I have just purchased an Artic Spas Kodiak and am somewhat frustrated with the implementation of my final plan and will be interested in any comments or advice from other users. Here's my story:
I have not yet taken delivery of my tub so cannot yet comment on the tub itself. I have a large deck with access to my back yard (acreage). My plan is to have the stairs go 2/3 of the way down to a landing/deck that will be against one side of the tub and flush with the top of the tub skirt. The last of the stairs will return from this landing to the ground. My first issue was maintaining access to the service panels of the tub. My plan was to have the deck joist parallel to the tub stand off just enough that the panels could be removed The panels are full tub height and unless the deck was to be higher than the tub the joist interfere with the access panels. This is my first point of frustration. The next point came when the tub dealer advised me that they will not crawl under any decks to service a tub and that top side access hatches need to be built into the deck. With a bit of extra work I can accommodate this which now brings on my 3rd. point of frustration; access/safety rail. There are a few rails out there but each has it's issues. A couple of models can be swiveled once the cover is removed but the locking mechanism is a thumb screw half way down which would mean climbing under the deck each time. Another model can be mounted to the deck surface but ends up being too high and I'm not sure rail can be safely attached to the tub access panels and, so far, the vendor can’t tell me if the mounting bracket can be flipped so I can attach it to the inside of the joist.
If anyone has installed a tub with a surrounding deck I will be interested in hearing your comments and experience. I have not yet installed the tub or completed the lower deck so still can modify my plans if necessary. Thank you.
I have not yet taken delivery of my tub so cannot yet comment on the tub itself. I have a large deck with access to my back yard (acreage). My plan is to have the stairs go 2/3 of the way down to a landing/deck that will be against one side of the tub and flush with the top of the tub skirt. The last of the stairs will return from this landing to the ground. My first issue was maintaining access to the service panels of the tub. My plan was to have the deck joist parallel to the tub stand off just enough that the panels could be removed The panels are full tub height and unless the deck was to be higher than the tub the joist interfere with the access panels. This is my first point of frustration. The next point came when the tub dealer advised me that they will not crawl under any decks to service a tub and that top side access hatches need to be built into the deck. With a bit of extra work I can accommodate this which now brings on my 3rd. point of frustration; access/safety rail. There are a few rails out there but each has it's issues. A couple of models can be swiveled once the cover is removed but the locking mechanism is a thumb screw half way down which would mean climbing under the deck each time. Another model can be mounted to the deck surface but ends up being too high and I'm not sure rail can be safely attached to the tub access panels and, so far, the vendor can’t tell me if the mounting bracket can be flipped so I can attach it to the inside of the joist.
If anyone has installed a tub with a surrounding deck I will be interested in hearing your comments and experience. I have not yet installed the tub or completed the lower deck so still can modify my plans if necessary. Thank you.