Anchor Sandbags w/Confer Step 1X

[rweiler994]

Just getting my AGP that will stay all year, upgrading from an Intex 18 x52 saltwater that made it 5 years and died of COVID (of course it lost it's bottom seam when no pools were available) so I am a bigger guy and I have ordered Confer Steps (not sure if going to build a deck or use 2 steps right now), but I have seen several places say extra weight is needed for the in pool steps, so I my steps and 2 Anchor sand bags, but I am wondering how to mount the sandbags so the weight actually holds the step. I would appreciate any suggestions on this.

 

[cowboycasey]

Never even thought about those, they should work perfect for what you need.. Just use the rope that came with them and attach them together..

Is it a 4 step? if so I used the 3rd step and ran the line over it and hung my weights on each side... I am using actual weights covered in bead liner

2017-07-21 20.35.00.jpg

• cowboycasey
• Sep 12, 2020

 

[rweiler994]

Here is a stock photo of the steps I was able to get....trying to either do a small deck if I can afford it or use 2 of these and try to find the enclosure/gate kit.

 

[rweiler994]

Found this pic of just what the pool is supposed to look like...

 

[kellyfair]

I’ve got these.

 

[kellyfair]

@cowboycasey, how did you cover the weights?

 

[cowboycasey]

I went to a bed liner shop and had them cover it in bed liner.. It has been in a saltwater pool for 8 years and no rust what so ever

 

[kellyfair]

I went to a bed liner shop and had them cover it in bed liner.. It has been in a saltwater pool for 8 years and no rust what so ever

Cool! I just cleaned all the gross sand out of my steps and drilled holes... I wish I had never put the sand in. I’m thinking about what I want to use to weight them.

 

[rweiler994]

Cool! I just cleaned all the gross sand out of my steps and drilled holes... I wish I had never put the sand in. I’m thinking about what I want to use to weight them.

These are what I ordered....slightly cheaper on Amazon, but my 2 came packaged with step kit.

 

[cowboycasey]

I wonder if those would have worked in mine, I do not remember if I had anything across on the bottom to set them on...

 

[rweiler994]

I will have to figure out a mount for mine, they don't have anything across the bottom either, I was actually thinking of a rope system like your weights tied to the handles, may have to drill some holes in my steps to make them work, but going to try to keep them under the steps.

 

[cowboycasey]

You can run a flat webbing under the steps and then install the steps over it, I used the same thing the last time my bungee broke and it has held for 2 years

https://smile.amazon.com/Strapworks-Heavyweight-Polypropylene-Webbing-Strapping/dp/B01KTVEQZ4

 

[kellyfair]

I was thinking about repurposing bleach bottles with gravel or pebbles, bleach and water, and hanging them under steps. Low tech!

 

[rweiler994]

My other worry is algae growing inside the steps, even with the holes in them I am sure there will not be much flow inside them. Any thoughts on this or am I over-thinking this as a possible problem as long as I maintain my water?

 

[kellyfair]

My other worry is algae growing inside the steps, even with the holes in them I am sure there will not be much flow inside them. Any thoughts on this or am I over-thinking this as a possible problem as long as I maintain my water?

Nope, you aren’t overthinking. There are some measures you can take though, including drilling more holes, putting them where the return will circulate water over them, brushing them regularly, and even shooting chlorine water into the holes with a big syringe.

 

[cowboycasey]

You can use this just put a gallon of 10% chlorine in it and spray anything you think could have something growing

https://smile.amazon.com/Chapin-International-20000-1-Gallon-Translucent/dp/B000E28UQU

 

[redmaxx]

I will have to figure out a mount for mine, they don't have anything across the bottom either, I was actually thinking of a rope system like your weights tied to the handles, may have to drill some holes in my steps to make them work, but going to try to keep them under the steps.

How did it go? We just got the curved version of those steps and trying to figure out a good way to anchor on those same bags you ordered. We also went with another identical one outside the pool and also trying to figure out the best way to anchor them together.

 

[toolerb50]

I have a different set of confer stairs and have two anchor bag sand weights holding it down. Ended up tethering them off one of the steps, no issues so far. Used a single 50lb bag of pool filter sand for both weights.

One of these weekends, I plan on cutting two pieces of pvc pipe and mount to stair structure for a set of rails to hold the bags. Tethering is fine, but for whatever reason one of my anchor weights seems to lose the cap on the carry on handle lid. Of course I accused the kids at first but I think the weight of the bag suspended from the carry on handle causes the cap to pop off. I resolved this by allowing some of the weight of the bag to sit on the bottom of the pool.

 

[redmaxx]

I have a different set of confer stairs and have two anchor bag sand weights holding it down. Ended up tethering them off one of the steps, no issues so far. Used a single 50lb bag of pool filter sand for both weights.

One of these weekends, I plan on cutting two pieces of pvc pipe and mount to stair structure for a set of rails to hold the bags. Tethering is fine, but for whatever reason one of my anchor weights seems to lose the cap on the carry on handle lid. Of course I accused the kids at first but I think the weight of the bag suspended from the carry on handle causes the cap to pop off. I resolved this by allowing some of the weight of the bag to sit on the bottom of the pool.

Would you mind sharing any pictures of that setup? I'm having trouble imagining how I'd secure the anchors to the steps on mine. By the sounds of this I think I'd probably want to glue the cap on once the sand is filled up.

 

[Cyberteach]

I have a different set of confer stairs and have two anchor bag sand weights holding it down. Ended up tethering them off one of the steps, no issues so far. Used a single 50lb bag of pool filter sand for both weights.

One of these weekends, I plan on cutting two pieces of pvc pipe and mount to stair structure for a set of rails to hold the bags. Tethering is fine, but for whatever reason one of my anchor weights seems to lose the cap on the carry on handle lid. Of course I accused the kids at first but I think the weight of the bag suspended from the carry on handle causes the cap to pop off. I resolved this by allowing some of the weight of the bag to sit on the bottom of the pool.

I bought 1 1/4” pvc pipe, cut to 30” each piece, added end caps after sliding into holes in confer steps. One lower as a place to put containers of weighted material, and an upper one to hang weights if I needed it. I haven’t put them in the pool yet because I wanted to find out from someone where to drill extra holes for water circulation and/or a place to shoot chlorine into. Anyone have that info? Where to drill extra holes, and what size?