I mentioned in a seperate post that my contractor would build a table and then place loose pavers on top of that table so that the look stays consistent. A set up as he suggests would require moving pavers and lifting the table out to get access to the panel. Tony suggested a trap door because I would need frequent access. As you can see in this picture, the front of the spa would be facing the main part of the patio, not the back (close to my kid's rocket launcher).
How often does a spa owner generally need to get to the panel (maybe 3-4 times a year to drain the spa, if you use the drain holes). Looking at my property the spa pad does sit slightly higher than the other parts of the yard.
[glow]
MarKee, [/glow]how does a submersible pump work? [glow]Tony, [/glow]do you use both the spa drain holes and a pump to drain your spa? Where does the water go in your set up, to a drain in your yard or to the gutter? How long does draining take without extra equipment?