I have wedding cake steps inside my Intex pool. I'd like to use plastic steps for outside entry to resist weathering over the winter. The wood steps I built aren't cutting it. All the plastic stairs out there are designed for inside the pool. For those who have them, can you tell me if they would be stable on the ground outside the pool, unmounted? Thanks.
Drop in steps used outside the pool
- Thread starter Capz65
- Start date
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,955
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
Get a friend and take them out to see. On level ground and with enough cinderblocks weighing down the inside, they should work great.
It might be awkward with no railing as the typical wedding cake railing usually bolts into a deck.
It might be awkward with no railing as the typical wedding cake railing usually bolts into a deck.
No I'm looking for wide steps, at least 32'', 38" preferred. And with a railing. So you think without weighing it down or anchoring it, they might be wobbly. I'm looking at Confer, they seem to be the most rugged. And I could put wood posts on both sides to bolt it in.
Poolgate, are you using the confer steps on the outside or inside?
Poolgate, are you using the confer steps on the outside or inside?
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,955
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
I sold them because I never used them. They were in the pool it was the inground version with just 1 side having steps and the other just a support. They worked well very substantial we just never used them.
Yeah. They get alot of resistance from being full of water. By themselves in the yard they may shift around.
This would be a big help.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,955
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,631
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
If I may interrupt your search for pool steps... If you had built them out of composite lumber you wouldn't be looking for new steps. (Composite is usually some sort of sawdust mixed with some sort of plastic). Rot proof. Sun "proof." Bug proof. All sorts of colors. All sorts of dimensions, including pickets and hand rails. They'll probably outlast you. You might be able to reuse the framing you already have, if that's still sound. You might have to add some additional stringers, usually 1' on-center for stairways of composite lumber. This example has a 25-year warranty. Beat that with anything else...
This is my fav setup for your situation. It's easy to build with basic tools/skills, sturdy as can be and will last years and years.
@kne knocked it out of the park.
www.troublefreepool.com
@kne knocked it out of the park.
Above Ground Pool Stairs/Steps Build
Picture Post [emoji1] I love my little AGP, but wasn't fond of using the Intex ladder that came with the pool. Our yard isn't big so a full deck would have been overkill, plus would have looked funny since the pool is 4ft tall and the fence right next to it is only 8ish. I wanted something...
www.troublefreepool.com
Steve-D
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 10, 2020
- 161
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
@kne 's solution is great but without some way to block/lock off the steps it is probably a code violation. You don't want to make it easy for a child to climb up and fall in.
We built something like that [edit: for our old pool] but probably with about 2x the sq footage as a very small deck w railings and a locking, self closing gate . Composite is definitely the way to go for anything like this.
We built something like that [edit: for our old pool] but probably with about 2x the sq footage as a very small deck w railings and a locking, self closing gate . Composite is definitely the way to go for anything like this.
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OP mentioned building a railing. The idea is a start point to expand upon per the yard's and user's needs and also that of local codes.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,955
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
This is my fav setup for your situation. It's easy to build with basic tools/skills, sturdy as can be and will last years and years.
@kne knocked it out of the park.
Above Ground Pool Stairs/Steps Build
Picture Post [emoji1] I love my little AGP, but wasn't fond of using the Intex ladder that came with the pool. Our yard isn't big so a full deck would have been overkill, plus would have looked funny since the pool is 4ft tall and the fence right next to it is only 8ish. I wanted something...
Hmm.... I actually don't like this construction method. The basic structure is ok but it should have wood supports from the frame all the way to the ground.
Attachments
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Screws don't hold the platform well enough to the legs, but the bolts do. Many pass right through the deck with longer 4x4s and serve double duty as railing supports up top.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,955
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
See the 2nd attachment to my post. Bolts in sheer are prohibited by code in many places - not sure about all places though.
TLDR from building advisor
'On some decks, it’s possible to use 4×4 or larger posts that run continuously from the railing to the footings, supporting both the deck structure and the railing. As long as the posts are not notched, these easily meet the most stringent deck codes'
How To Builid Code-Compliant Deck Railings & Posts
Railing post attachment is critical for deck safety and code compliance. Learn how special steel connectors can simplify the task of sturdy deck railings.
buildingadvisor.com
*much easier to plan on a new build but could also be a retrofit afterwards sometimes.
*assuming the proper through bolts are used and not nails/screws
*known to cause cancer in the state of CA so local codes may prevail.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,955
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
For all I know though Kne's deck posts may be notched and the top beam sits properly in the notch. It is hard to tell by the pictures.
All great suggestions thank you. I used the wrong lumber for my steps. This time around I'll put more time and thought into it. Yesterday I drove 45 min each way to pick up a set of lumio steps that seemed perfect. $500 steps selling for $100. Thought I scored until I stepped on it. Thought my foot would go right through. I couldn't believe how thin the plastic was. These are really designed to have the water resistance to resist flexing I guess. Confer might be better but I'd still have to reinforce it to resist tipping. A composite deck build is the answer. Thanks again.
I will likely be the lone vote against composite at the pool here, but consider this. There are several brands which respond differently, but the one I picked from HD for my front deck/steps was particularly slippery when wet. One time while awaiting the school bus before field day, the kids used spray sunblock on it and it was slippery for quite some time. It was also much hotter in the sun than the previous stained deck. Uncomfortable to sit on (with shorts/ exposed skin) or use barefoot. With both water and sunblock coming off everyone getting out of the pool, in bare feet, stained wood may be a better choice and will still outlive a couple intex pools.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,631
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I didn't have any slippery issues with my composite decks. So that is probably brand-specific. Composite does seem a bit hotter than wood. Stained/sealed wood is a great building material, but it is subject to bugs and rot. And unless you reseal it every year, then they won't last as long. So there are trade-offs, for sure.