weigh.  I really dont blame them for not recommending X.  They have nothing to do with getting the electrical in place or doing the pad, they are not contractors or concrete people.  So I can't hold them responsible for not recommending what it should be.

I'd hold them responsible.  It appears to me to be an integral part of their business.  I bought a huge diesel powered standby generator a few years ago.  The supplier gave me writen specifications for the pad and recommendations for the fencing.

They say plan 4000 lbs.  But specs show the spa empty is 930 lbs. and holds 285 gallons of water which is roughly 2400 lbs.

Does their 930 lb. figure include the pumps, plumbing and such underneath?

[Kristin Meredith]

I think they know that people can put spas in a variety of locations -- on decks, on brick patios, build a new site.  For example, we could put this on our patio out the back door.  They did not pour that, they know nothing about it, I don't know how it was built or what it sgould support so I would not be able to say whether it would support the weight. So, if I decided to put the spa  there, how would they be responsible for that?

 He did recommend a 6 inch pad and I think we were hpoping to get away with a four inch pad since that is what most garages are, but I guess we will just go with six inches.  Just not that much more concrete.

[Bentley]

For lack of a better term, it is a self-contained unit, so I would assume that is the weight of entire unit.  Now, I guess you need to factor the weight of the people inside, but I dont believe that is possible. Buoyancy comes into play and probably many physics theories that I can not deal with  You have all sorts of mathematical stuff going on now and that is above my SAT limit!

They say plan 4000 lbs.  But specs show the spa empty is 930 lbs. and holds 285 gallons of water which is roughly 2400 lbs.

Does their 930 lb. figure include the pumps, plumbing and such underneath?

[pmillen]

He did recommend a 6 inch pad...

Sorry, I misunderstood the genesis of your original question.  I'd follow that recommendation.

[silverbullet]

Congrats on your hot tub Purchase! Your going to love it! Mine looks very similar to yours, Just a bit bigger. Your going to love those feet jets!
I started using them after my Deer Motorcycle accident in 2013 which broke my collarbone & 6 ribs. Went to the spa & rented time for pain relief. 25 bucks for an half hour gets pretty expensive real quick. In 2014 I bought a used one & in 2015 bought a new one which we still have & works flawlessly.

It does wonders for these old bones. Keeps my arthritis in my knee in check. After all these years I still use mine 5 to 6 times a week. Favorite time for me is evenings after supper. Or early mornings when I first get up.

Your first year is going to be tricky in learning your water management. I hope you have a good dealer nearby that will take you under their wing & guide you. Once you get your system down pat its easy peasy.

Bentley, Kristen, if you would like I would gladly PM you my PH number & I could share some simple tips that has worked for me & hopefully save you a years worth of grief.

Living in Wisconsin I use mine year round. 101 to 102 temp in winter & 99 to 100 in summer. I believe my slab is 4 inches with rebar & styrofoam insulation to keep it from heaving.

[Bentley]

Yes, please do!

Not sure if yours has this.  Ours will have the...

FreshWater® Salt System Our unique and patented design automatically generates chlorine from salt, keeping water clean and fresh up to 3x longer than any other system.


A cartridge you replace every 4 months.  I guess we also check water X times a week or month.  My initial concern is that we have well water and how hard it will be and with what other nastys for something like a spa. 

And whether we need these othere 3 I guess just depends...The Clean Screen®.  I guess you attach this pre-filter to your garden hose to remove organic contaminants, tannins, copper, iron and other metals from the water as you fill your spa.

The Vanishing Act®, a calicum remover that reduces buildup for softer-feeling water. I guess it helps protect the spa from the damaging effects of hard water.

Silver Ion Purifier.  A silver purifier cartridge inhibits bacterial growth. Simply insert the cartridge into the filter of your spa and the silver ions are released automatically — there’s no chance of under or over-dosing. Simply replace the cartridge every four months. Available for use with all Caldera spas.

Your first year is going to be tricky in learning your water management. I hope you have a good dealer nearby that will take you under their wing & guide you. Once you get your system down pat its easy peasy.

Bentley, Kristen, if you would like I would gladly PM you my PH number & I could share some simple tips that has worked for me & hopefully save you a years worth of grief.

[Brushpopper]

We had a salt water in ground pool at out old house and boy howdy were we buoyant.  Not like in the sea, but it took getting used to at first.  I initially got too much salt in it but got it balanced finally.  We had well water too, and I had a hard time keeping chlorine in it and the ph down.  We didn't have a pool place anywhere near us, so I was doing it wrong apparently.  We have a cheapo Walmart above ground pool here and the folks at the pool store are awesome and helpful, so it's really easy to keep balanced.  I think I'll try to talk Bonnie into getting a hot tub too.  She has a touch of rheumatoid arthritis and our daughter has juvenile RA so it would probably be good for them.  We'd have to turn the heater off in the summer when it's triple digits and upper 70s at night probably.

[MysticRhythms]

I use my tub twice a day. Every morning and again right before going to bed.
I can't imagine not having mine.

[KeithG]

Does your ground freeze. If you do have freeze thaw cycles then I would isolate it from the foundation with a piece of 3/4 foam insulation. If no freeze thaw cycles to worry about then the isolation might not matter. Our pad was 3-4” with rebar for a 7 person spa. No problems. We also used it on a plastic tarp directly on level ground with no problems either. Filled it with brown lake water and 24 hours later it was crystal clear. Amazing filters.

Like others, we lost interest after a few years. Gave it away.

[Bentley]

You all who lost interest just must not have the aches and pains we do!  I guess it will be nice that it is out the door, literally 5 steps to the edge of the spa, and walk in.

[silverbullet]

You all who lost interest just must not have the aches and pains we do!  I guess it will be nice that it is out the door, literally 5 steps to the edge of the spa, and walk in.

Big +1

I don't have the fresh water salt system. I do however put in a fresh water cartridge in the center of my filter 3 days after each fill Which lasts for 4 months.

What I've found works best for me is after a fresh fill & before I use the tub I take a water sample to my dealer & have it tested to get it right, right away before I use it. Then after each use I put a dairy queen spoon full of chlorine per person in the tub. And if I don't use it for a couple days I'll toss one in. I shock weekly. With a salt water system may be different.

Haven't had a ring around the tub or cloudy water in years! I'll add that my tub holds about 360 gallons.