Deck for Spa Pool

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cldlr76

289 posts

Ultimate Geek

#121071 23-Jun-2013 17:34

Hi,

We are considering buying a spa pool which will go on an existing deck. Does anyone know how calculate if the deck is strong enough and if its not how to work out how far apart to add joists, bearers etc?

Also does anyone have any feedback on spa pools brands?

Thanks

gazbo

89 posts

Master Geek

#842010 23-Jun-2013 17:59

You do not want to support the spa with the deck structure if you can avoid it. Support it directly on the ground (either dug in or on a slab) with the decking built around it.

Standard sizes for decking etc can be found in NZS3604:2011 but you will find little regarding supporting spas.

If it is an upper level deck you may need a structural engineer.

cldlr76

289 posts

Ultimate Geek

#842021 23-Jun-2013 18:23

Yeah I said to my wife just before I posted this how would feel about the spa being in the deck and she's not that keen. Even if I did convince her the exsisting deck height is probably 1.5m's so I'd still have to build something for it to sit on or lay a really thick concrete pad.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#842050 23-Jun-2013 19:47

Tread carefully; some rellies of mine got a builder friend of theirs to extend their deck to place a spa pool on it.

There's now around 1800 kg of dead weight on their deck and one of the joists has sunk by about 10 mm.

Looking at the job the builder did, it's not hard to see why. Two beams join together right under the spa pool and are only held up by 2 * M10 (or perhaps M12) coach bolts in each beam.

I saw this for myself today.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Nety

2584 posts

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Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#842362 24-Jun-2013 13:45

That is seriously scary. Personally I would be emptying that spa and moving until getting a different builder to have a look.

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mattwnz

20108 posts

Uber Geek

#842364 24-Jun-2013 13:51

Is the deck fully fenced? I would check with your local council about their requirements for spas. Many require it to be fenced in like a pool.

wellygary

8261 posts

Uber Geek

#842396 24-Jun-2013 14:26

mattwnz: Is the deck fully fenced? I would check with your local council about their requirements for spas. Many require it to be fenced in like a pool.

Although in saying that, many pool manufacturers are deliberately making their pools 1.2m tall to negate the need for additional fencing and with a lockable cover many will not need additional fencing ( but as you say best to check with your local council as they all interperet the regs differently.

Although back to the OP, You *DO NOT* want to have nearly 2 tonnes of static load on your deck which is presumably held up by 100*100 posts and 200*50 beams,

This BRANZ document is very good, showing that if your deck is built to the NZ standard, you cannot have more than 200mm of water in a pool and continue to be under the design load......something to think about

http://www.branz.co.nz/cms_show_download.php?id=cef1f643d4be385d3b29e167375900a340bfde20

richms

28066 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#843658 24-Jun-2013 21:49

Fencing them is a prick of a thing and something IMO the council should butt out of where they are not wanted.

But if you need it, you can put the pool on a plynth to get it up to the 1.2 metres you need so long as there is nothing that could be a toe-hold between the pool and the plynth and get away with it. Just dont leave a long bench/step against the side of the pool if the local busybody council people can see it from the road as a friend did.

Richard rich.ms