Handrails?

[Poolnerdgrandma]

Pool is poured, deck (pavers) going in soon. There are no handrails in the plan, and I'm pretty sure we'll want/need them eventually. What are my options to prep for a handrail for the pool steps and the spa at this point?

 

[mknauss]

They needed to be planned for prior to covering the bonding wire. As they need to be bonded. Get with your pool builder now.

 

[Jimrahbe]

png,

Or if you don't mind ugly, you can do this.....

Pool Railing.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• May 15, 2017

These rails are coated and are not required to be bonded...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[jtburf]

Pool is poured, deck (pavers) going in soon. There are no handrails in the plan, and I'm pretty sure we'll want/need them eventually. What are my options to prep for a handrail for the pool steps and the spa at this point?

Have your PB install the sockets for one now so in time when you need it you can drop it in. Buy the grab rail now also and simply store it.

 

[Poolnerdgrandma]

I was thinking, since it's a paver deck, that when we want to add the rail we can just pull up the appropriate pavers, dig a hole and fill with concrete, replace the pavers and then mount a non-metal grab-rail, since I honestly don't know where we would want it. Once we've lived with it a while we'll know exactly what we need. If we plan to go non-metal (which avoids the grounding issue) does that make sense?

 

[blazer58]

That sounds like it would work.

@Jimrahbe
Jim, I have seen you post that pic of your rails before, and do not think they look ugly.
Are they that bad looking in real life, as I am thinking of getting the same setup, vs coring new holes in my deck

 

[Jimrahbe]

58,

What you see is what you get...

I do think that compared to being sunk into the deck, they are funny looking, if not ugly. But the ugly name is somewhat of an inside joke here...

The advantage of the above deck mounts is that the railing sits up about 6" or so and this means the end of the railing does not sit in the water.

It was easy to install and it does what I need it to do.. That is what counts for me..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[jimmythegreek]

It's more than pulling up a few pavers. The average footing for a handrail is 24x24x8" deep and the sockets need to be bonded. It's pretty basic to know where you need them. Post a pic of your pool and the steps and we will give you our opinions. They need to be bonded as said do it now and be ready

 

[Poolnerdgrandma]

It's more than pulling up a few pavers. The average footing for a handrail is 24x24x8" deep and the sockets need to be bonded. It's pretty basic to know where you need them. Post a pic of your pool and the steps and we will give you our opinions. They need to be bonded as said do it now and be ready

If that aren't metal, and 100% non-conductive, why would they need to be bonded?

 

[blazer58]

If that aren't metal, and 100% non-conductive, why would they need to be bonded?

They would not need to be bonded, I think jimmythegreek was thinking they would be Stainless Steel

 

[Jimrahbe]

The one is my picture is metal, but coated with something that makes so that it does not have to be bonded.

Jim R.

 

[blazer58]

Don't know if these are the same brand Jim used, but they are the ones I will be getting.
From the literature..

Saftron in ground pool ladders are made of maintenance-free composites. They are available in 6 colors, are unaffected by pool chemicals, will never rust or corrode, which is especially great for salt chlorinators, and they don't have to be grounded (bonded). Composite material is compatible with automatic salt chlorinator systems as well. All Saftron products carry a full 5-year, non-prorated manufacturer warranty.

 

[Poolnerdgrandma]

Don't know if these are the same brand Jim used, but they are the ones I will be getting.
From the literature..

Saftron in ground pool ladders are made of maintenance-free composites. They are available in 6 colors, are unaffected by pool chemicals, will never rust or corrode, which is especially great for salt chlorinators, and they don't have to be grounded (bonded). Composite material is compatible with automatic salt chlorinator systems as well. All Saftron products carry a full 5-year, non-prorated manufacturer warranty.

Those are the ones we are thinking of. It seems that as long as the hand rails are anchored outside the pool, we can add them later. We may be OK without them, at least for a while. I think I'd rather live with it and figure out exactly what we need later, since with the Saftron that seems to be an option. Also, since we have a SWG, I think non-metal will be best.

Thanks all!

 

[jimmythegreek]

I was responding to the ladder cup pic posted and the fact ita a pain to do the work after the fact. The ones Jim posted will not work with pavers only a poured deck. The sockets are screwed into the concrete is his picture I believe the leverage of someone leaning on that rail screwed to pavers alone would dislodge the pavers easily. Think of how much leverage an adult could put on the base anchors while putting his body weight on the end of the railing. There is alot of leverage into play in that situation based on my experience

 

[blazer58]

We went a year with no ladder or rail, just to see if we wanted them, getting both.

I think with pavers, no matter which type you go with you will need to pour some type of concretefooting as jimmythegreek noted

 

[Heavenlytunes]

Are all anchor sockets standard measurements?

 

[Bperry]

Just another thought. We grew up in an inground pool with no ladder and a red brick coping. We didn’t even realize we were missing anything. Just get lots of practice pulling yourself up. There were some steps in the shallow end and a short ledge in the deep end near the diving board so not sure where a ladder would have gone anyway.

 

[PoolBrews]

With pavers, you will have the same issue for a base regardless of whether it is stainless or composite. You need a base to provide stability, so you're going to have to remove pavers, pour concrete (and make sure the concrete is at the right height to allow the pavers to be replaced and look level), then attach the rail.

It's MUCH easier to decide now and have them install the base. We waited till after, and it was a pain to install. The installer had to core drill the pavers, remove dirt, find the bond wire, attach the anchor to it, pour concrete, and then put the anchors in the concrete. Turned out great, but a lot more work than if we had done it when we built the pool. It took him over an hour to find the bond wire,