How to make a hot tub with your own hands - SamStroy - construction, design, architecture.

Looking at the prices for hot tubs, you might think that almost space technology was used in their manufacture.

But if you think about it, there cannot be anything complicated in such a device: a pump, a compressor, several perforated tubes or nozzles - that’s all.

And if so, why not try to make your own hot tub? Let's see how this can be done.

Types of Jacuzzi

First of all, let's see what types of hydromassage baths are in general. Based on the type of massage, they are divided into the following types:

With air massage. The air pumped by the compressor is supplied through the nozzles.
With hydromassage (jet massage). Jets of water are supplied, which is taken by a pump directly from the font.
Combined. These baths offer both types of massage.

Detergents should not be used in whirlpool baths, as they may clog the jets.

Jacuzzi in the country

In addition, Jacuzzis differ in shape. The following options are available to the user:

Rectangular. Usually designed for one person, since a large volume of water would deform a bathtub of this shape. Installed against the wall.
Round. In such baths, the weight of the water does not cause bending forces to appear in the wall, but only tensile ones, so its volume can be quite large. Jacuzzis for several people are made exactly round. Among all the options, this bathtub takes up the most space, so it is only suitable for spacious rooms.
Angular. And this, on the contrary, is an option for compact spaces. The fact is that the corner is the least popular area of the room and when installing a bathtub here it will seem that the free space has hardly decreased. It should be borne in mind that a corner Jacuzzi is slightly less convenient to use than a round or rectangular one.

The listed types of baths are the main ones. In addition to them, polygonal, arbitrary-shaped, angular asymmetrical (somewhat elongated to one side), etc. are produced.

Jacuzzi in the floor

Speaking about the types of Jacuzzis, one cannot fail to note the material of the bowl, on which a lot depends. The buyer has the following options to choose from:

Steel bathtubs: a very popular option because it combines a number of advantages: reasonable cost, high strength, low weight. The disadvantage is the high rate of cooling of the water, but in the case of a Jacuzzi this does not really matter: when a large amount of air at room temperature is passed through the water (air massage), it will quickly cool down regardless of what material the bowl is made of.
Cast iron: the only “advantage” of these heavy and expensive bathtubs is that the water in them does not cool down so quickly. But for a Jacuzzi, this advantage, as just said, is not very relevant.
Acrylic: a plastic bathtub is a budget option. It is cheap, but very fragile, and the surface is easily scratched.

Along with indoor Jacuzzis, outdoor ones are also available. The bowl is usually made of acrylic, but with reinforcement.

Designer version of the jacuzzi

Those who find making a full-size bathtub too complicated may be interested in a special variety - a mini-jacuzzi. This bath is designed to massage the feet, which, as you know, have many biologically active points.

Next, we will look at two options for homemade massage baths - a simplified one and a slightly more complex one.

Hydromassage is a wonderful device for relaxation after a hard day at work. Installing a jacuzzi and the procedure for connecting it to utilities is the topic of the next article.

The options and functions of hot tubs are described in detail here.

You can read about the distinctive features of cast iron whirlpool baths in this article.

Preparation for installation work

The choice of materials for a future design requires increased attention from the buyer. The structure that will soon be installed in the bathroom must be reliable and of high quality.

The first stage of work is creating a base for the container

The base for a jacuzzi can be brickwork or a frame filled with concrete mixture. Experienced craftsmen advise choosing the right shape for your future DIY Jacuzzi. A bathroom recessed into the floor will provide reduced pressure on the walls. The dimensions of future sides are calculated based on the size of the entire bathroom (area and height of the room). On average, a half-meter height of the top of the jacuzzi is the best option for both small and large bathrooms.

The second stage of work - how to choose a bowl

The rounded edges of the bowl reduce the likelihood of injury during operation of the device, so the fashionable modern trend of “geometry” in bathroom design does not apply to a homemade Jacuzzi. Brick base, installation area is completely plastered. Insulating solutions, which complete the processing stage of the bowl, ensure the integrity of the future structure.

The third stage of work is the final cladding

The final step in the process of creating a homemade hydrobath will be finishing work. Decorating the surface of the bathroom is carried out only after reliable installation of the base of the jacuzzi. For such purposes, it is advisable to use ceramic tiles.

The time-tested finishing material can withstand even the heaviest load on the structure, and the colors of tiles of different types and shapes help create unique patterns, adding variety to the design of the bathroom.

Experienced craftsmen warn that the smaller the size of the selected material, the easier it is to cover the surface of the bathroom, so the characteristics of the tile are provided for at the time of purchase of the finish.

Required tools and materials

To work you will need the following:

drill and drill bit with a diameter of 1.5 mm;
knife;
heater for welding polypropylene pipes.

For the second, more complex option, construction tools will be required:

Master OK;
putty knife;
grout;
level;
plumb line

You also need to prepare materials:

polypropylene pipes and corners;
tee made of the same material;
flexible polymer hose.

If you have an old, no longer used clamshell, the aluminum tubes of its frame can be used instead of plastic ones.

For a more complex option, you will still need to prepare:

brick;
cement;
sand.

Purchase ceramic tiles and waterproof adhesive for them.

How to make a jacuzzi with your own hands from an ordinary bathtub

So, let's start with the simplest solution: we will make an air massager that can be installed in a regular bathtub, and removed after the procedure. It is done very simply:

A frame is assembled from aluminum or plastic tubes of such a size that it fits on the bottom of the bathtub with some spacer force (then it will not dangle). If a plastic pipe is used, such a frame can be made with crossbars (several tees are needed) so that it looks like a ladder.
A tee is cut into one of the frame tubes.
Holes with a diameter of 1.5 mm are drilled in the frame tubes every 100 mm. All of them are performed on one side - the one that, after installation in the bathtub, will face the user, that is, upward.
A plastic hose is connected to the outlet of the tee.
All that remains is to connect the free end of the hose to the vacuum cleaner on the air discharge side.

Jacuzzi from a regular bathroom

To turn an ordinary bath into an air massage bath, just place this product in it and turn on the vacuum cleaner. After the procedure, the frame is removed and the bathtub can again be used in the usual way.

Jacuzzi for rooms with concrete floor

In this option, it is proposed to make the bath bowl yourself by lining its walls with brick.

In this case, “concrete floor” means a slab or a home-made foundation on the ground, but not an interfloor slab.

The work order is as follows:

A recess is knocked out in the concrete floor, the dimensions of which correspond to the dimensions of the bowl. If the bathtub is designed for two, then the optimal size would be 2x1.5 m.
The walls of the recess are leveled and polished with a grinder. The bottom can be leveled with a cement-sand screed.
A circuit with holes is assembled from plastic or steel pipes in the same way as was done for a regular bath (see above). It must have an outlet for connection to the compressor.
The assembled circuit is placed in a recess and filled with cement, but not completely, but so that the upper part with holes protrudes by 1 - 2 cm. Before pouring, you need to install and connect to the sewer a water drainage device with a lid (ladder), if it is intended to be installed in the floor. But a drain hole can also be made in the wall by placing a piece of pipe in the masonry.
A pipe or hose is connected to the outlet of the circuit, through which air will be pumped into it by a compressor.
A brick rim is built around the recess, so that the depth of the homemade jacuzzi will ultimately be approximately 50 cm.

The walls are plastered with a solution containing liquid glass (provides water resistance), after which the inside of the bathtub is covered with special waterproof tiles for finishing swimming pools.

It must be glued to “liquid nails” or special tile adhesive. The tiles laid on the bottom where the pipes are located must be trimmed accordingly.

Self-installation of a jacuzzi

As a result, the outline should only slightly peek out from the cladding. Choose tiles without a pattern. Otherwise, the image on adjacent trimmed tiles will not match, and this is very noticeable.

After a day or two, when the glue has completely hardened, the joints are grouted with a waterproof silicone-based compound.
If the bathtub is adjacent to a wall, the latter must be protected from moisture with a special side.

The bath must be located in such a way that there is easy access to the pipes and equipment for maintenance.

Jacuzzi installation

It is very advisable to equip a homemade jacuzzi with a water heating device. As already mentioned, during aeromassage the air takes away a lot of heat. If there is no heater in the bath, the user will not be able to fully relax, since he will have to constantly add hot water.

The heater must be manufactured in accordance with all electrical safety rules, so only a purchased version should be used - a homemade one can be hazardous.

Brick Jacuzzi for a bath or sauna ↑

This type of plumbing should be built on the first floor of a house with a basement: pipes can be laid there.

Sequence of actions when installing a jacuzzi ↑

If you decide to place the level of the bathroom just above the floor level (for ease of use), you need to make a large recess in the floor slab to the size of the container of the future jacuzzi. If the house is wooden, then a hole is cut out. For two people, the minimum parameters are: length - 2 m, width - 1.5 m, depth - at least 0.5 m.

The walls and corners of the recess need to be leveled, the concrete is processed with a grinder and a grinder.
In the resulting recess it is necessary to lay brickwork to create a pool. Another option is to purchase and install an acrylic bathtub, but in this case the dimensions of the recess must correspond to its dimensions. It is important that the wall thickness is as wide as possible (cheap Chinese models are not suitable).

Laying bricks for the future bath

We lay out a brick edge around the perimeter: it will make the Jacuzzi more attractive and reduce the water pressure on the walls. If the mini-pool is built of brick lined with ceramic tiles, steps should also be made in the inner part: this will make it more convenient to descend into the water.
You need to decide on the type of plumbing: its operation can be based on hydromassage or air massage. In some cases, these systems can be combined. In accordance with the choice, equipment is purchased - an air compressor or a pump with a set of filters.

Installing a finished bathtub for a homemade jacuzzi

In order to ensure the supply of water or air to the nozzles (sprayers) built into the bathtub body, it is necessary to use pipes. They can be polypropylene, connected by welding, copper or any other material that is used for installing water pipes.

Connection diagram for a homemade jacuzzi

Sprayers can be purchased from the Jacuzzi manufacturer: the repair kit should include the following spare parts: Determine their installation locations and make holes of the appropriate diameter.
Install the nozzles so that tightness is ensured. For this purpose, rubber gaskets are used.
It is possible to install decorative lighting: for this purpose, special sealed lamps are used, built into the bottom and walls of the acrylic bathtub.

Spotlights built into the bottom or walls of the bathtub will help create a romantic atmosphere

Compressor installation

The set of equipment that will need to be installed on a homemade jacuzzi bathtub depends on what type of massage it is designed for:

aeromassage: it is enough to install only a compressor;
aeromassage and hydromassage (supplying jets of water): in addition to the compressor, you will need a pump.

When choosing the second option, it is necessary to provide a hole in the wall of the bowl through which the pump will draw water to supply it to the massage circuit.

The equipment does not add aesthetics to the bathtub, so it should be installed hidden. To do this, a recess is made in the floor or a niche in the wall, which will be covered with a lid. The switches connected to the devices must be installed in some place convenient for the bather - on the bath itself or nearby on the wall.

Don't want to go through the hassle of installing a jacuzzi? Buy a hydromassage bath mat that does not require special installation but performs similar functions.

The types of whirlpool baths, as well as their sizes and prices are listed in the following article.

Option for a summer residence

If you want to spend time in a Jauzi not only at home, but also at your summer cottage, you can easily do this. There are a huge variety of models that are designed for outdoor use: these can be heated inflatable bathtubs , as well as stationary outdoor Jacuzzis . You can find information about them in special articles.

But you can also make a country jacuzzi with your own hands. The same design as we discussed above. It can be used not only for a regular bath, but also for a suburban area where a swimming pool or other water container is installed. Some even manage to use a wheel from a huge tractor as a homemade swimming pool.

Operating rules

To avoid possible problems, follow these recommendations:

Install coarse filters on the water supply in front of the jacuzzi so that the holes for supplying water jets (hydromassage) do not become clogged with sand.
To prevent the pump and compressor from failing due to overheating, limit massage sessions to 30 minutes and after each one, turn off the equipment for at least 10 minutes.

If there is a hydromassage function, periodically pump a disinfectant solution through the pump and massage circuit.

To do this, you need to fill the bathtub and dissolve a special disinfectant composition in water (you can buy it in stores like “bath supplies”), then let the equipment run for 10 minutes.