Pool stairs

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Barry J

Member
Jun 28, 2009
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lo, we have an above ground pool with a PT deck on the end, at this time, we have a ladder(tubular sides) that mount thru a hole into the deck. I am doing the deck over this year and instead of drilled holes for the tubular ladder, I thought we might go with the type of steps that good into the pool. Couple of questions:
Do u take those steps/stairs out when you vacuum pool?
Do u take those steps out for closings (Massachusetts)
How easy is it to take out?
Do they wreck floor of pool?
And most important, can you recommend one and where to buy?
Thank you
Barry
 
I have these wedding cake style steps-

IMG_9683.png
IMG_9681.png
They are large but are hollow & open underneath so
I do move them to vac/brush under them occasionally otherwise I will stick the vac head through the hole that is in one of the steps for a weight to get anything that’s gotten under them. I am usually able to brush behind them with them in place as well.
During pool season The hand rail is screwed to the deck.
With the handrail disconnected I can move them around in the pool with some effort even with the weights attached.
In the winter I leave them in & just remove the handrail so I can put my cover on. I’ve done this for 5 years.
We do get very cold temps here (near zero F) but not for really extended periods of time so ymmv with this practice up north.
At the beginning & end of the season I pull them out and scrub them down then put them back.

Whichever style steps you choose you will likely need to weigh them down to prevent movement/floating.
Do NOT pour sand directly into your steps - no matter what the directions say.
#1 it will make them very hard to get out and its very hard to remove the sand to do so.
#2 it will become algae city 🤢
*Any weight you use should be completely sealed so algae cannot grow
*Multiple smaller weights are preferable over 1 or two very heavy weights as they are easier to handle with 1 person.

Examples:
Sealed bottles filled with sand or concrete (some people use old bleach jugs- you’ll want to seal the caps, they also sell collapsible jugs - just google step weights)
concrete/sand filled & capped pvc pipes, actual plastic weights that are completely sealed (like you put on a barbell) - i have 40# worth of these hanging from inside my steps.

Depending upon which steps you choose you may need to modify them so they get adequate chlorinated water flow. Or alternatively seal them up more completely.
I drilled lots of extra holes in mine without affecting their integrity. These holes allow me to stick a brush or the hose in them & clean them while they are in the pool.
Mine have little rubber suction cups on the bottom so they don’t harm the liner.
 
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Barry J said:
lo, we have an above ground pool with a PT deck on the end, at this time, we have a ladder(tubular sides) that mount thru a hole into the deck. I am doing the deck over this year and instead of drilled holes for the tubular ladder, I thought we might go with the type of steps that good into the pool. Couple of questions:
Do u take those steps/stairs out when you vacuum pool?
Do u take those steps out for closings (Massachusetts)
How easy is it to take out?
Do they wreck floor of pool?
And most important, can you recommend one and where to buy?
Thank you
Barry
Click to expand...

I have in the pool stairs and a deck.

I take mine out when I close (New Jersey). I sometimes move them when I vacuum. If I am in the pool and vacuuming, I am likely to do so. It is really not that easy if I am outside of the pool. Inside the pool I can lift them up a foot or so, hold them their, and vacuum under them. I have mine on a pad that is made for them (basically a thick piece of vinyl).

Mine have detachable weights that are made for them. I have those weights filled with pea gravel. To install the steps, I hang the weights on them, heave them into the pool, and stand on them until they fill with water, then I monkey them into place.

To remove them, I remove the weights, and then slowly pull the stairs up out of the pool, letting them drain.

Usually you have to attach the stairs to the deck. I tried a number of ways, plain old screws, threaded inserts, bolts through the deck with washers and nuts underneath. None of them were satisfactory to me.

Then I came up with this.

188814-7ffec3598c5bd9bf6192288ca6355307.jpg

I squeeze the handrails together and they slide in, then they pop into the two cut outs. There is enough friction there that it keeps the stairs where they need to be.. To remove them, I just squeeze the handrails and push them out. That brown step is attached to the deck. It is PT lumber skinned with composite decking.

These are the steps I have


These are the weights


and this is pretty much the mat I use

 
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I have the Confer step system which consists of 2 - 1X steps along with the bridge and gate. The 1X is capable of being used on a deck as it comes with 2 deck anchors. I bought it at a local store when buying our pool but I've seen them on line as well: https://intheswim.com/p/above-groun...utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_content={19884469596}_{}_{}&utm_term={400775}&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2cqnncbEhQMVE01HAR2xfQV6EAQYAiABEgJFIfD_BwE

I think all steps will float somewhat and you need ballast besides the water it will take on. I drilled some additional holes in the ladder on the back top and bottom to aid in water and air. I used 2 bleach bottles along with a length of pvc pipe to attach them to the ladder, very simple and effective. I have been saying I had the PVC pipe sitting in the cutout and that is wrong (was my original idea) I actually use plastic pipe hanging straps and slip the pipe through the loops I created in it. I've attached a photo of my ballast jugs.1000001427.jpg
 
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In case it didn’t stand out in @Mdragger88’s post, DON’T add sand to weigh down interior steps, no matter what the directions say. Trust me - it doesn’t end well.
 
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Mdragger88 said:
I have these wedding cake style steps-

View attachment 564521
View attachment 564522
They are large but are hollow & open underneath so
I do move them to vac/brush under them occasionally otherwise I will stick the vac head through the hole that is in one of the steps for a weight to get anything that’s gotten under them. I am usually able to brush behind them with them in place as well.
During pool season The hand rail is screwed to the deck.
With the handrail disconnected I can move them around in the pool with some effort even with the weights attached.
In the winter I leave them in & just remove the handrail so I can put my cover on. I’ve done this for 5 years.
We do get very cold temps here (near zero F) but not for really extended periods of time so ymmv with this practice up north.
At the beginning & end of the season I pull them out and scrub them down then put them back.

Whichever style steps you choose you will likely need to weigh them down to prevent movement/floating.
Do NOT pour sand directly into your steps - no matter what the directions say.
#1 it will make them very hard to get out and its very hard to remove the sand to do so.
#2 it will become algae city 🤢
*Any weight you use should be completely sealed so algae cannot grow
*Multiple smaller weights are preferable over 1 or two very heavy weights as they are easier to handle with 1 person.

Examples:
Sealed bottles filled with sand or concrete (some people use old bleach jugs- you’ll want to seal the caps, they also sell collapsible jugs - just google step weights)
concrete/sand filled & capped pvc pipes, actual plastic weights that are completely sealed (like you put on a barbell) - i have 40# worth of these hanging from inside my steps.

Depending upon which steps you choose you may need to modify them so they get adequate chlorinated water flow. Or alternatively seal them up more completely.
I drilled lots of extra holes in mine without affecting their integrity. These holes allow me to stick a brush or the hose in them & clean them while they are in the pool.
Mine have little rubber suction cups on the bottom so they don’t harm the liner.
Click to expand...
Where did you find those at? I've looked around online for the last 6 months and seems not many places to choose from with little reviews.
 
Tnt17tnt said:
Where did you find those at? I've looked around online for the last 6 months and seems not many places to choose from with little reviews.
Click to expand...
Family leisure/ watsons
www.watsons.com

Majestic 8000 Pool Steps

The Majestic #8000 Pool Steps with one PVC handrail and deck support is sturdy and spacious for use with above ground pools.
www.watsons.com www.watsons.com
 
johnnysnok said:
Wedding cake steps here also.
I leave them in all year, I only take the railing and support arm off.
I'm in South Jersey, and my pool will freeze if it gets cold enough.
Click to expand...

Do you have any issues with them at all when you leave them in? Do they move, or get frozen in place?

I would love to leave mine in, but I worry about the pool freezing around the top if them, and then the ice shifting and dragging them along the liner.
 

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