I'm going to expand our deck, enclose it and make it a screened porch.
I'd like to buy a co-worker's hot tub and put it at deck-level.

I haven't seen his tub yet, but believe it's a free standing unit with
wood sides.

My question is, how would I support it? Does all the weight get
supported by the sides? Or are their other weight bearing spots under
the unit?

I would not be able to put the unit on the ground, so I'm trying to
design a system of piers and beams to hold it off the ground. If the
outside holds all the weight, do I just create a perimeter set of
beams?

Any suggestions?