Should you build a custom hot tub? When going custom makes sense, what’s possible, and the key decisions to make before anything is drawn up.
Author Archives: buildahottub
Cocktail & Plunge Pool Related, Design / Ideas Related
Hot Tub Pool Combo: The Complete DIY Design Guide
15
Jan
Jan
My complete guide to designing a DIY hot tub and pool combo: layouts, spillover or separate water, plumbing, heating, chemistry, permits and safety.
DIY Hot Tub Building, Materials and Construction Related
DIY Hot Tub Construction: Block, ICF or Poured Concrete?
13
Jan
Jan
The three construction methods that are genuinely within reach of a DIYer (block, ICF and poured concrete), how to build the base and waterproof the shell, and why gunite is best left to the pros.
Design / Ideas Related, DIY Hot Tub Building
Planning a DIY Hot Tub in 2022 – Here is where to start!
04
Jan
Jan
Planning a DIY Hot Tub in 2022? To get what you want in terms of a DIY Hot Tub in your mind, that dream tub you can picture yourself in, relaxing, steam rising, bubbles bubbling, to actually building one takes a quantum leap…..
DIY Hot Tub Building, Support & Maintenance
Hot Tub Wiring Explained: Spa Pack Wiring, Cable Sizes and RCD/GFCI (UK and US)
13
Dec
Dec
How a hot tub is wired, from the consumer unit or panel to the spa pack and pumps, with cable sizing, RCD/GFCI protection and the key UK vs US differences.
Design / Ideas Related, Plumbing Related
Can You Heat a Hot Tub with a Ground Source Heat Pump? (2026 Guide)
08
Dec
Dec
You can heat a hot tub from a ground source heat pump using a heat exchanger, but it only really makes sense if you already have one. Here’s how it works, what grants apply in 2026, and how it compares with the air source heat pump I use.
27
Nov
Nov
Francisco in Chile wanted his DIY hot tub heated by a fire pit. Here’s how his custom, triangular build came together, plus a few safety points if you fancy trying fire-heated water yourself.
12
Nov
Nov
Building a hot tub in a basement is very doable if you plan for humidity, drainage, floor loading, indoor electrical rules and building control. Here’s what to think about.
Design / Ideas Related, DIY Hot Tub Building, Plumbing Related
Hot Tub Control Room Position: Where to Put It and Why It Matters
02
Nov
Nov
Where you put your hot tub control room decides how strong your jets are, whether your pumps prime, and how easy the tub is to live with. Here’s how to get the position right.
29
Oct
Oct
Marc swapped a burst inflatable hot tub for a DIY built-in tub squeezed into an awkward space between his house and garage. Follow his build, video by video.