(949) 030-0000

Outdoor Wellness

The hot tub on the back patio that has been a tarp-covered eyesore since the new neighbors built a two-story addition with a clear sight-line into it. The cold plunge tub from Plunge or BlueCube the homeowner bought and has been running in the garage on an extension cord, knowing it should be on a concrete pad with proper electrical and proper drainage. The outdoor shower the homeowner has been daydreaming about for the muddy bike ride back from Discovery Park, the post-beach wash-off coming back from Alki, the post-trail rinse before walking into the house. Outdoor wellness is the carpentry trade for the Pacific Northwest outdoor-wellness stack — three services Handis builds end-to-end, each with an honest licensed-sub handoff named on the quote. Cold plunge pad and enclosure ($2,000 to $7,000). Hot tub privacy enclosure ($2,000 to $6,000). Outdoor shower ($3,000 to $8,000). Handis owns the carpentry — pad prep, framing, cedar enclosure construction, decking around the tub, privacy screens, pergola overhead, drainage planning. The 240V GFCI circuits for the hot tub and the cold-plunge chiller route to a licensed Washington L&I electrician under NEC 680; the hot and cold water supply and drain for the outdoor shower route to a licensed Washington L&I plumber. We name every sub on the quote line by line and coordinate their visits inside the project timeline. Permits, where required by Seattle DCI or your city, go through the licensed party.

Outdoor wellness hub image — a recently finished Handis cedar wellness enclosure on a Capitol Hill back patio, a cold plunge tub and a hot tub side by side on a concrete pad with cedar privacy screens on three sides and a pergola overhead, the licensed electrician's GFCI sub-panel visible at the corner of the enclosure, a stack of folded towels on a cedar bench, and a hose bib for the outdoor shower planned for next phase.

Services

Wide editorial photo of a Handis outdoor-wellness build in progress — lead carpenter setting the cedar slat privacy screen panels on a cold plunge enclosure with the concrete pad cured and the chiller equipment visible in the corner of the pad, the licensed electrician's sub-panel mounted and labeled at the house exterior, a Penguin Chillers cold plunge tub staged on a furniture dolly ready to lift onto the pad, and the framing for a pergola overhead going up in the background.
Pricing

Outdoor Wellness Pricing

Final pricing depends on the project scope, the pad type (pavers vs concrete), the enclosure scope (three-sided screen vs full pergola), the licensed-sub portions (electrical for hot tub or chiller, plumbing for outdoor shower), and the existing site conditions (level vs sloped, existing pad vs new). Each sub-category page lists detailed pricing for that service family. Licensed-sub fees pass through transparently with the line item named. Request a free in-home estimate for an accurate quote.

Tell us the outdoor-wellness scope (plunge, hot tub, shower, or a combination) and the site — we will quote the carpentry with the licensed-sub portions named line by line.

Call us
Why Seattle Homeowners Book Handis for Outdoor Wellness
Trust

Why Seattle Homeowners Book Handis for Outdoor Wellness

Outdoor wellness is a category that lives in the gap between the licensed trades and the homeowner who wants the install done right. The licensed electrician will not build the cedar enclosure around the hot tub. The licensed plumber will not pour the concrete pad for the cold plunge. The deck builder will not pull the 240V GFCI circuit to NEC 680. The result is a homeowner who hires three trades, watches the gaps eat three extra weeks while the project sits half-done, and pays a coordination tax on every visit. Handis runs the carpentry top-to-bottom and coordinates the licensed electrical and plumbing visits inside the project timeline — one project manager, one schedule, one walk-through at the end. The licensed Washington L&I electrician and plumber each carry their own insurance, pull their own permits where required, and stand behind their portion under their own license. The fees pass through transparently — every line item named on the quote so you see exactly what Handis is doing and what the licensed trade is doing.

Estimate

Tell us the outdoor-wellness scope (cold plunge, hot tub, outdoor shower, or a combination), the site (existing patio vs new pad needed, side yard vs back yard), the tub or chiller you have (or plan to purchase), any neighbor sight-line constraints (which sides need privacy screens), and any drainage or permit questions you already have. We send back a clear estimate with the licensed-sub portions named line by line and a project timeline.

Service cost estimate illustration
Reviews

What Our Customers Say

Recent outdoor-wellness reviews from verified Seattle-area Handis customers across all three service families.

Cold plunge pad and full cedar enclosure in our Capitol Hill back yard. We had bought a Plunge tub six months earlier and were running it on an extension cord in the garage. Handis poured a 5 by 7 concrete pad, built a three-sided cedar slat enclosure with a pergola overhead, ran the drainage to a permitted drywell. The licensed electrician came in for two visits to run the 240V GFCI circuit and the NEC 680 bonding to the pad — all named on the quote and inspected. Five working days. The tub finally feels like it belongs in the back yard rather than hiding in the garage.

Emily and Theo R., Cold Plunge Pad & Enclosure

Hot tub privacy enclosure in our Wallingford back yard — neighbors built a tall fence and a second-story window that looked directly into our tub. Handis built a cedar slat privacy screen on three sides (the side facing the house stayed open for the view) and a small pergola overhead so the rain does not hit the face during a soak. Three working days. The tub is usable again year-round and the cedar will silver naturally over the next year.

Sarah and Christopher T., Hot Tub Privacy Enclosure

Outdoor shower with hot and cold mixer on the side of our Magnolia home for post-Discovery Park trail runs and Golden Gardens beach days. Handis built a cedar enclosure with slat decking and a grated drain, the licensed plumber tee'd into our existing hot and cold supply lines (no new water heater needed) and ran the drain to a French drain. Four working days. The first hot rinse after a 38-degree January trail run made the whole project worth it.

Jeremy and Maya O., Outdoor Shower with Hot/Cold Mixer

Combined cold plunge and hot tub side-by-side install on a new concrete pad in Bellevue. Handis poured a 10 by 12 pad sized for both tubs with the chiller equipment in a small cedar utility closet at one end. Licensed electrician ran two 240V GFCI circuits (one for the hot tub, one for the chiller) and did the NEC 680 bonding for the whole pad. Cedar privacy screens on three sides and a pergola overhead. Seven working days total. The Norse-style contrast hot-then-cold routine has become a daily thing.

Henrik and Ingrid J., Combined Cold Plunge + Hot Tub

Outdoor shower and a small bench area off our master bedroom in West Seattle. Cold-only initially (the hot supply would have required a longer plumbing run and was over our budget for this phase), built on a drywell so the plumber portion was minimal. Cedar enclosure with a slat bench, planted screening on the open side. Three working days. We can upgrade to hot/cold next year and the plumbing rough-in was left ready for that.

Olivia P., Outdoor Shower — Cold-Only Phase 1
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Handis outdoor-wellness builds — scope, licensed-sub handoff, drainage, permits, scheduling, and what fits a Handis carpentry project versus a multi-trade build.

How much does an outdoor-wellness build cost?
Three service families with three price floors. Hot tub privacy enclosure starts at $2,000 for a three-sided cedar slat screen around an existing tub. Cold plunge pad and enclosure starts at $2,000 for a paver pad with a basic cedar screen (plus the licensed electrician portion for the chiller circuit, named on the quote). Outdoor shower starts at $3,000 for a cold-only cedar enclosure on a drywell (plus the licensed plumber portion for the cold supply, named on the quote). Top-end pricing runs $6,000 (hot tub full pergola with decking surround), $7,000 (cold plunge concrete pad with full enclosure and pergola), and $8,000 (outdoor shower with hot/cold mixer, premium fixture, and pergola). Each leaf page lists detailed pricing.
Does Handis do the electrical and plumbing, or do you sub it out?
Handis runs the project and self-performs the carpentry — pad prep, framing, cedar enclosure construction, decking around the tub, privacy screens, pergola overhead, drainage planning, finishes. The regulated work — 240V GFCI circuits for the hot tub and cold-plunge chiller under NEC 680, the hot and cold water supply and drain for the outdoor shower — subs to a licensed Washington L&I electrician or plumber. We name the sub on the quote, schedule their site visits, and stand behind the project as a whole. The licensed trade carries its own L&I-trade warranty on their portion, also named on the quote.
Do I need a permit?
It depends on the scope. Most cedar enclosures and pergolas for residential use do not require a permit (Seattle DCI exempts certain detached accessory structures under 200 square feet that meet setback and height requirements). Hot tub and cold-plunge electrical installs require an electrical permit pulled by the licensed Washington L&I electrician under their license. Outdoor shower plumbing requires a plumbing permit pulled by the licensed Washington L&I plumber, especially for sewer connections. We confirm the permit question on the estimate visit and tell you who pulls what.
How long does an outdoor-wellness build take?
Path-dependent. A three-sided hot tub privacy screen on an existing tub is two to three working days. A cold plunge pad and basic enclosure runs three to five working days (including the licensed electrician's two visits for circuit and bonding). An outdoor shower with hot/cold mixer runs four to six working days (including the licensed plumber's two visits for supply and drain rough-in and trim). A combined cold plunge plus hot tub on a new shared pad with full enclosure runs seven to ten working days. We give a working-day schedule at contract signing including the licensed-sub visit days so you see the whole calendar.
What kind of pad do I need for a cold plunge or hot tub?
A cold plunge or hot tub at full water weight is 1,500 to 5,000 pounds depending on size — that load needs a level structural pad. Concrete is the gold standard (4 inches thick minimum, reinforced, sloped slightly for drainage, fully cured before the tub goes on) and the right choice for a permanent install. Pavers on a compacted base work for a more budget-conscious or potentially-temporary install (compacted gravel and sand base, paver thickness 2 to 3 inches, sized for the tub footprint). We recommend on the estimate visit based on the site, the tub, and the budget.
Where does the water go when I drain a cold plunge or outdoor shower?
Drainage planning is part of every cold plunge and outdoor shower project. A cold plunge holds 80 to 150 gallons that gets drained every 2 to 4 weeks for cleaning. An outdoor shower at 2 gallons per minute over a 5-minute rinse is 10 gallons per use. Options — French drain to a gravel-and-fabric drywell (sized for the soil's percolation rate), surface drain to landscape drainage, or a permitted connection to the sewer (Seattle DCI permits sewer-connected outdoor showers and plunges). Clay soil (common in some Seattle neighborhoods) needs a larger drywell or a sewer connection; sandy or gravelly soil drains naturally to a small drywell. We plan with the licensed plumber.
Can I use the hot tub year-round in Seattle?
Yes — the Pacific Northwest hot tub is genuinely useful year-round. The cold winter rain makes the steaming water that much more inviting. The wet-bike-ride or muddy-trail-return soak is the perfect post-activity reset. What kills the use is exposure — neighbors with a clear sight-line, wind funneling between two houses, the rain hitting the face during a soak. The privacy enclosure work we do solves the exposure problem. A small pergola overhead with cedar slats spaced 3 inches apart blocks 70 percent of vertical rain while keeping the open-sky feel.
Do you do the cold plunge tub install itself, or just the pad and enclosure?
We do the pad, the enclosure, the drainage, and the coordination — including positioning the tub and the chiller equipment on the pad once they arrive. The tub purchase itself (Plunge, BlueCube, Penguin Chillers, Ice Barrel, etc.) is typically handled directly by the homeowner with the manufacturer; we coordinate the delivery date so the tub arrives when the pad is cured and the electrical is ready. The chiller hookup to the tub plumbing is the manufacturer's standard customer setup; we are happy to assist with positioning and the first start-up.
Can the outdoor shower have hot water?
Yes — most of the outdoor showers we install have hot/cold mixers because in Pacific Northwest summer the cold water is still only about 50 degrees and a cold rinse after a chilly bike ride is not the after-experience most homeowners want. The licensed Washington L&I plumber tees the hot supply from the indoor water heater (no new water heater required for typical use) and the cold supply from the indoor cold line. A small mixer (Speakman, Symmons, Sonoma Forge) handles the mix on the wall of the cedar enclosure. Cold-only installs are available and cheaper for the budget-constrained project or the property where the hot supply run would be too long.
Do you cover homes outside Seattle proper?
Yes — most of the Puget Sound region. Standard service area runs from north Seattle and Shoreline through Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Renton, Tukwila, Burien, and south to Federal Way. Outdoor-wellness builds on the I-90 corridor (North Bend, Snoqualmie) and the Olympic Peninsula side (Kingston, Poulsbo) are covered with a travel premium added to the project price; we name it on the quote before you sign.
Is the work guaranteed?
Yes. Handis carries general liability and workers' compensation; every technician has cleared a background screening. The one-year project warranty covers cedar framing, enclosure construction, decking, pergola structure, finishes, and drainage performance — if anything in our carpentry scope fails inside a year, we come back and fix at no charge. The licensed-sub portion (electrical and plumbing) carries its own Washington L&I-trade warranty, named on the quote so you know whom to call for what.

Learn More and Reach Out

For each of our clients

Contact information
Our Business Hours
Monday:09:00 - 21:00
Tuesday:09:00 - 21:00
Wednesday:09:00 - 21:00
Thursday:09:00 - 21:00
Friday:09:00 - 21:00
Saturday:09:00 - 21:00
Sunday:Closed

Write Us!

We will respond to your request as soon as possible