Why It Pays to Install Your Pool and Hot Tub at the Same Time

If a hot tub is anywhere on your wish list, the best time to add it is while your fiberglass pool is going in. Installing a pool and hot tub at the same time lets the crew dig and trench for both in one visit, and the whole project moves through a single permit cycle. Adding a spa a year or two later means bringing equipment back into a yard you’ve already finished.

The hot tubs from Pool Brokers USA are their own in-ground fiberglass spas, set near the pool rather than built into it. That separation gives you freedom on placement. A pool heater is what makes the two feel like one connected space, because with the pool warmed, climbing out of the spa for a swim no longer feels like a cold plunge.

What kind of hot tubs does Pool Brokers USA offer?

Each Pool Brokers USA spa is a separate in-ground fiberglass shell. It doesn’t share a wall with the pool, and water doesn’t spill from one into the other. It gets its own excavation. You decide how close it sits to the pool and which way it faces.

You can choose from four fiberglass spa models.

• Margaritaville, 10′ x 10′ and 3’6″ deep, with wrap-around seating and optional therapy jets
• Ontario, 12′ x 12′ and 3’3″ deep, with optional therapy jets
• Toronto, 12′ x 15′ and 3’3″ deep, sized for entertaining larger groups
• Round Spa, 8′ across, a compact option for smaller yards

All four come in Light Blue, Mediterranean, Tropical, or White gelcoat. Because they’re fiberglass, the spas have the same smooth, nonporous surface as your pool, which naturally resists algae growth. Keeping one in good shape takes a short weekly routine, and our hot tub maintenance tips walk through it.

Why install a pool and hot tub at the same time?

The hard part of adding a hot tub happens below ground. Your pool installation already does that work. Fold the spa into it and you never repeat it.

The crew digs once

Once your pool is delivered, the installation team marks out, digs, sets, and backfills it in a single day. Set the spa during that same visit and the heavy equipment only comes through once. If you wait, the excavator has to cross a lawn you’ve already reseeded and get around a patio you’ve already poured.

Plumbing and electrical lines share trenches

A pool and a spa both need plumbing runs back to the equipment, plus electrical service for pumps and any heater. Install them together and those lines can share trenches. A spa added after the fact usually means trenching again, sometimes through finished hardscape.

One permit cycle covers the project

Pool permits are issued by your county or city, and a spa is part of what the building department reviews. Applying for both at once means one round of review and approval instead of two separate trips through the permit office. Requirements differ across the 17 states Pool Brokers USA serves, so start with your state’s pool installation and permit guidance.

Your patio gets designed around both

Concrete decking goes in after the shells are set, and it’s what ties the space together. When the spa is in the original plan, the decking, walkways, and drainage are laid out around it from day one. A spa added later often means cutting into concrete that’s only a few seasons old.

Planning both? When you request a quote for your pool and spa, pick your pool and spa models on the same form and we’ll price them as one project.

Should I add a heater when installing my pool?

Yes, and a hot tub makes the case even stronger. A spa runs far warmer than an unheated pool, and in spring, in fall, or after sunset, that temperature gap is what makes the walk from one to the other uncomfortable. A pool heater narrows the gap, so moving between the spa and the pool feels like a change of pace.

It also changes how often the setup gets used. Kids can warm up in the spa and hop back into the pool without anyone calling it a night. You can swim a few laps after work in May, then sit in the spa while the light fades.

Timing matters here too. A heater planned during installation gets its gas line or electrical service as part of the original trenching, which is easier than retrofitting one into a finished yard. Pool Brokers USA pool heaters come in three types.

Gas pool heaters

Gas heaters run on natural gas or propane and raise water temperature quickly. They perform well regardless of the outside air temperature. That makes them a strong fit for cooler climates and for families who decide at 6 p.m. that tonight is a swim night.

Electric heat pumps

Electric pool heaters, often called heat pumps, use electricity and the warmth in the surrounding air to heat the water. They work more gradually than gas but run efficiently when used consistently. They suit mild to warm climates and owners who like to keep the pool at a set temperature all season.

Heater chiller combos

A heater chiller combo heats the way a heat pump does and can also cool the water when it gets too warm. In states with long, hot summers, such as Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, the cooling side keeps the pool refreshing in August, right next to a warm spa.

Choosing between them comes down to your climate, your pool size, and how often you plan to swim. Our guide to heating your pool for a longer swim season compares the options in more detail.

How should you place a separate pool and hot tub?

Since the spa isn’t attached to the pool, its location is up to you. A few decisions make the layout work day to day.

Keep the walk between them short and direct, with nonslip decking underfoot. Wet feet and a long trip across the patio on a cool night will keep people in one or the other.

Think about sightlines. A spa that faces the pool lets a parent relax and still keep an eye on kids in the water.

Give each one the right exposure. The pool benefits from full sun, while the spa can sit somewhere more sheltered, closer to the house, for winter evenings when you won’t want a long walk back inside.

Plan for safety rules from the start. Fencing, gate, and cover requirements apply to both water areas, and they vary by jurisdiction, so check with your local building department for the exact rules before you finalize the layout. A mesh safety cover adds another layer of protection when the pool isn’t in use.

Our checklist for preparing your yard for pool installation covers access, utilities, and grading for both shells. Once everything is in, our roundup of pool hot tubs and accessories covers lighting, covers, and other add-ons that make the space more usable.

What does a pool and hot tub project cost?

Fiberglass pool shells from Pool Brokers USA start at $12,500. Your full project total depends on the spa model you choose, site preparation, electrical work, decking, and whether you add a heater. The most accurate number is a quote built for your address.

How you buy also shapes the total. You can take delivery of the shells and coordinate the work yourself as an owner-builder, or have the full installation handled for you. Our breakdown of fiberglass pool installation cost shows where the money goes.

Financing options start as low as $3,000 down. VistaFi home improvement loans range from $5,000 to $150,000, fund in 48 hours, and carry no prepayment penalty. HFS home improvement loans go up to $250,000 with terms up to 20 years. See the pool financing options for details.

The spa claims part of your yard, so size the pool around it. Browse small fiberglass pools, medium fiberglass pools, and large fiberglass pools to see what fits beside the spa you’re picturing.

How long does it take to install a pool and hot tub?

Pool Brokers USA can typically deliver your pool within 1 to 6 months, depending on the time of year. After delivery, the installation team sets the pool in a single day, and you can typically be swimming within about 3 to 4 weeks. That window includes time for the electrician and concrete contractor. The pool ordering process explains each step, and our FAQ on how long it takes to install an inground pool covers what affects the schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Pool Brokers USA hot tub attached to the pool?

No. Each hot tub is a separate in-ground fiberglass spa shell installed near the pool. The two don’t share a wall, and water doesn’t flow between them. That gives you control over how far apart they sit, which direction the spa faces, and how your decking connects them.

Is it better to install a pool and hot tub at the same time?

Yes, for most homeowners who want both. Installing them together lets the crew dig for both in one visit, run plumbing and electrical lines through shared trenches, and move the project through a single permit cycle. Adding a spa later usually means bringing equipment back into a finished yard and cutting into existing decking.

Should I add a heater when installing my pool?

Yes, especially if you’re adding a hot tub. A heated pool narrows the temperature gap between the spa and the pool, so moving from one to the other stays comfortable in spring, fall, and evenings. Planning the heater during installation also lets its gas or electrical service go in with the rest of the trenching.

Should I get a gas heater or an electric heat pump?

Gas heaters raise water temperature quickly and work regardless of the outside air temperature, so they suit cooler climates and on-short-notice swims. Electric heat pumps heat more gradually and run efficiently when used consistently in mild to warm climates. Heater chiller combos add cooling for states with long, hot summers.

What hot tub sizes does Pool Brokers USA offer?

Pool Brokers USA offers four fiberglass spa models. Margaritaville is 10′ x 10′, Ontario is 12′ x 12′, Toronto is 12′ x 15′, and the Round Spa is 8′ across. Margaritaville and Ontario offer optional therapy jets, and all four come in Light Blue, Mediterranean, Tropical, or White.

Can I finance a pool and hot tub together?

Financing options start as low as $3,000 down. VistaFi home improvement loans range from $5,000 to $150,000, and HFS home improvement loans go up to $250,000 with terms up to 20 years. Ask about financing the spa and heater along with the pool when you request your quote.

How long does it take to install a fiberglass pool and hot tub?

Pool Brokers USA can typically deliver your pool within 1 to 6 months, depending on the time of year. The pool is set in a single day after delivery, and you can typically be swimming within about 3 to 4 weeks. Ask about your spa model’s timeline when you request a quote.

Ready to plan your pool and hot tub?

The pool is where the cannonballs and swim lessons happen. The spa is where everyone ends up once the sun goes down. Planning both together, with a heater that lets your family move between them, gives you a backyard that gets used from the first warm weekend in spring well into fall.

Get your custom pool and hot tub quote, and let us know which spa model and heater type you’re considering. We’ll price the whole project together so you can see the real number before you commit.