Hot tub under the deck?

[yukoyd]

Now that I have purchased a hot tub, I am trying to decide on the best location and set up.

Our spa guy recommends that it be half-way under our second-story deck. He says we could attach some sort of lining under the deck so that it would provide cover for us when raining (we live in the Northwest).

On the other hand, another friend has recommended that we move the tub further out. He thinks it would be claustrophobic sitting half-way under the deck and claims that rain does not bother him.

In addition, we currently have coarse (not fine) gravel under our deck. We initially wanted to remove that and install concrete padding but was told that the price of concrete has really gone up and is now $800 for a 8x8 area. Since this seems outrageous to me, I am now considering having a deck built or tile layed out throughout the surrounding area. How is tile for this kind of environment? How does it compare to a deck?

Any input is appreciated...

[Brewman]

Our spa is under our deck.  We had very little choice in the location.  It's adjacent to a 10' X 10' patio, which I did not want to place the spa upon.  No other nearby space was acceptable, for one reason or another.

The bottom of our deck joists are about 9' from the ground, and I don't really feel closed in.  We have enough of a sky view from the sides, and we have a casino which blasts light pollution in our west sky, so we aren't missing much anyway.
 We don't have too much of a problem with water dripping between the deck boards.  We considered one of those under deck drainage systems, but the cost was too much for me to stomach.  

Occasionally, a light dirt line forms on the cover from rain water dripping thru the boards in a certain spot, but regular cover cleaning takes care of that.

OTOH, we don't get near your rainfall.

Overall, it's fine.  Not perfect, but plenty good enough.
Brewman

[ladwighome]

Pour the concrete,  I don't know where in the Northwest you are located but I have done both Tile Floors and Patios.

If you get weather below freezing at all tile is not a good option.

You could lay Flagstone but it would be best to set that in cement as well.  Again freezing temperatures could be a problem with that as well.

Lad

[nicker]

I think under the deck woul also be ok.  It would block the sun on the hot summer days and keep the snow off in the winter (depending how much snow if any you get).  The only thing I would wonder, does your deck have stairs going down to the ground and if so what about in the summer people walking up to the upper level and dirt/sand falling down from the deck and into the tub?  Breman might be able to comment on that.  Other wise I think it would be ok. I agree with the others on the tile, I don't think they would hold up. Go with concrete or a  good solid deck.

[yukoyd]

Thank you for the input. Brewman -- It's good to know that you don't feel closed-in. Tile is not good, huh... Has anybody used EZ pads? This is another thing our spa guy is recommending for $450. He has told us to dig up the coarse gravel, level the area and put some finer gravel on it in preparation for the EZ pad.