Dreaming of a hot tub but don't think you're experience enough to install one? If you have built a deck, and connected your dishwasher, you have all the skills you need to install your hot tub.

Decide whether you want to put the hot tub on top of a simple pad, or build a deck for it. The layout of your property will usually dictate this choice. For help in design in sunroom "http://www.allsunrooms.com/index.html">resources on sunrooms, buy an inexpensive software program that assists with home improvement projects. It will have ideas and instructions on how to do a hot tub.

The program won't do the work for you, but it will help you a lot!

Measuring properly is an important first step in any home improvement project. Measure the base of the tub and then allow about a two foot perimeter so you can get into the tub. Multiply this entire width by the length of the tub and you have the amount of space you need for this project.

The next step is to find out the amount of water your hot tub will hold. The manufacturer will supply this information with the specifications for the tub.

This is an important bit of information because you have to know how much the hot tub will weigh when it is full. A tub full of water can weigh over 5,000 pounds, and when you add the people sitting in it, you can easily add another 1,000 pounds. You have to make sure the surface you are putting the hot tub on can support this kind of weight.

If you are installing directly on the ground, this should not be a problem, but be sure to clear the area of any rocks that may puncture the tub. If there is a wooden base, you can probably just put down some material to stop weeds.

Many people prefer a platform to install their hot tub into. The tub will not be as prone to mildew and mold as it would be installed directly on dirt.

This surface has to be smooth and must be able to support the pressure you have calculated the tub will have to support. To calculate the pressure, divide the total weight by the area of the tub.

You can install a platform from concrete that will be strong and level enough for your hot tub, as long as you follow your locality's building code when pouring the concrete into the form.

Using a wooden platform for the hot tub is the ideal solution and, if done correctly, can support the tub easily. Here is the way to do it: lay 12 2X6 boards on edge, and attach them to outside 2x6s with L braces. The lower platform is formed from 4X4s, which are strong enough to hold the weight.

Lay this out, allowing a maximum of one foot between the joists. You may have to consult your local building code for exact specifications. The boards are then attached with bolts and nuts.

The empty hot tub alone can weigh hundreds of pounds, so make sure you have some helpers with this job. You can always let them soak in the tub afterwards.

The controls, lighting and motor require electrical work, so if you are not experienced in this area, you should hire an electrician. If you have done electrical work before, it is not difficult. Simply run conduit from a box that it in a trench of 18 inches minimum. Using fish tape, pull the wires from a 240 volt outlet that is Ground Fault Current Interrupter protected. Using the manufacturer's directions, connect the wires. (Fish tape is a flexible reel that can snake down a pipe. The wires are attached and pulled through the pipe.)

One last caveat: make sure you get an inspection before you fill the tub. If you fail the inspection, you will have to drain it. All that water and heat wasted, and the chemicals to keep the hot tub clean will kill your grass. Once you pass inspection, fill the tub, invite the helpers and relax.