Finally finished the deck extension and hot tub recess

I went thru something similar last summer when I was retrofitting our back area to hold a Bullfrog spa. Dealing with that recessed look is a beast, expecially with the framing. I ended up using Simpson Strong-Tie connectors for the extra bracing becasue I had a close call with the ledger board pulling. Those Trex blocks can be finicky if the moisture levels aren't just right during the install.

For the grading, I acutally gave up on trying to make the stairs meet the pavers perfectly. I ended up adding a 4-inch gravel transition strip between the bottom riser and the walkway. It hides the uneven ground and helps with drainage so the bottom of the PT lumber doesn't rot out as fast. I used some leftover cedar for the trim pieces instead of trying to match the pressure-treated stuff, and the contrast actually looks pretty sharp once it weathers.

I acutally went a different route with the footers because the soil here in North Carolina is basically solid clay and shifts like crazy during the rainy season. Instead of the Trex blocks, I used TuffBlocks for the floating sections and then poured 24-inch deep concrete piers for the hot tub corners to handle the weight. Having that recessed tub is nice for the view, but I hope you left enough space for the access panel. I learned the hard way with my Sundance spa that if a pump goes, you relly don't want to be tearing up those pavers or the rim joists just to get a wrench in there.

Regarding the stairs, I usally skip the pressure-treated stringers and go with the pre-cut steel ones from the local lumber yard. It costs more upfront, but it saved me from the grading headache you mentioned. Since my ground was also slightly off-level, I just shimmed the base of the steel frame and bolted it into a small concrete landing. It keeps the wood from sitting directly in the mulch, which should help with rot over the next ten years or so.

You shold definitly grab some Trex Protect Joist Tape for those joists before you call it finished. Since you've got the hot tub recessed, the moisture levels under there are going to be high, and PT wood still rots if water sits on the flat surfaces. I swear by it for every build beacuse it seals around the screws and keeps the frame solid for decades.

Did you end up using a specific wood treatment for those cut ends? I always keep a can of Copper Green wood preservative on hand for those raw edges.

I had that same issue with the grading on my last project. Instead of fighting the dirt, I ended up using adjustable deck pedestals for the area near the pavers. It saved me hours of digging and shimming. For the hot tub access, I built a removable 'trap door' panel into the side of the framing using stainless steel hinges. It’s a lifesaver for when you inevitably need to get to the pump or check for leaks without ripping up your hard work. Since you're still doing the mulch, I'd suggest putting down some heavy-duty landscape fabric under those grasses to keep the weeds from growing up thru your footers.