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Points to consider when positioning your spa:
* Security regards young children. Is it on
view?
* How close to where you change or disrobe
* Sunny position at best time of day
* Avoid overlooked locations, create privacy
* Shelter from prevailing wind or wind tunnels
* The electrical supply run to the Spa, fuse
and RCD
* Hose to fill and drain the Spa. Where to drain
to?
* Year round suitability of surface and maintenance
* Will the Spa go through on the delivery trolley?
* What view do you want to enjoy from the spa?
* Try not to obstruct other views from the house
* Ground works needed for solid, level base
* Refuse bin to keep area tidy and safe
* Use only plastic glasses or cutlery around
the spa
If you haven’t already got a patio or
terrace for your new spa you can use the opportunity
to create an outdoor living area as a setting
to entertain and enjoy your new spa in the garden
all year round.
There has never been such a wonderful choice
of designer paving and walling to bring stylish
features to the garden. Entertainment areas
can be created with different types, textures
and colours of paving to complement classic or
contemporary garden design.
Features such as seats, low or high level planting
areas, screens and bars can be built in low maintenance
finishes. Split levels with steps can make a
feature of the natural contours of your garden.
Paving naturally blends into the garden and becomes
part of its fabric adding value over time to
your property.
Decking
If you are looking at American style decking,
do check out its value and suitability over
the long term. This nineties trend can result
in high maintenance surfaces that become green
and slippery over winter, then need pressure
cleaning and re-treating in the spring. As
leaves and debris get under the deck, weeds
and slugs are attracted and a “rat run” can
be created next to your house, scratching pets
and splinters also cause problems. Most
of all, beware of experts who sell “systems” you
would pay a quarter of the price for elsewhere.
We feel decking is best for the trailer parks
of America and even Britain’s top garden
personality has said that he is sorry about
it.
Use
* Durable waterproof finishes for hard standing
and the spa setting
* Coordinated landscape materials in keeping
with the garden
* Anti slip surfaces suitable for wet feet
Ideas
* Relaxation area for tables and chairs
* Surround your tub with potted plants, trees
and shrubs
* Areas to plant bedding and bulbs
* Privacy from walling, trellis and pergolas
* Theme the whole location
Construction and Design
Avoid
* Surfaces that become dangerously slippery,
especially in winter
* Surfaces that stain from water splash
* Surfaces that need preservative stains
* Surfaces with sharp fixings and splinters
* High maintenance summer-only surfaces
* Surrounds that allows weeds to grow through
* Areas that encourage vermin and snails
* Overhanging trees blocking sky views
* Barbecue too close to spa or users
* Lime trees and sticky secretion from aphids
Walk in gazebos - sheer luxury all year round
The site for a walk in gazebo should be slightly
above the surrounding area to prevent pooling.
The heaviest concrete foundation guideline
should be followed, with a membrane under the
concrete, then finished in level paving where
the walls stand. A row of 450mm paving around
the gazebo allows for maintenance and stops
soil splash from drips from the roof. The paving
needs to be extended in front of the door to
allow for its 1.2m width and outward swing
of 605mm. Planted tubs on the paving by the
doors make an attractive addition.
Choose a paving that complements the redwood
of the gazebo and the character of your garden.
If you are designing a large paved area the foundation
can be adjusted away from the weight of the spa
and gazebo.
The Coronado Gazebo fits over 7ft sq hot tubs
of spas such as the Providence and Exeter SE. The
spa and gazebo should ideally be sited on a hard
standing that extends beyond the overhang of
the roof to ensure drip does not cause soil to
splash back while the paving to the front of
the gazebo should be extended for the steps that
come with the hot tub. Follow the preparation
guide when preparing a paved hard standing.
NOTE:- It may be advisable to extend the hard
standing around your spa. This will allow all
round access and avoid soil splash from water
coming over the side of the spa. Should you wish
to add a gazebo to your spa in the future an
extension of the hard standing would also be
necessary.
When a spa and gazebo become the focal point
of a larger paved area, there is space for pots
and tubs to compliment the gazebo as well as
garden furniture to entertain and relax.
PLANNING
Having chosen your paving, a little time planning
your spa setting can make all the difference. Mark
the outline of the area to be paved on graph
paper and try to adjust your design to suit
the slab sizes to save or avoid cutting.
Draw in each slab as this provides a good guide
to ordering and laying. Always ensure the paving
will not flood and over large areas provide a “fall” to
allow rainwater to run off, although the paving
under the spa should be level. If the spa is
located in a soft landscaped area, a path or
stepping stones leading to the spa should be
considered. Plan for a conduit under your
paving for electrics and possibly water.
Avoid using loose chippings, stones etc as these
will pick up on wet feet and transfer to your
spa.
Preparation
Depending on ground conditions, top soil is usually
removed to the depth of a spade to reach undisturbed
sub strata such as clay or chalk. A layer
of hard core or similar material then needs
to be compacted to a depth of 100-150mm. On
top of this a concrete slab is formed to suit
the size of the spa.
The thickness of the slab can vary but is typically
between 100 & 150mm and sometimes lightly
reinforced. The concrete does not need
to be so thick under the surrounding paving.
Slabs can then laid on a mortar bed on top of
this concrete slab.
Particular attention is needed on made up ground. Where
the ground is solid, prepare it in much the same
way by removing the top soil. However,
a light layer of sub base material and a lean
mix of ballast or sharp sand and cement may well
suffice to support a paved finish laid on mortar. Ground
conditions do vary, so these are only guidelines. If
in doubt, consult a local expert.
Having decided on the type of sub base suitable
for your requirement, mark out the perimeters
of the proposed paved area with pegs and strings,
then excavate to the required level and depth. Proceed
to mark out a level finished paving surface with
wooden pegs to suit the footprint of the spa. When
you want to set a fall, tape a spirit level to
a straight edge and support this on two pegs
2m apart. Place a 50mm wooden block under the
straight edge on the second peg and tap this
peg down until a level reading is obtained, this
will achieve a fall between the two pegs with
the block removed of 1:40. Compact your
hardcore and consolidate with a lean or wet concrete
mix to suit, then lay your paving on a mortar
mix.
SURROUND TO SPA
If you are creating a new area for a spa we suggest
the paving or hard standing is extended by
450mm to the back and both sides of the spa
to avoid soil splash and to allow access. On
popular 2m+ sq. spas, the paving to the front
of the spa should come out further to accommodate
the steps that usually come with these spas.
Once the space the spa requires has been accommodated,
a larger paved area can be shaped to create depth
and interest to your spa setting.
POINTING
All joints should be pointed using a wet mortar
mix to produce a permanent finish that drains
off.
ELECTRICS
Garden lighting should be able to be switched
on from the house and fit a waterproof socket
near the gazebo. Ensure all electrical
connections are protected by a 30 milliamp
RCD and comply with up-to-date regulations. |
