An Octagon DIY Hot Tub

Not every hot tub that I design is square and this one is certainly not – it’s an Octagon Hot Tub!

 

This is a project I am doing with Marshall over in California USA. Marshall, like a lot of my customers knew exactly what he wanted to build but he was just not really sure about the plumbing side of things.

 

He has been following my blog and my YouTube Channel for some time but still needed a little “push” in the right direction to feel comfortable in getting started with the project.

This is normal!

Initial Contact

 

Marshall reached out to me and explained exactly what he was looking to do. He had drawn up the plans (below) and as you can see, they were structurally perfect and the layout was good. What he really needed my help with was the plumbing.

So, Marshall hired me to consult on his plumbing layout and draw it up. What is great about the 3D layouts is you can pretty much follow what has to connect to where – a bit like Lego!

 

Parts Supply

 

Marshall also chose to have me supply all the plumbing parts that he needed. In this way not only can I help him with some free consulting on the build, but also, I know that everything he has fits together and if he follows the plan it will work. Moreover, I know all the kit really well so trouble shooting if things don’t quite go to plan is much easier.

Breaking ground

 

This is where the fun begins. Marhsall and a couple of friends had marked out where the tub was going to go and started to break ground. This tub is going to be an above ground tub so there was not too much digging to be done – just enough to form up a concrete pad for the tub to be built on.

With the ground clear, it was time for Marshall and the team to add the rebar structure for the concrete. This gives it strength. You can also see that the rebar does not sit on the ground, it is lifted up so that it ends up in the middle of the concrete.

 

Next, it was time to pour some concrete. Marshall and the team are mixing this by hand but they made light work of it.

 

This tub is going to have the walls formed with concrete so the next stage is to create the forms which are really a large wooden mould into which they would be pouring concrete.

You can see on the image above that they have also added som insulation inside and the plumbing too – well, the through wall plumbing.

Next stage was to then pour the walls. After the concrete had been cured – this is normally 5-7 days the forms are removed and wow – how good does this look already!

 

And….that view

 

The next stage for Marshall’s Octagon hot tub is to work on the interior – you can see the seats are starting to go in here.

 

This is a ongoing project – please do check back soon for the latest updates!

Hot Tub Update: Plumbing Progress in California!

Just wanted to give you all a quick update on the awesome octagon hot tub build happening over in California that Marshall is building. 

Remember in the last video we saw the walls all formed up? Well, this time around it’s all about getting that plumbing installed, which is pretty darn exciting if you ask me! Imagine, bubbling away in your very own hot tub, ahh bliss!

So, what did we learn about the plumbing process in the video? Let’s dive deeper into those cool takeaways:

• Gravity’s the name of the game: The control room, which houses all the fancy tech like pumps and filters, is actually sitting below the water line of the tub. This might seem odd at first, but it’s all because of the type of pumps Marshall is using. Centrifugal pumps rely on gravity to get the water flowing efficiently rather than self-priming pool pump.
• Double the pumps, double the fun! Marshall is actually installing a two-pump system with each pump serving a specific purpose. One pump is for keeping the water circulating and sparkling clean, and the other jet pump is specifically for when you want to crank up those massage jets. Perfect for when you want to melt away the stress after a long day!
• Short and sweet for powerful jets: Instead of having one continuous loop of piping around the tub, they’re using shorter sections that end abruptly. This might seem a little odd, but it’s all to make sure those jets have enough pressure to give you that perfect massage experience. Soaking muscles will thank you later!
• Getting ready for tile time! The coping tiles are all in place now, and Marshall is getting the surface prepped for the top row of tiles. The bottom of the tub will either be getting the tile treatment or a splash of paint, but that decision hasn’t been made just yet.

What’s next? Well, Marshall still has to get all those tiles installed, fill the tub up with water, and then comes the best part – testing it all out! I can’t wait to see how this amazing octagon hot tub turns out.

If you’re thinking about building your own hot tub at home, then be sure to subscribe to the Buildahottub YouTube channel for more updates on this project and other hot tub building adventures! 

 

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.

Today, I've helped over 1000 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