Drop-In Steps for Inground Pools

The Basics

• Drop-in steps for pools are named for how they are placed in the pool. These steps are prefabricated staircases that drop right into the water. Drop-in stair units may require some minimal assembly, such as attaching a railing to the stair unit. Such steps for in-ground pools differ from those for above ground pools because they attach to a flat surface -- the apron around your pool -- where as drop-in steps for above ground attach to the pool’s lip.

Railing Design

• Drop-in steps for in ground pools come with basic railing designs. Some come with small, individual railings that lead only to the first step, while others contain railings on both sides. On some drop-in staircases for in-ground pools, the railing leads all the way to the bottom step, while other only cover the top step or two. All railings contain a flat bottom that sits on the apron surrounding your pool.

Materials

• Manufacturers make drop-in pool steps from water-resistance plastics, such as like polyvinyl chloride and acrylic. These are the same materials used in plastic plumbing pipes and prefabricated shower stalls. Some manufacturers use metal for the handles. Because plastic floats, all prefabricated staircases for pools require weight to stay submerged. Some staircases come with such a weight, while others require you purchase a weight separately.

Specifications

• Specifications for drop-in steps for in-ground pools include things like dimensions, weight, rated weight and number of stairs. Dimensions include the height and width of the unit as a whole, as well as each step’s the height and width. Weight describes how much the unit weights as delivered from the manufacturer, while rated weight describes how much weight the unit can hold. These units typically hold as much as 400 pounds accommodating several people using the staircase simultaneously.

The Right Drop-In Steps for Your Pool

• Picking the right drop-in steps for your pool requires decision making a common sense. You need a staircase tall enough to reach to the pool’s bottom. The width and railing design depend upon who uses the staircase and why. A pool for elderly or unsteady swimmers needs railings running all the way to the bottom step, and steps wide enough to fit swimmers but not too wide that they can’t reach the railings. Base the weight rating of a pool on the weight of swimmers. Talk to people in your neighborhood who own drop-in steps for in ground pools to get ideas about what works and what doesn’t.