Stair Help - Build Headaches

[CrucianBelle]

I’m in month 6 of a headache 26x17 (5ft deep) pool build. We’d like the stairs to go the entire width of the pool and also have a deep end but builder is pushing back and saying we won’t have much room for a shallow end. We have never built a pool and have no idea what % of the pool should be taken up by stairs/shallow end.

Questions:
Has anyone done stairs that run the full width of pool and regretted it?
Is there a rule of thumb for how much of the pool should be the shallow end?

Attached pics of the way we were hoping the stairs would look and also a pic of our current build status.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

I personally don’t know of any one who decided to have full length stairs and regretted them.

No rule of thumb for size of shallow end as most pools are custom designed to meet the requirements of the customer.

 

[kimkats]

Hi and welcome to TFP! This is YOUR pool being paid for with YOUR money so it should be done how YOU want it............Just saying.

How deep is the pool?

 

[markdpratt]

Hi and welcome to TFP! This is YOUR pool being paid for with YOUR money so it should be done how YOU want it............Just saying.

How deep is the pool?

I agree with aqua-holics and kimkats - this is your pool and you should build it to suit what you want.

Personally, we have full pool-width steps and like them. If you have your PB install full-width pool steps and use a reasonable rise (7 - 8”) and a run of 10 - 12” per step, your steps would take up about 5’ - 6’ running feet into your pool.

For example, assuming 4” from the top of your coping to the water and a 4’ water depth at the base of your steps, it would take 5 steps that would run 5’ horizontally into your pool (assuming a step run of 12” and a step rise of about 8.7”). If you only wanted a rise of 7.4” per step, it would take 6 steps running 6’ into your pool (assuming I have my math right!).

That would leave you 21 or 22’ of pool to transition from 4’ to the 5’ deep end. You can design that transition as you wish.

Good luck!

 

[Newdude]

+3 and it's entirely subjective. Only you can decide if you'd rather have more pool, or the anesthetics of full stairs.

The larger the pool, the easier it is for anyone to dedicate that real estate for looks, but large pool in and of itself entirely subjective.

I know. This helps zero bit. It's a gift I have to be entirely unhelpful yet not wrong.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Belle,

The only down side to full width stairs is that it makes swimming laps harder...

Other than that, I like full width much better than something stuck in the corner or wedding cake style stairs.

Thanks,

Jim R.