Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - small brick patio for a hot tub/spa?

I'm looking for advice on building a small (8' x 8' or so) brick patio (nothing fancy) to support a 4000 pound hot tub (that's with water and people :)... the hot tub is about 6'x6' at it's base so the weight is pretty dispersed but the patio needs to be as level as possible and resist settling as much as possible... any advice out there on how i can accomplish this??

I'm pretty handy but have never undertaken a project quite like this (or done much brick work)...

thanks!!!

I'ld pour a 4" concrete slab, mortar my bricks on that, then set the tub on it.

so the basic process is to level some ground, frame the area with boards and then pour a concrete slab... let it dry then brick over top of it? how much can i ballpark this to cost me for an 8'x8' square?

8' X 8' is about a yard of concrete. With the forms, that's about $100.

I would dig it out about 8" deep and put in 4" of base -- another $50.

If frost is an issue, dig in a 6" wide footing around the perimeter. That might add another $50 of concrete, depending on how deep you have to go.

Doing it yourself, about $200 plus the bricks and the mortar.

ok not too bad at all... approx how much would the bricks and mortar be?

and so i have this straight - we're saying dig an 8" hole 8'x8', fill it with 4" of concrete (how do i ensure that this hole is level and the concrete slab dries level??) - this 4" is what you called "base", then on top of that what? we're still 4" below ground here... do i just lay the bricks on top of that?

THANKS!!!

An 8 X 8 hole, 8" deep. Now the forms. Now 4" of base. Can be what is called 'road base', or pea gravel, crushed rock -- any will do OK to buffer between the soil and the concrete. THEN 4" of concrete.

Getting it level is simply a matter of getting the forms level, then using a screed board or other straight edge across the forms to achieve the depth needed. The dirt bottom of the hole dosn't have to be perfect. Neither does the base, once you get it in the hole. Once you put the concrete inside the forms, screed it around, float it and edge it. As long as the forms are level, the concrete will be (and stay) level.

Cost of the bricks will be determined by whatever you choose to use, and if you happen to find them on sale. A concrete red brick will be about 25 to 30 cents each. A clay used brick can be over $1 each. Red or gray pavers are about $2 each, but they cover 1 sq. ft.

There are lots of choices out there -- any of them can work. Depends on what you want it to look like.

lefty thanks for all this you're really helping me here, don't give up on me quite yet - i've almost got all the info i need to get started...

one question i have remaining though - what exactly is a "form"? i was thinking just to line the edges with wood planks (like 2x4's)... i'm assuming by what you're telling me there is a much better method... forms?

Form -- a 2X4 that defines the edge. just use stakes to hold them in place, and duplex nails to keep the corners together.

(A duplex nail is one that has 2 heads -- one below the other. You sink it to the first head, and use the second head to pull it once the concrete has set up so you can get the forms apart.)

yeah we're on the same track - that's exactly what i thought you meant just wanted to make sure in case there was a better way of doing it... i think i have this down... after i get started i'll probably post back here with more questions for you :D

I'll be here!