Which steps for AGP??

[94ukgrad]

Any recommendations for steps for APG? I'm thinking about the wedding cake style steps with the suctions cups on the bottom to hold them down. Do these cups actually work?

[AnnaK]

We have wedding cake steps in our AGP. No suction cups though, didn't know they make those. Our steps are weighted—see the link in my signature line for photos.

I imagine the suction cups would work if you have a perfectly flat bottom to which they can attach themselves. Keep in mind that steps take a lot of pressure from people getting in and out, kids jumping off them or, in my case, dogs using them as a diving platform. Over the past 5 seasons our steps have worn indentations into the sand under the liner. The bottom is no longer perfectly smooth, not anywhere in the pool. Sand shifts with time.

[CarlD]

I used sand bags to weight my wedding cake steps down for years--then I figured that the two railings, one on each side, did the job perfectly well and the sand was a perfect home for algae to grow in. So I haven't bothered for years.

I did drill a hole in the top front edge of each step to help the unit sink because it's too hard to get the air out otherwise. Also, I bought a sheet of Plumber's Vinyl at Home Depot that is about 40 mils. It's used to seal under shower stalls but I put it under the steps to keep them from abrading the liner as they move. It works very well although the P-V is gray. But it's very smooth and I cut it to be only slightly larger than the steps. The only drawback is over the years the liner has faded--except where the steps go.