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Imagine starting your morning with
a saunter out the back door to enjoy a cup of coffee in your garden hot tub, or
relaxing just before bed with a lazy soak in your backyard hot tub under the
stars. More and more homeowners are taking the plunge (pardon the pun!) and
installing a hot tub in their backyard or garden. If it all sounds tempting to
you, here are a few things to consider when deciding where and whether to put a
hot tub in YOUR backyard. Do you have the space?
A hot tub may look small, but even
the smallest hot tubs
weigh hundreds of pounds – thousands when filled with water. You’ll need to
figure in space for the plumbing and controls as well – and if your county
requires security fencing around your tub, you’ll need to take that into
consideration as well when you’re planning for your garden hot tub. Where will you put it?
No, really, it’s not the same
question as above. Because of their weight and the need for plumbing and
electricity, you’ll need to plan the location of your hot tub carefully. A hot
tub on the patio or deck may sound wonderful – but it will need reinforcement
to carry that much weight safely. Besides structural considerations, there are
practical ones that are a lot more fun to consider. Do you want it close to the
house – perhaps just outside your bedroom sliders so that you can slip in and
out of it easily? Choose a spot for your backyard hot tub that gives you
privacy, beauty and convenience. Do you want a seasonal or year-round hot
tub?
You might think that soaking in a
hot tub in your garden in winter is a chilling experience, but there’s
something especially cozy about watching the snowflakes fall from the relaxing
warmth of a garden hot tub. If you’d like to use your hot tub year round,
discuss weather proofing with the construction company, and while you’re at it,
consider a gazebo roof or similar protection for rainy days as well. What are the zoning regulations in your
area?
In many townships and cities,
outdoor backyard hot tubs require the same protections as swimming pools. The
regulations may require a locked privacy fence around your garden, or at least
around the hot tub itself to prevent accidental drowning. How large a hot tub do you want?
A two-person hot tub is cozy and
romantic, but garden hot tubs
can spark some wonderful entertaining and parties. Will you want to invite the
neighbors or workmates to party with you in your garden hot tub once in a
while? A 4-8 person tub isn’t that much more expensive, and gives you the
option of coziness and entertainment. Should you choose an in-ground or above
ground garden hot tub?
The choice is strictly a matter of
preference. In-ground garden hot tubs can blend into the landscaping in your
back yard – but with the proper surrounds (a garden gazebo? A glass
conservatory?) so can an above ground hot
spa tub. Price is another consideration here – an in-ground hot tub
will require excavation that will make both construction and maintenance more
costly. What can I do in a garden or back yard
hot tub?
Ah, now – do you really need ME to
tell you that? Simply enjoy!
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