So when I look through Pinterest it seems most of the pools do not have railings. I love the look but I thought I have read on here that a railing is important. Any thoughts? Also, my pb is going to put a ladder in the deep end, so we will have that as well. We will have a sunshelf with steps in shallow end. So those pools with absolutely no railing, do they just have steps in the deep end as well? Our pool will be 42’ long so probably would need steps on both ends. I guess I just want to be convinced that the railing and ladder has more pluses then the sleekness of no railings.
Railing or no railing?
- Thread starter ivparker
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,103
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
What type of pool are you asking about? You have a construction thread going?
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It’s a vinyl inground pool. No construction thread as we did secure our pb but already booked until July. Well.. I’m in Michigan, so Im sure he can’t build starting next month through April.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,103
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I just put one in my rennovaton. At some point in the distant future Ill be glad I did.
prior to the renno, no rail and the deep end was just a wall.
www.troublefreepool.com
prior to the renno, no rail and the deep end was just a wall.
Stair rails
We’re about to put in a new concrete deck and my wife wants to put in a rail for the pool stairs. I don’t particularly want to put holes and fittings in the concrete but see her logic of really needing it in 20 years when our knees don’t work anymore. Questions... 1) is this definitely the...
www.troublefreepool.com
I read that it can be hard getting in or out for older or younger people. Also, that due to needing to bond it, it is best to put in during the build. If you don’t have any railings showing, what do you have in the deep end? I was thinking I can do more lined steps but that will take away some pool swimming space. Plus dangerous for those that want to jump in.
Yes, I read your post and you are one of the reasons I thought I should just get a railing although I don’t like the look as much. Our pb is giving us one from the designer series but I still prefer the look of none but think the functionality may trump the looks.
I just put one in my rennovaton. At some point in the distant future Ill be glad I did.
prior to the renno, no rail and the deep end was just a wall.
Stair rails
We’re about to put in a new concrete deck and my wife wants to put in a rail for the pool stairs. I don’t particularly want to put holes and fittings in the concrete but see her logic of really needing it in 20 years when our knees don’t work anymore. Questions... 1) is this definitely the...
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,103
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Oh, you mean handrails by steps. They are helpful for people with mobility problems. You never know when otherwise healthy people will have a problem.
Lisabdou
Well-known member
I’m building an IG now and have sun shelf and built in steps but also doing hand rails because I have elderly parents that will need them. Better to put in during build than later.
It's a good idea to get the holes pre-installed for a removable handrail near the shallow end. You will be glad you did it once you get up in age.
Shirker
0
- Jul 2, 2014
- 752
- Pool Size
- 19000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
No railing in our build (we went back and forth on it). We did opt for swim-out in the deep end instead of ladder though.
sktn77a
Gold Supporter
We have a ladder in the deep end and a handrail by the steps in the shallow end. The grandkids won't go in the pool unless "their" ladder and handrail are in! Great grandma likes the handrail, too!
oh yeah.... blow your Achilles and knee out and then tell me why you didn't put a handrail in.... you won't be getting in and out of that pool for quite a while. I speak from experience.
Maddie
Maddie
- Jul 16, 2019
- 691
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
We did put any in ours (we do have swim up/walk out steps in the deep and shallow end). I question that decision - I KNOW they will be important as we age, but vanity won out for right now (I don't like the aesthetics of them).
When building, we went back and forth as to adding a handrail to the sunshelf. It is 12" depth with one step. We ended up putting it in. After 2 years, I can tell you that everyone, regardless of age or health, uses the handrail getting in or out of the pool. I'm glad we have it, and our concern about it affecting the overall aesthtics was unfounded. If anything, I think it makes entering the pool there seem a little more "inviting", if that makes any sense.
+1 in favor of a handrail. Few “adult beverages” and it comes in handy. (Pun intended) 
We put them in because I figured it was super easy to just take them out if I wanted it to look pretty --- then I could just throw them back in if I wanted them. Adding a jig for rails later is tough. And..we never took them out! Turned out that with the autocover, our pool's first step is a big one. I like using the handrail (though I usually dive in from the side).
I talked to our builder today and am convinced that I should just have the handrails. I was also considering vinyl steps instead of a ladder but I’m thinking maybe we should stick with a ladder. But now I am also considering a bench in the deep end. They didn’t have any hard numbers for me but thought it would be an extra $2k. Is it worth it? I was thinking on the long side of our L pool. We are putting in a vinyl pool.
I pove a swimout/bench in the deep end. It gives you somewhere to relax with a drink.
- Jul 16, 2019
- 691
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
I love the look of vinyl steps (especially @Cephrael 's), but we have dogs, foster dogs and have a petsitting business - so they were a no-go for us. We opted for two grey 11' Roman steps on each end (one in the shallow end, one in the deep end). They are HUGE! I have a feeling they will be the seating/hang out spot in the deep end. We did not do a climb out ladder - just the two walk in steps.