How to Make Above-Ground Hot Tubs Look Built-In
Built-in or in-ground hot tubs may be the preferred choice for homeowners because they work well in landscapes, but they are difficult, if not impossible, to relocate after installation. Underground utility pipes may also prevent homeowners from excavating the area to install a built-in hot tub. Above-ground hot tubs are not limited by these restrictions. If an above-ground hot tub is your preferred choice, you can still achieve the look of a built-in spa with a few landscaping techniques. This is welcome news for avid gardeners who may squirm at the thought of such obstructive features. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Build a deck around the hot tub so that the deck floor and top of the hot tub are on even ground. Existing decks can be extended to fit around hot tubs.
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Dig out a hillside to form a level area to install the hot tub. With the hot tub butted up against the side of the hill, it will look as though it was built into the hillside.
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Build a set of steps, perhaps with a platform, to lead up to one side of the hot tub. When this approach is coupled with a hot tub installed against a hill, the built-in look is even more apparent.
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Introduce mature or adult plants around a new hot tub; using larger, mature plants, instead of young plants, gives the impression that the hot tub has long been a part of the landscape. Surrounding the hot tub with a hedge or using plants with descending heights, as you move away from the hot tub, may further fool the eye into believing that the hot tub is built in.
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Tips & Warnings
Instead of adding to an existing deck, install the hot tub in a corner on the deck floor and build a set of steps with a platform to access the tub. When installed in a corner and with steps on the two exposed sides, all four sides are concealed to give a built-in look.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
