Pouringa pad....Flat????

[hottbpete]

We are going to be pouring a pad for the Hot Tub and want some info if we should be pouring it flat or with a pitch to move the water off the pad?

And is there is a pitch....how much....and then you should shimm right?

[barshnik]

I think most newer spas like to be flat if there are dual filtration chambers involved - I know the book that came with my Artisian says 'level'.

That being said, my pad has just a tiny pitch, maybe 1/2" for 8'.  Don't know if I like the idea of shimmimg - an awful lot of water weight for the spa frame/shell to support.

John F

[Amanda_Panda]

Definately flat. I believe you can get away with about 1/2" over 8' but I would try to avoid that.

[DPS]

How large of a pad are you pouring?  If it is just large enough for the spa or the spa and it's steps, I would pour it as level as possible.  If it is a large patio you may want a little slope for run off.  Even then, I would try to get the part where the spa will sit level.
It is usually a bad idea to try and shim the spa level on a sloping slab.  If you raise one end an inch the center is up one half inch.  The 2400 to 4000 puonds of water will weight it down to the slab and eventually cause structural problems with the spa.

[Cola]

I'm no concrete guy, but mine is flat an level to within 1/16" over 8 feet.
Go flat or go home, er, uh, just go.
Steve

[alwaysperky]

Flat.

I did mine with a slight slope, as you might do with a patio.  I like how the rain drains, etc., but it is something "I" notice since the water is about a half inch lower on one end.

[hottub.pool_boy]

Pour it perfectly flat and LEVEL. No, water is not going to collect under your spa and rot it. JUST POUR IT LEVEL.

[sledjunkie]

level

[Zep]

[size=18]mine is flat[/size]

Step 1


Step 2


Step 3



Step 4....and as you can see..."flat" no more!....lol.....

[lagator43]

[size=18]mine is flat[/size]

Step 1


Step 2


Step 3



Step 4....and as you can see..."flat" no more!....lol.....

Your hot tub looks awesome!

[drewstar]

Zep, haven't you told the bathers of your tub yet that wearing swim suits is horrible for the water and could possibley pose some health risk?  

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

Swim suits can also scratch the spas surface.

[tanstaafl2]

I had a large concrete pad poured under my deck at the time the house was built with the intent of eventually getting a spa but did not think about the pitch at the time (a lot to think about when building a house and that one slipped through!). So the builder put a slight pitch on it away from the house. I am kind of glad they did now but felt it was too much for my spa and so I resolved it with a giant concrete shim as it were.

If you are pouring a pad much larger than the spa itself and want it to have a little pitch but want the area of the spa to be flat this provides one option to do that.

http://www.whatsthebest-hottub.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1143231808/0#0

[vblv]

Our pad is being poured next week. It's larger than the spa, so it will have a pitch EXCEPT the area that the spa will sit on will be level. Our dealer said absolutely no pitch.

[TN__HOT_TUB]

Swim suits can also scratch the spas surface.

Correct.  Protect the spa's surface.