Remove pool ladder in concrete

[tbrown1025]

Our pool ladder is very old (20+ years?) and does not have a bolt any longer. We think the ladder rails were cement patched over at one point. The ladder has ALOT of rust on the steps and is causing small rust stains on the liner. We'd like to remove the ladder and not replace it. It doesn't get used at all as everyone uses the large main entry in the shallow end.
I've seen suggestions to cut the rails for removal. Is the case my ladder, you think?
I have no idea how to do this; I have no tools to do this; I don't know who to hire to do this.

 

[Bperry]

Our pool ladder is very old (20+ years?) and does not have a bolt any longer. We think the ladder rails were cement patched over at one point. The ladder has ALOT of rust on the steps and is causing small rust stains on the liner. We'd like to remove the ladder and not replace it. It doesn't get used at all as everyone uses the large main entry in the shallow end.
I've seen suggestions to cut the rails for removal. Is the case my ladder, you think?
I have no idea how to do this; I have no tools to do this; I don't know who to hire to do this.

It’s not cemented over as I can see the fitting that’s right around the pipe is just corroded. If the bolt is missing on both sides have you tried just pulling the ladder up? That’s all that’s needed to remove it unless it’s stuck in there. If you do decide to cut it out then don’t cut it flush with the decking but leave a few inches sticking up and that will allow you to get some pliers or channel locks on it to pull it the rest of the way out.

 

[Newdude]

My ladder seized up in the anchors every year. To remove it I'd secure a 2x4 perpendicular under the rails real good with tape and then hit upward on the 2x4 with a 10 lb sledge. It was an akward swing but enough love taps always did the trick. Do your best to hit the 2x4 directly under the rails, it will easily seesaw and rip off the other side. In my case I was using the 2x4 primarily to not ding up the ladder rail, but it also provided a flat surface to hit.

 

[tbrown1025]

There is no way this thing is being pulled out by hand. It is most definitely "stuck." I will try the board under the rails and see if we can get some lift that way. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Newdude]

A car or bottle jack and enough scraps of lumber to reach the rails is your back up plan.

 

[JamesW]

You can remove the treads and then rotate the rails independently.

However, the rubber bumpers are likely to fall off and then the rail might cut the liner, so be super careful.

Maybe secure the bumpers in place with tape to be safe.

 

[mShark]

I finally got mine out with a floor jack and a 4x4. If I had to do it again I would set up a similar arrangement, but use a small sledge hammer to jolt up each side while under tension. I think that would help break up whatever is holding the ladder in place better than just jacking the whole thing up like I did.

Old Pool Ladder just won't let go!

Every decade or so I take another run at pulling the pool ladder. After vacuuming a lot of debris in the mounting holes I found what looks like images I've seen before but the bolts are missing. The ladder won't budge in any direction and it never has in our 31 years with the pool. Any suggestions?

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[PoolStored]

You need the bolt. Thread it in 2-3 turns then rapid sharp tap on it to force the wedge down to release the wedge.

 

[sande005]

You need the bolt. Thread it in 2-3 turns then rapid sharp tap on it to force the wedge down to release the wedge.

View attachment 594781

Or something that will fit in the hole (another bolt, even if not the exact right size) and pound on it with a hammer to force the wedge down...
Mine isn't corroded in, but it too can be a struggle to get it out - the key seems to be a bit of a wiggle side-to-side, but if one side comes up too much, the other jams in the socket.
So after pounding the wedge down on both, the car jack suggestion and alternate banging on each post may break it all loose....

 

[mShark]

You need the bolt. Thread it in 2-3 turns then rapid sharp tap on it to force the wedge down to release the wedge.

I never found wedges in my ladder. Before resorting to the floor jack I did use a screwdriver and hammer to try and drive anything down that was where I expected the wedge to be. I also dug around in the sediment that had collected in the pole hole and never found wedges.

I did have random thoughts while sweating over the ladder that it shouldn't be so hard to figure out what SIZE bolt is needed to thread in the wedge. I spent an evening googling for specifications on the anchors, wedges, ladders and never found a mention of bolt size or thread count. I guess no one looses them.

 

[tbrown1025]

Bolts are not available. We found some bolts in the toolbox that may work but one side of the ladder has no threads where the bolt should go.
So pieces have also broken off as we've working to get a screw. Can we just stuck anything in this half hole and hammer it in to loosen?

 

[Newdude]

Yes.

 

[tbrown1025]

Update: we removed the steps per a suggestion in this thread. That was an awesome suggestion! Thank you!

We were able to, with a lot of persistence, twist the railing back and forth until it loosened enough to mallet it out. See photo for the whole - no wedge was found.

Jamming a bolt into the second railing caused the casing to crumble and fall apart so no luck there. It is also did not loosen as easily or quickly with twisting and mallet'ing, but we're continuing to work on that one today.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[tbrown1025]

We got the second railing out today. We used a bit of WD40 to help. A lot of pushing and pulling on the rail & twisting/rocking from side alternating with mallet'ing did it.

Now, will concrete filler work to fill and patch? They holes seem quite deep for that, maybe?

Again, thanks so much for the replies!

 

[JamesW]

Now, will concrete filler work to fill and patch? They holes seem quite deep for that, maybe?

Concrete should be fine for filling the holes.

Maybe do a sand mix or screen out the larger rocks from regular concrete mix.

 

[JamesW]

Get regular concrete mix and screen out the rocks with a skimmer net and then mix it up and trowel it smooth.

 

[mShark]

This is what I used. It was sand with concrete. Worked well for me. Small bag, and I used about half of it. $4 at Lowes.