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?...D=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 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

[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
Attachment 185

Attachment 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! He never seems to mind the cold water.
Must have to do with age!The older I get the warmer I want the water!

[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!!