A hot tub in your garden is a great way of getting a bit of peace and tranquility in the comfort of your own home. It's important to decide exactly where you're going to locate your hot tub, as it needs to be positioned on a solid surface, so make sure wherever you choose has space for concrete. You also need to decide whether it's going to be submerged in the ground or put on an existing structure, such as decking, as this can affect the installation process.

As well as space for the hot tub itself, you need to allocate room to the equipment that comes with it - typically consisting of a pump, filter, heater and piping, all of which need to be positioned a safe distance away from the tub itself. Check your instructions to make sure you've allocated enough room as space requirements can vary. You also need to make sure you have access to a gas line and plumbing and to ensure there's lots of space around your heater so it doesn't combust.

Next, make sure you thoroughly prepare your chosen location before you begin assembly as it will be hard to access once the hot tub is in place. You'll need to create concrete foundations for the hot tub and the equipment and, if you're using pre-existing decking, get an engineer to check the structural integrity of the wood to make sure it won't collapse. Also, if you're sinking the hot tub in the ground, make sure there's a 12 inch clearance all around at that it's not in contact with any soil.

Once everything is ready, you can begin assembling your tub. Individual tubs vary, but as a general rule, you should install the support joists and suctions before assembling the tub. You also need to make sure the external structure is watertight, so make sure to seal everything with silicon. Make sure your joists are sound as this will make your hot tub sturdy. Then build your tub upwards from the bottom, but don't bang it too hard or this will affect the structural integrity.

Nearly there now! Once the external structure is complete, move onto the internal parts. The bulk of this consists of the bench seat, which gives you somewhere to sit in the hot tub. Take care to make sure it's level and that you don't harm the structure of the tub when you install it. Also sand down the top rim of the tub to remove the risk of splinters and give you a nice finish. Then, after all your hard work, it's probably about time to check out the tub. Have fun!