Traditional Wooden Hot Tub Installation in North-East Dublin

For this residential garden project in north-east Dublin, Polaris Sauna installed a traditional wooden hot tub with a fully wooden interior and no plastic liner.

The hot tub was equipped with an external wood-fired stove, a 2 kW electric auxiliary heater, a circulation pump, a filtration system and UV-C water treatment.

This fully wooden hot tub is available as a bespoke solution rather than as part of our standard online range. The customer wanted a particularly authentic hot tub that could also overcome the restricted garden access, and we were pleased to accommodate this individual request.

The hot tub was positioned in a sheltered corner of the garden, creating an attractive and inviting outdoor wellness area. The complete installation was carried out by two installers over approximately two days.

Project Overview

The project included:

• traditional wooden hot tub without a plastic liner
• on-site hot tub assembly
• external wood-fired hot tub stove
• 2 kW electric auxiliary heater
• circulation pump
• filtration system
• UV-C water treatment unit
• installation of the heating and filtration equipment
• two-day installation by two installers

A Wooden Hot Tub for Restricted Garden Access

Access is one of the most important considerations when planning an outdoor hot tub installation.

Many wooden hot tubs with moulded plastic or fibreglass liners are delivered as complete units. The full hot tub must therefore fit through every gate, passageway and opening between the delivery point and its final position.

At this property, the access route into the garden was too narrow for a fully assembled wooden hot tub with a liner. Lifting a complete unit over the house or surrounding structures would have required specialist equipment and added considerable cost to the project.

A traditional fully wooden hot tub provided a practical alternative. Its individual components could be carried through the restricted route and assembled directly in the garden. This made it possible to install a substantial hot tub without using a crane or compromising on its final position.

A Fully Wooden Hot Tub Without a Plastic Liner

Unlike a hot tub built around a moulded insert, this model has a genuinely wooden bathing interior. The visible timber continues throughout the tub, giving it a natural and authentic appearance both inside and outside.

The water is in direct contact with the wooden structure, preserving the traditional character associated with Nordic-style wooden hot tubs. The warm timber tones and round shape allow the hot tub to blend naturally into the garden rather than looking like a conventional spa placed outdoors.

During the initial filling process, the timber naturally absorbs water and expands until the structure has fully sealed. This is a normal characteristic of a traditional wooden hot tub and forms part of the initial preparation before regular use.

This type of construction is particularly suited to customers who value natural materials, traditional craftsmanship and the atmosphere of a genuinely wood-fired bathing experience.

On-Site Wooden Hot Tub Assembly

Once the components had been carried into the garden, the hot tub was assembled in its final location.

Building it on site removed the access restrictions that would have applied to a pre-built unit. It also allowed the installation team to position the hot tub accurately within the available space before connecting the heating and water-treatment equipment.

The installation work included:

• carrying the individual components into the garden
• checking and preparing the final position
• assembling and aligning the wooden structure
• securing the external bands and fittings
• installing the internal seating components
• fitting the external wood-fired stove
• connecting the circulation pump and filtration system
• installing the electric auxiliary heater
• integrating the UV-C unit into the circulation system
• checking the completed pipework and equipment

The complete process was carried out by two installers over approximately two days.

Wood-Fired Heating with Electric Temperature Support

The primary heat source is an external wood-fired stove. Water circulates between the hot tub and the stove, where it is heated by the fire before returning to the tub.

Keeping the stove outside the bathing area leaves more usable space inside the hot tub and makes it easy to add firewood during heating. For many owners, lighting and tending the fire is an important part of the traditional hot tub experience.

The time required to heat the water depends on the starting temperature, weather conditions, the quality and dryness of the firewood and whether the hot tub is covered while heating.

A 2 kW electric auxiliary heater was also included. Its main purpose is to help maintain the water temperature after the hot tub has been heated with the wood-fired stove. It provides additional flexibility and can reduce temperature loss between bathing sessions, but the wood-fired stove remains the principal heat source.

This combination brings together the atmosphere and heating power of a real wood fire with a useful level of modern convenience.

Filtration and UV-C Water Treatment

The installation also included a circulation pump and filtration system. The pump moves water through the system, while the filter removes suspended particles and helps keep the water clearer during regular use.

A UV-C unit was integrated into the circulation system to provide an additional stage of water treatment. As the circulating water passes through the unit, it is exposed to UV-C light before returning to the hot tub.

The UV-C system complements the filter but does not replace routine water care. The water must still be monitored, the filter cleaned or replaced when required, and suitable water-care products used in accordance with the equipment and hot tub manufacturer’s instructions.

Together, the pump, filter and UV-C unit make the traditional wooden hot tub more practical to maintain while preserving its authentic appearance and wood-fired character.

Creating a Garden Wellness Corner

The completed hot tub was positioned in a sheltered corner of the garden, creating a distinct and private space for relaxation.

Using the corner in this way helps define the wellness area without allowing the hot tub to dominate the entire garden. The natural timber appearance works particularly well with the surrounding planting and gives the finished installation the feeling of a small outdoor retreat.

The project demonstrates that restricted access does not necessarily prevent the installation of a full-size wooden hot tub. With the right model and an on-site assembly plan, a garden that cannot accommodate a fully assembled hot tub may still offer an excellent location.

Final Result

The finished installation combines a traditional fully wooden hot tub with wood-fired heating and modern water-treatment equipment.

Despite the narrow garden access, all components could be transported to the final location and assembled on site without specialist lifting equipment. Two installers completed the hot tub and connected the stove, auxiliary heater, circulation pump, filter and UV-C system over approximately two days.

The fully wooden interior gives the hot tub a particularly authentic appearance, while the electric temperature support, filtration and UV-C treatment provide additional convenience for regular use.

Positioned in a sheltered garden corner, the completed hot tub creates an attractive outdoor wellness space that makes excellent use of the available area.

Interested in a Traditional Fully Wooden Hot Tub?

Although this type of fully wooden hot tub is not part of our standard online range, it may be available on request as a bespoke solution.

If you are interested in a traditional wooden hot tub without a plastic liner, please contact us. We would be happy to discuss your garden access, preferred heating system and the available options for your project.