AG Pool Drop In Steps

[Islander2C]

I talked about getting the drop in style steps for my 27' AG pool last summer, but couldn't convience my hubby to spend the 450.00 the pool store was asking for them.:(
I really don't look forward to using the ladder again this summer. So my question would be to all of you who purchased the drop in steps...what kind did you get and the pros and cons for them.
Look forward to the replies!

[Poolidiot]

I have the wedding cake ( I think is what they are called)steps. Best thing I could have bought. You asked about the cons? Well not really a con but just obviously they are harder to take out then the ladder is. Other then that I know of no other thing bad about them. Just tell your husband to move the cobb webs from his wallet :) and buy the steps. He will not regret it.

[JJ in Tx]

I got these steps from Access http://www.lesliespool.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=8312&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=646&iProductID=8312&tabID=3
they have been great, kids love to hanging out on them. I will probably get the handrails re-powder coated or blasted to bare metal in the next week or so because the finish is blistering in a few places, it is completely usable I just want to fix it. I would purchase them again without hesitation.

[Poolidiot]

You never reposted, did you talk him into it?

[Islander2C]

Not yet....these things take time!;) We haven't opened the pool yet so I am not in a big hurry. We probably won't get in the water until June sometime as it is still quite cold here in Canada. Although my youngest (12 yr old boy) is wondering when our "green water" will be blue and ready to swim in! lol But he will swim in 65 deg water :eek: so I'm sure when I open it next weekend...he may jump in!
We don't have a heater yet either so the heater may come before the steps. Now I just have to find that money tree:rolleyes:

[Islander2C]

I have it narrowed down to two different steps. Does anyone have either one of these, and any comments would be great!
One is Innova Plus "The Opera Step" $218.00
The other is Tuxedo Step $318.00
185

186

[gonefishin]

Hi Islander2C,

We've got steps that are similar to the first picture in your post for our new pool. It came with two large ziplock bags that you have to fill with sand, to use as weights to weight down the steps so they're a bit more stable.

It seems harmless enough to drop the sand filled ziplock bags in my 60f degree water. My thinking was that I'd just drop them in place only getting my arm wet. Well...once I started to lower the ziplock bag into the water...it got down about half way (and even though I thought I had all the air out of the bag) it burped. When it burped...it opened up the bag and I had a LARGE cloud of sand mushroom out into the water. Once all was said and done...I had a couple large coffee cans full of sand to clean up from the bottom of my pool.

My advice (unless someone has some better advice) is to lower the bag of sand into the water while you have full control of the bag and "zipped" top. If your husband doesn't mind cold water...just have him do this while he's in the water.

Have fun...and stay clean ;)

dan

[JJ in Tx]

as far as the sand bag and ziploc bags, the sand I bought was already in a plastic bag so i put the whole shebang bag and all into the ziploc bag

JJ

[Islander2C]

Could you use something other than sand to weigh the steps down? Bricks in a bag?
Thanks for the heads up on that though! I'll probably send my 12 year old in the cold water to do this! :D He never seems to mind the cold water.
Must have to do with age!The older I get the warmer I want the water!:rolleyes:

[drumr]

Islander2C,
I also have steps that are similar to the one posted in your top picture. Mine have slotted sides for better water flow, so they told me at the pool store. I use 4 patio blocks to hold mine down and so far it has worked well.

I like the steps in your top picture because I have do most of my pool maintenance with no help and when I have to pull these steps out of the pool I can do it relatively easily.

A friend of mine has the wedding cake stairs and getting them out of the pool is a 2 person job for sure.

Good Luck!!

[Islander2C]

Thanks everyone for the responses! :)

[Poolidiot]

I have the wedding cake steps and you are right , it does take 2 people (tried alone last year and was down in my back for 3 weeks) But the size of them makes it great for sitting and also for the little one to play on.

[CarlD]

I've been using the drop in wedding cake steps for several years--ones with 2 rails.

Putting them in:
1) I have a sheet of 45mil poly that goes under them. This is available from Home Depot as the sealer plumbers put under showers. I put it down to protect the liner from any movement by the steps. I cut it bigger than the steps, but rounded. It's super-smooth so it doesn't abrade the liner.
2) the steps go in. I drilled holes in the leading edge of each step to help air get out. I use 3 50#bags of filter sand--I had the giant zip-locks and I put a bag in each of them. I get INTO the pool and lower them down.
1a) Don a wetsuit--best $100 I spent on the pool.
3) Put bags inside steps and maneuver the steps into position.
4) Install rails

Removing them...
1) Don wetsuit...FIRST!(I close Oct 1)
2) detach rails.
3) Remove sand bags, lift to deck, well out of the way.
4) Gently lift steps so air gets in and floats them.
5)get one edge of steps on deck, lift slowly to get water out, then lift it completely on deck.
6) Getting them out of the pool and to the shed is tough. I can manage it myself, but if my son can help (and he does) it's better.

[JETTA]

I want to replace my existing steps with either the Lumio Wedding Cake II or the Biltmor (in pool step portion only). I want a step that does not need to have weights to be placed under the step as an anchor.

Did anybody buy the WC II steps last season? Did you like them?

[Islander2C]

Carl did you used to have the steps similar to the first picture? I think I remember you posting last year with a picture of your steps before the wedding cake ones? If so, what made you switch?

[CarlD]

Carl did you used to have the steps similar to the first picture? I think I remember you posting last year with a picture of your steps before the wedding cake ones? If so, what made you switch?

I had a set of drop in stair-type, but I didn't like the way they sat on my deck, getting to them, how they looked, etc. They went in for about 5 minutes, then came back out. Then the wedding cake.

[JETTA]

I purchased the Lumi-O "Festiva" step. I liked that two steps are used for the ballasting.

I am hoping that I will not have to anchor the steps down to the deck. My former steps did not require it and I am going to try these without. Judging by the steps, I do not think they will float away.

[JETTA]

I dropped my new steps in today. So the water was a little hazy, but I just opened the pool & hooked up the pump on Wednesday. I wanted to try these steps out.

First I brought my old set of drop in steps to the end of my driveway on Sunday and within 1 hour they were sold. There was nothing wrong with them, I just hated the process of anchoring them down. I made a couple very happy with the $50 price. I even gave them my custom made weights to go with it.

I chose the Festiva because it looked liked I would not have to anchor the steps to the deck. My former steps were that way. I confirmed this when filling the two weighted steps (the bottom and the third up from the bottom) this staircase is stable and will not float. I would estimate I have about 45lbs of stone in each step.

I even went into the pool and caused some waves and the steps rocked a little but did not wander away. The old steps did the same.

I also like the fact that these are all plastic including the rails.

Some pix:
http://www.skijay.com/lumio1.JPG
http://www.skijay.com/lumio2.JPG
http://www.skijay.com/lumio3.JPG

[The Mermaid]

We used to have the wedding cake steps, but yeah, they were cumbersome and I didn't like how algae would grow behind them due to poor water circulation. We decided no more wedding cake steps, although I did like how big and sturdy they were. We are giving these a try.

http://www.inyopools.com/Products/00100001005385.htm

We just got them installed and so far, they are great. Good water circulation and they feel nice and sturdy (though not as big as the wedding cake type).

[Islander2C]

Jetta:
That is just what I am looking for! They look perfect! Where did you purchase them? From a pool store or online? I live in Canada so I am hoping I can get them here somewhere.
Thanks for the pics.
Mary

[JETTA]

Islander2C

The steps are made in Canada. St-Jerome, QC to be exact. Here is their site: www.lumi-o.com

I found them at a pool store in Sherbrooke, QC. I just could not fit them in my vehicle with three people and drive for 4hrs home. I bought locally.

[Islander2C]

Thanks again. We only have 1 pool store here in PEI :rolleyes: so I would have to order online if they can't get those steps in.
Mary

[gpshemi]

Newbie here....be nice.

Anyone ever try leaving them in for winter?
Just wondering what would happen.....

gpshemi

[medvampire]

I used the steps and ladder kit that came with my pool. It was a Builtmore but a few personal mods. My wife gave a mean look as I grabbed for my hack saw and cordless drill but was smiling when I finished. I took a 50lb bag of play sand wrapped in 2 sealed garbage bags and tied it to the inside of the middle step to hold it down.:D
Steve
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9827/img32848bz.th.jpg (http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img32848bz.jpg)


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2963/step24re.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6518/step14008ml.jpg

[Marillionfan]

I bought the step one steps from a local pool place and they dont use sand in bags to weigh them down you pour the sand directly into the steps pictured herehttp://www.poolsupplies.com/cgi-bin/Commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=832501 but I don't think we spent $239.00 more like $179.00

[Islander2C]

It was a Builtmore but a few personal mods. My wife gave a mean look as I grabbed for my hack saw and cordless drill but was smiling when I finished.

Just curious what modifications you made on the steps? The Biltmore Steps looks like they allow alot of water circulations. More than most of the drop in steps. They are very affordable also. We have a deck all around our pool so I am wondering if we will have to attach the step to our deck or can we just have the step in the pool and weighed down with sand bags? Would prefer to not have to attach to deck.

[medvampire]

I did som minor mods to get it to attach to the deck.
See attached pic.
T --- Cut upright pipes from ladder kit to correct height.
Z --- Cut base pipe slots off to corret deck height and added screws. Used ground platform for attachment to deck by addin screws.
E --- Added 2x6 to bottom of platform to set to deck height.
F --- Cut "water noodle" to fill slot to prevent broken toes.
I dont think this step would be stable enough with out some kind of out side attachment. If your smimmers are light weight you might get by with the straps that go around the rail and top platform to hold it in place. Included were screws you could put in the top rail of the pool but I was kinda nervious about drilling holes in a new pool. The set up is very stable even with me on it. I am am big boy so I need one that would handle my weight. As for water flow it seems pretty good. I did notice a little crud under it that I will blast with a hose next time I add water.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9093/modstep8rf.jpg

[JETTA]

For me it was between the Biltmor, Wedding Cake II and the Festiva.

The Biltmor is also available for pools with deck only. The picture posted above looks like the model with the optional outside ladder assembly.

The Biltmor has a shelf around the third step where you can remove the panel and slide the weight (sand bag) in. A good concept. I did not like how the deck only model attached to the deck. And these must be attched as the sales guy told me they would float. Locally they go for $149.

[medvampire]

This was one with outside ladder but modded it. The panell on the for the sand pops out so not such a good ideal. I had to just leave mine out. I didnt like the deck attachment because it didnt look stable.

Later
Steve

[pool newby]

Hi,

We have the main acess pool stair steps, and are pretty happy with them overall. It would have been nice had the installer or pool store told me that it would have been a whole lot easier to install them before the pool was completely filled. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy now, out there fighting to hold them down from floating, and trying to go underwater and position the two sand bags, not fun at all !

Our steps are a little wobbly, probably all are, but nothing major. Plus, the kids being kids like to jump off the top platform. So, we are thinking about adding one of those large blue pads to go underneath, for a little extra protection on the liner. Maybe, I'm being a little too paranoid, but I;m wondering anyone has experience or has heard of the stairs actually causing a hole in the liner.

Bob
pool newby
E Tn.

[Islander2C]

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/attachment.php?attachmentid=297&stc=1&d=1150404672
These are the steps I ordered today. Now I didn't get the ladder attachment because I have a deck all around our pool. The salesman told me I didn't need to attach it to the deck that I just has to put a sandbag in it to keep it from floating. Does anyone have these steps alone, not attached to pool or deck? I'm concerned now that maybe I shouldn't have ordered them because I really don't want to attach them to the deck or pool.
:(

[jabbajean]

We just put steps in similar to your top picture. They are pretty good. Hubby put the sand in and did it from in the pool. It took both of us to put it in, but it was minimal.
Good luck!
Jay

[medvampire]

Islander2C
I tried them with out by just dropping them in with 50 lbs sand and didnt like it. You might get by with more sand. Just didnt seem safe to me but I am the kind that where moste peps put one nail I put two. I also have 10 and 13 year old boys and you know how they are.
Let me know how it works and any mods you make.
Thanks
Steve

[mohawk]

I've been reading all of the posts and was thinking of getting the wedding cake II stairs. I think they would be good for my younger grandchildren to sit on. My concern though is the post where it was said that algae was a problem because of poor water circulation with these steps . Has anyone else experienced this, and if so what would be the solution. Thanks for your advise, Denise :)

[ShelleyAnn]

I too am worried about my "bouncy" stairs wearing a hole in the liner. Where did you see the pad you mentioned in your post?

Shelley

[JETTA]

If you look at the steps, you will see there is padding under them. Basically any part of the step that would come in contact with the liner has a pad under it.

http://www.skijay.com/pool061206a.JPG

[Marillionfan]

I didn't have any problems with my steps and the liner but I did get a hole from an early season pool party with our ladder not being attached to the deck and a lot of kids in & out etc............ when we bought the steps the pool store had the pads available to buy

[pool newby]

Got my mine from Par pool and spa...the 44 x 48 size, I wanted a big enough size to cover the entire area under the steps.

http://parpools.com/Page/Pool/Pool%20Accessories/Pool_ladder-acc.html

[gpshemi]

Never seen one of the pads up close, but I'm wondering if it isn't just the blue core "fanfold" insulation that they sell at Home Depot or Lowes. I've been thinking about using that under mine. Can't convince my self it's really needed is all. The bottom of my stairs are very well rounded. What makes that different then a ladder really?

gpshemi

[kwazy]

A set of "Tuxedo" wedding cake steps came with out pool. Here's a picture of them:

http://www.northwestwholesale.com/detail.asp?Product_ID=IN-1005

Although I like the size of these steps, I'm not happy with the quality. It's hard to install the sandbags into the lip around the bottom step. The sandbags don't really hold the steps in place very well, so they pretty much require the brace that screws to the pool deck. And the plastic rail is too flexible and feels like I could easily snap it off.

I've never compared these to any other above ground steps, but I have to believe there's something better out there. Do any wedding cake steps have a nice solid stainless steel rail?

[AnnaK]

My concern though is the post where it was said that algae was a problem because of poor water circulation with these steps . Has anyone else experienced this, and if so what would be the solution. Thanks for your advise, Denise :)


We have the Wedding Cake steps which we modified somewhat by cutting extra holes in the sides of the steps to aid water flow. There are two places where we get algae growth: inside the first step where the weights are and under that first step because it sits flat on the pool bottom and there's no circulation there at all.

We do not get any algae creeping out though. We move the steps once a month and brush the bottom. It's really no big deal to do.

We also fabricated step weights using PVC tubes filled with sand. Three fit inside the bottom step and three are suspended with electical ties from the top step. Here are some photos: http://www.ellerbach.com/Pool/

Anna

[traceyb]

Somewhere on this site, someone has photos posted and I did what they recommended. I filled 3 4 inch pvc segments with rock, then glued caps on each end. This eliminates worries of the sand getting in your pool, or bags with bricks eventually breaking down. I used 3 of them which is about 25 total pounds. I really could use on more, but I'll wait till next season. Between those and the rails screwed into the deck and the steps, no problem mon!

[traceyb]

http://www.ellerbach.com/Pool/

Here's the site of the folks who have though of something so brilliant.

Good luck "holdin em down"

[AnnaK]

Brilliant, eh? Thanks for the warm fuzzy.

Yes, that's us with the sand-filled PVC tubes. We have three inside the bottom step and three hanging from the top step using electical ties and S-hooks. We've had one of the ties break and the tube just fell to the bottom inside the step cubby hole.

I like the idea of using rocks because, just in the event a tube should break or leak, rocks are easier to clean up. What I really like is using Quick-Crete. It probably is even heavier than sand. Suspending the hanging tubes might become a problem due to the weight, I don't know. We stuck with sand because it works for us. No leaks yet.

Anna

[traceyb]

Along with anna k's brilliant move on weighting down and drilling holes (which I did)...I bought a step pad that it quite a bit larger than the w.c steps. The other day, I got my goggles on and looked through the hole on the side. UCK! The pad/mat was green. So, waa laa. I pullled it out quickly, folded it into a "U" formation, handed it out to someone on the deck. They sprayed it off and presto cleano!....And we also have had NO problems with the algae spreading out. I also put a shot of algaecide 60 in through the hole once a week...just to make meeeself feel betta!
I use a turkey baster (DONT LAUGH YA'll)
SO....cheers to the brilliant ideas here mates.

[AnnaK]

Oooooo . . . cle-VER! A turkey baster to get Polyquat right up close and personal inside the nasty parts of the steps.

So with that pad, are you saying there were no algae UNDER it? Just ON it? We recently put an old yoga mat under our steps. They take a serious beating by the dogs launching off them which has worn a dent into the sand under the corners. I've been wondering whather algeae will grow on and under the pad . . .

[NWMNMom]

I have checked ours frequently and have had no incidents of algae behind or under the steps or the pad. I do pour bleach to the right of the steps so it moves with the flow through them when cleaning or brushing about, just for good measure

[traceyb]

Oooooo . . . cle-VER! A turkey baster to get Polyquat right up close and personal inside the nasty parts of the steps.

So with that pad, are you saying there were no algae UNDER it? Just ON it? We recently put an old yoga mat under our steps. They take a serious beating by the dogs launching off them which has worn a dent into the sand under the corners. I've been wondering whather algeae will grow on and under the pad . . .

Exactly. Luck may have it. We purchased a mat too large for under the steps on purpose from water warehouse. It was only about 35 $ if I remember correctly.( it's far cheaper than a new liner down the road) Any how, instead of algae building up on the liner of the pool that you CAN NOT get to without removing the steps, it builds up on the mat itself. We pulled it out from the front and put the hose spray nozzle on "jet" and within 10 seconds it was clean as a whistle. It can be done by yourself, but the extra two hands helps out. Next year I plan to scissor trim the part of the mat that sticks out of the front left and right, but it is only because it tends to "flap" and the barracuda gets caught under that flap sometimes. So, to protect your liner AND have an easy way to clean "under" the steps this is awesome. Between your "weight" idea and my "mat idea" the step situation is A-OK! Opening the pool the first wknd in may, this is the first time since then that we have had to "pull the mat". I was instructed to use polyquat 60 one week and algae control concentrate (guardex) the next. It is because of the resistance of different types of algae, you need different types of algaecide. I only get small spots of algae here and there and staying on top of the problem gives us more time to swim and not clean. There is however algae in the bottom most step where the weights are, but it hasn't so far seemed to want to creap out. Turkey basting seems to help, it could only be in my head, but hey, squirt it where you can't pour it right?

GOOD LUCK
check out your size mat here:
http://www.waterwarehouse.com/products/sku-6586.html