The hot tub is on sale. The delivery slot is available. The deck has never complained about a barbecue. It is tempting to treat the last point as engineering evidence.
Start with the filled specification
Ask the supplier for the exact model's filled weight, footprint, support requirements, and service-access drawing. Give that package to the structural designer along with the deck drawings, if available. Include the proposed location; moving the tub a metre can change which members carry it.
Simpson Strong-Tie's connection guide shows why a deck must be considered as a connected structure. Its US code examples are technical background, not an Ontario approval for your installation.
Budget for the space around it
The cover needs somewhere to go. A technician needs to reach the equipment. Someone has to enter and leave without balancing beside the guard. Mark those envelopes on the plan, not just the square occupied by the tub.
ESA's outdoor guidance recommends consulting a Licensed Electrical Contractor before installing a hot tub. Arrange that review while the layout is still flexible.
Ask for a complete answer before paying the balance
- What existing members and foundations can remain, and what evidence supports that decision?
- Is the proposed work reflected in the required municipal approvals?
- Can the tub be delivered without removing something the revised structure needs?
- Who is responsible for the electrical work and final service access?
A ground-level alternative may deserve a price too. It is a different layout, not a verdict on your taste. Compare complete, buildable options before the delivery truck becomes the most persuasive person in the discussion.
If the layout also changes the guard, compare glass and aluminum railing while the support details are being designed.