Padding For Under a Ladder

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G

ghall6292

Bronze Supporter
Jun 10, 2018
282
North Central PA
Pool Size
13500
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
We've been using the cheap thin rubber mat you can buy from the pool store to pad the bottom of our ladder and protect the liner. Almost useless once the grandkids get in and "whirlpool." It goes faster than they do! LOL. I was wondering about a regular bathmat with the suction cups. I keep thinking I'd be trading chasing the pool store mat, for chasing an algae problem.

Also, I will ask for some recommendations to weight this ladder down. Don't want to fill them with sand, pea gravel, etc. It would make takeout in the fall a miserable proposition. Anything that works great and doesn't deposit it's "filling" into the pool?

Wondering about filling a couple empty bleach jugs with concrete and attaching to a step of the ladder via zip ties thru the handle. Maybe two jugs inside and one outside. Can the plastic snap-together ladder handle this weight (plus the weight of a swimmer) without breaking or coming apart? We plan on building a deck and getting regular steps next year, God willing.

Thanks!
 
A pic of your ladder would be helpful-
The sealed bleach jugs (put tape under the caps) is what i have weighing down my wedding cake steps.
With enough weight & the ladder/steps being secured to the top rail or a deck there shouldn’t be too much movement warranting the need for a pad/mat underneath.
 
Hi, thanks for the reply.

Ours is the basic A-frame flip-up ladder that came with the pool. One end sits on the pool floor; the other sits on the ground. It's not fastened to the pool at all. that's why I was considering jugs both inside and out.

Are your jugs filled with cement or something else? My idea was to fill 'em with cement and glue the lids on. Good idea, or just use tape underneath like you did? My wife wants to use something that will last. (I think she doesn't want me floating to the top before she gets outta Dodge.) :oops: Be sure to watch "Dateline" for further details! LOL

Also, whaddya think about the more substantial bathmat with suction cups? Think it'll work out ok, or am I just inviting algae over for the summer?

The plan was for a deck and a set of Confer steps for this year, but lumber prices scared us off. :mad:

Enjoy your summer, and thanks again!
G.
 
I would imagine beneath the bathmat would be a haven for algae. I had an Intex pool for years and never had an issue with the ladder damaging the liner (and I had a preteen boy that liked to jump off of it into the pool!). Those liners are pretty tough.

We did have an upgraded Intex ladder as opposed to the one that came with the pool. I don't recall if the feet were any different than the basic one. If you're truly concerned, how about wrapping the feet with a piece of a pool noodle, perhaps held on with nylon zip ties?
 
Thanks, Jeff. I thought about the pool noodle fix, but then realized I would just be adding more "float" to something I (OR my wife; see above!) was trying to anchor.

When we had our Intex, we never used a mat in that either. The pool company recommended the mat to help protect the vinyl liner. That's why we have always used it. In reality, it's probably no more than 1/16" thick, but once things get moving inside the pool, so does the mat. It's not protecting much at that point.
 
Maybe cut up the bathmat or something else with negative buoyancy and wrap that around the feet. Something rubbery might get a better grip on the bottom and not slide around so much.
 
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I have dry concrete & sand in my jugs- glue or epoxy before capping would be a good idea as bleach bottles have vented caps. Other folks have used concrete filled & capped pvc pipes which are pretty much impermeable & used hooks or zip ties to hang/attach them. When my jugs bite the dust I’ll probably go with pvc pipes.
 
The ones I've had seemed to be filled with something that looked like concrete or plaster. It was solid.
 

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ghall6292 said:
I was wondering about a regular bathmat with the suction cups.
Click to expand...
There are heavy rubber mats that are used as "stall mats" in horse stables. I don't have horses, but I did buy one of those mats from TSC:

I just tested, and they are dense enough that they sink in water. This mat is relatively stiff, and I expect that it would do a good job cushioning the feet of a pool ladder. I cut mine up into smaller sections with a razor knife.
 
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My ladder pad is a pretty thick ribbed vinyl. It sinks, and the ribs let water circulate (allegedly). I still lift it stairs and mat and clean under them from time to time.

My steps have detachable weights. I filled them with pea gravel. At the start of each season I add about a 2 cups of bleach to each, then fill with water and cap.
 
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