DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi all,

I want to build a hot tub. I have no experience whatsoever in woodwork, carpentry, electrics, or plumbing but I want to learn about this sort of stuff and I'm having trouble finding adequate learning resources on the internet.

Do I need a qualification for this sort of thing? Do I need to study a specific course? Like I've been looking at hot tub heater pumps but I have no idea how you even work them.

I really need some advice on this, I don't mind studying or learning but I need some sort of starting point so I know what I'm doing.

Thanks,
Adam

You say you want to build a hot tub? Every hot tub I have ever seen is made from "plastic" and has moulded in seats / similar shapes. So I for one can not see how you can make your own.

A hot tub makes where it is placed a bathroom, there are variations through the UK, but I think every Principality or Country within the UK has a bathroom as a special location. This means the local authorities will need notifying and will charge a fee.

This is a major issue with DIY, although you can break the law, I have to assume that is not what you intend to do. So often it is actually cheaper to get an electrician to do the electrical work than DIY that part. The Part P regulations in England and Wales do allow you to DIY, however in Wales this can be expensive, can't say what will happen in other areas but in Wales the fees are fixed by the Welsh assembly, there is a fee which covers the first £1000 worth of work, if the work would cost £1000 then not too bad, around £100 plus vat, but even if the work costs £50 you still have the same fee.

On top of this they can charge for specialists. If you can inspect and test and fill in your own certificates great, but if you can't show you have the skill then they can bring in outside firms to do the testing. This is like an open cheque, if they don't like the work and fail it, when you alter it they get paid to re-test.

I would suggest you get an electrician first, and ask him what you can do to assist the work.

Adaaam

Electrically if you have no knowledge, your best move as advised previously , you should consult your local registered Electrician.

Adaaam said he wants to "build" a hot tub. I take that to mean he wants to literally build one from nothing.

Sounds like I need to consult an electrician, I mean like I said I don't have much DIY knowledge but I think the shells are made from acrylic which is thermoformed and hardened with resin or something like that. I could probably work out the piping to the tub myself but electrics is where I'd really be stuck.