My pool is about 25 years old, replastered about 15 years ago and in good shape. I just had the concrete decking overlaid with 1" thin pavers. Now the wife wants a railing installed to ease access along the steps into the pool. Shouldn't be a problem anchoring it through the pavers into the concrete with On-Deck Mounted Anchor. But is it possible to anchor it in the pool bottom without draining the pool? I picture a long (4') bit extension and a masonry bit drilling 4 holes in the bottom to anchor the rail (using pool vac line to suck up the drilling). But is the plaster/gunite/whatever strong enough then to support the rail?
Install hand rail underwater in existing pool
- Thread starter wysocki
- Start date
wy,
Here is a pic of a type of handrail that does not need to be anchored underwater..
Thanks,
Jim R.
Here is a pic of a type of handrail that does not need to be anchored underwater..
Thanks,
Jim R.
Great idea, thanks! I'll have to look around for some styles. Gotta figure out what would work best with my steps which are in the corner and pretty small.
Also, note that if you can’t bond the new rail, you should use a type that does not need bonding.
Wow! You've opened up a huge can of worms that I never knew existed, James!
I've never heard of bonding before. I always "knew" that all my pool electrical devices had to be tied to a common "ground" before, but I've now been through a few hours of videos by Mike Holt about this topic and it's fascinating.
I'm still studying it, but as of right now, I'm actually getting that my new railing, installed on the deck out of the water, has zero potential. Therefore I don't want to energize it with bonding!? I took a meter to my deck and I get no voltage from it to the water now. Wouldn't the rail inherit the same potential of the deck without deliberately connecting it to the plane?
I've never heard of bonding before. I always "knew" that all my pool electrical devices had to be tied to a common "ground" before, but I've now been through a few hours of videos by Mike Holt about this topic and it's fascinating.
I'm still studying it, but as of right now, I'm actually getting that my new railing, installed on the deck out of the water, has zero potential. Therefore I don't want to energize it with bonding!? I took a meter to my deck and I get no voltage from it to the water now. Wouldn't the rail inherit the same potential of the deck without deliberately connecting it to the plane?
A rail like Saftron won't need bonding because it's not metal and is exempt from bonding. Metal rails need to be bonded per code.
sktn77a
Gold Supporter
Check your local codes - some require the handrail to go down, underwater, to the bottom step.
That would be a huge problem for folks using autocovers. I've never seen mention of this before.
I have a ladder that is on hinges so it raises out of the pool to allow the cover to close. My other handrail doesn't enter the water but rather hangs over it to allow the cover to close. Both were included in the bonding when constructed.
Maddie
