Architect Builds DIY Hot Tub in Michigan USA

Welcome back to a brand-new case study where we follow the progress of Reem who is building a DIY hot tub in Michigan, USA. Interestingly, Reem is an architect and had exactly the right skills to come up with a beautiful design for her hot tub. However, she needed some help with the technical side of things and bringing it all together—that’s where I came in.

This is the first of many updates on this project. Let’s dive into Reem’s joruney of building her DIY Hot tub in Michigan. 

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The Design

For a start, it was refreshing to see a client so clear about their vision and exactly what they wanted. This always makes the process easier and simpler overall. Below is the design that Reem envisioned for her hot tub, and might I say, it looks beautiful.

It’s a simple rectangular hot tub, but it features waterfalls on the sides that look incredible. The body of water for the waterfalls is separate from the hot tub since it’s purely for aesthetic purposes. Hence, there is no need for filtration or heating there.

As you can see, she’s also incorporated what I like to call the “Kyle Lounges.” These are named after the Kyle build that made those lounge seats famous.

Plumbing Design

Once the final design was decided, it was time for me to come up with the plumbing design for this build. Below is part of the design I created for her:

With the plumbing design finalized, I also created a list of parts Reem would need and supplied her with everything from my shop. Having the right design and parts is half the job done. After this, it’s just a matter of putting everything into place, and your chances of success are much higher.

The Build Begins

Now it was time to start the build. The first step was creating the base for the hot tub, as shown below.

Reem’s team also ran the pipes for the hot tub underneath the ground. These pipes were placed below the frost line. This is done to protect them from freezing during Michigan’s cold winter months. This ensures that the hot tub can be enjoyed year-round.

The pipes run from the actual hot tub to the control room, which is located separately.

With the base laid and the pipes in place, the next step was forming the walls and positioning the plumbing correctly. As you can see in the pictures below, Reem has made fantastic progress, and the build is moving along quickly.

Perhaps the most challenging part of this build was installing the plumbing without the interior being performed. This meant the external formwork had to be poured first. This required careful attention to heights and positions. This resulted in lots of communication and sketches, as shown below. If you’re new to the community then you can read all about hot tub plumbing here.

This is where my service comes in handy. Each build has unique requirements, and it’s always helpful to have someone experienced guiding you through the process.

Moving Forward

The next steps in this project involve completing the plumbing and installing the interior forms. Reem plans to pour the external walls first, let them cure, and then work on the interior side of the project. Building in stages like this simplifies the process. I wouldn’t recommend a monopour (pouring the concrete all at once) for these types of builds unless you have an expert and precise measurements. This is because it can be quite challenging and technical to get right.

I’m very excited to move onto the next stage of this DIY Hot tub in Michigan build and share it with you! Stay tuned for the next update—coming soon!

Can I Help You?

If I can help you in any way I would love to hear from you. You can get in touch using the form below.

Thanks - Andi

 

Hi, Andi here. I own Buildahottub.com and also write all of the articles and info pages on the site. Some years back now, I built my own hot tub but struggled to find the information I needed. So, once my tub was complete, I started this website to help others in their own pursuit of hot tub and plunge pools DIY building information.

Fast forward to 2025, I've helped over 1400+ DIY customers just like you all over the world build hot tubs and pools. Have a good look around the site, there are lots of resources here. Please do get in touch if I can help you. - Cheers, Andi