Above Ground Pool Heavy Duty Wood Ladder and Steps
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- Опубликовано: 25 май 2020
- We all know that the ladders that come with above ground pools tend to be very basic and very unstable. I found that if I created my own ladder system, I was able to save hundreds as opposed to purchasing any other ladder or step system.
I am using this system on my Bestway (Coleman) above ground pool that is 20 feet by 48 inches.
I don't have a full (detailed) shopping list. I made a few trips to Lowes myself to complete it. But here's a pretty sufficient list:
H-frame:
2- 4x4x10
2- 2x4x10 (you'll need about 15-17 feet of lumber)
Outside steps:
2- 2x6x8
3- 2x4x12 (You'll need about 36 feet of lumber)
Inside Ladder:
2- 2x6x8
2- 2x4x12 (you'll need about 24 feet of lumber)
Top Platform1:
I used 2x12 boards, (about 6 feet of it), but you could likely use 2x4s or 2x6s if you wanted to).
About 2 lbs of #10x2.5 stainless steel deck screws
About 1 lb of #10x3 stainless steel deck screws
Wood glue 
Хобби
Been looking for something just like this to improve on my family pool. I truly appreciate the shopping list you added to the description, even if it isn't full and detailed -- I was about to start counting/estimating/doing math from pause frames in your video to figure it out for myself. Saved me so much time!
Hope it helps. It really does work awesome. 3 years in my saltwater pool. No negative effects.
Just the addition to the pool we needed. Absolutely Brilliant man.
Hope it helps you. The steps that come with any of these pools are absolutely terrible. All you need is lumber, a circular saw, and a speed square. It really was easy to do.
Awesome!! Just what I am looking for!! We have the same reasons. Great Job!!
I'm in the process of making one for my 90 year old father in law - great video - thanks
Awesome! I'd like to see a pic when you're done if possible! Good luck!
Thanks for the video. I've been looking for a DIY solution for my above ground pool for a while and didn't want to use wood, but you convinced me that I wasn't setting realistic expectations.
I've had it going for 4 months now. No problems whatsoever. Works great!
Hi what about now?, is still same condition?
I'll let you know soon.. I'll be putting it back up in April and will do another video when I do. I broke it down into 3 pieces and stored them in my shed. I plan to do minor upgrades. I'll be changing some of the screws to carriage bolts and I'll be covering at least the inside steps with outdoor carpet to provide extra grip.
@@getitdone308 I can’t wait to see the new video !
Thank you for the video. I just added everything to my home depot cart and we are building it tomorrow
Awesome! Hope it helps. This is my 3rd year with it. No problems whatsoever.
Welcome with what you bought
Great video! Super sturdy build and something I’m 100% gonna do. I’ll spray everything down with an auto undercoating to provide some grip when wet. The factory ladder that comes with the pool suckssss! Lol
Thanks. Good idea
Thanks video was helpful. I have one to do one now.
Awesome! Hope this video helps!
I love it I saw your video and I built one just like I can't stand the latter that comes with them
Glad it helped!
great video, just ordered your list and it's around $260 with everything. cheaper than the $700 heavy duty pool ladder!
Right! I just put my pool up for the 3rd year and the ladder is as strong as ever! Have fun!
For the steps you can use some of that rubber pad you used to put at the bottom inside the pool.
They make shower floor "sandpaper" tread anti-skid/slip too.
Also, you can seal the wood too, not Thompson seal, but something better. I'm thinking a polyurethane sealer. Once dry, it won't leak, or poison the water.
Nice set up.
Thanks! Yes, I am considering the same rubber mat as well. I looked high and low for the tread, but nothing I can find is made to stay submerged. Bathtub treads are close, but they aren't made to stay submerged.
Thus far, I've had ZERO issues with the wood. That said, if I did it again, I would avoid even potential problems by using non-treated lumber.
for the steps take a skill saw or do it on a table saw and put about 3/16 to 1/4 saw cut the length of the tread, a series of them about 1/2 inch apart or so, built in non skid!!
Great video, any follow up here and changes you may make if doing it again? I've seen the expensive stairs, pvc builds, and was wondering about wood since I build a lot with that. Good video. For the tread pick up at Harbor Freight on the up 1) Adhesive tread roll and 2) rubber tread planks to screw down on the pool side. Maybe $25 in tread.
Awesome. Thanks for the suggestion! I'm in year 3 and have had zero issues with it. Still going strong. I'll post a video shortly. I added some tread tape and solar lights to the cap...but that's about it.
I have a salt pool same as yours my cheap metal stairs rusting quuckly. Good idea to use wood i may go that way
It's held up great so far!
Thanks for the great video. I was wondering if you think this design would work with just the H frame and outside steps with a regular pool ladder attached? Or does it need the other side in the pool to be stable?
Actually, I seriously considered that. So, yes I think it could work. The platform on the H frame would need to be big enough...but I think it's a great idea.
Hey awesome video! I never thought to build one out of wood you got my gears turning now going to the lumber yard this weekend my only concern is I have two little ones that I don't want climbing on it when no one's around do you have any suggestions on how to keep it safe? Maybe a couple hinges and plywood to put over it ...That's what I haven't figured
out yet any input with great thanks
Hope it helps. If you put 2 sets of rails on it...then a simple baby/pet gate can stop them.
I don't think pressure treated wood in the pool is wise. I foresee the chemicals from the wood leeching into the water. Also concerned with the fasteners corroding and putting rust into the water.
Using stainless steel fasteners won't promote the rust. I also have a sacrificial anode in the skimmer to reduce rust.
If I had to do it over again, I probably would do untreated (because it's a little cheaper), but after 2 months now, my water quality is awesome. No adverse affects (yet).
not an issue, and you use stainless steel screws no rust!!
Hi I was looking for something like this to help the wife get into the pool after double knee replacement. glad I stumbles on this. Where did you get the rubber matt?
I got it at Lowes or Home Depot (I don't recall which). It's a standard mat made for commercial kitchens (so water can flow through it).
Awesome, thank you. Just what I've been looking for :). A quick question; on the pool side, did you find the preservative in the wood contaminated the pool in any way?
I get asked that a lot. Truthfully...no. I didn't see any noticeable impact to my pool. It's a salt water system. Also, I was very focused on my water/chemicals. I didn't have to do anything different to keep it all balanced.
It was the BEST upgrade I did for my pool, hands down.
Thank you for your quick reply, much appreciated 🙏
do you have a "shopping list" of the products you used so I can pick them up easily?
Hi Amber,
I don't have a full (detailed) list. I made a few trips to Lowes myself to complete it. But here's a pretty sufficient list:
H-frame:
2- 4x4x10
2- 2x4x10 (you'll need about 15-17 feet of lumber)
Outside steps:
2- 2x6x8
3- 2x4x12 (You'll need about 36 feet of lumber)
Inside Ladder:
2- 2x6x8
2- 2x4x12 (you'll need about 24 feet of lumber)
Top Platform1:
I used 2x12 boards, (about 6 feet of it), but you could likely use 2x4s or 2x6s if you wanted to).
About 2 lbs of #10x2.5 stainless steel deck screws
About 1 lb of #10x3 stainless steel deck screws
Wood glue
Hey! Any updates on how the treated wood is performing in the water? Everything still good? Also, did you stain it or think about staining it? Or would that be unnecessary if it's going into the water? I've basically zero experience when it comes to this stuff.
2 years in...still no problems. No, I didn't stain it. I didn't want any more chemicals in the pool.
Man the splitters to come from getting out that pool😂 ouch 😅
Nope. Never happened
Just curious, what kind of wood glue did you use and did you use the wood glue for the ladder inside the pool too? And if so is toxic to put it in the water?
Just standard Tite Bond wood glue. I had no problems with the water/chemicals at all. My chemical levels were always fine.
@@getitdone308 ok thank you
I'm gonna try this for my daughter with Down Syndrome. This looks like a safe way for her to get in and out easily! Thanks for the video. One Question. How do you make the step supports? Ok two..can you have the wood cut at Lowes ? My pool is a 48in too. Thanks so much!!!
Hi Julie. It's definitely sturdy. I'm a big/tall guy. Bigger and taller (and heavier) than your average Joe. Supports me just fine..
The step supports are just pieces of the same board (2x4 or 2x6) about 4 inches thick and cut at the same angle as the steps. You could also buy pre-cut stair stringersfrom Lowe's/Home Depot, but they are not as steep as the 45° stairs I have...so they'd be going out farther. If you gave the space, do that...it's easier.
Lowe's/Home Depot do cut lumber, but I'd venture they wouldn't make all those cuts. That being said, the only tool I bought was a Skilsaw (circular saw) for about $40-$50. Made all the cuts no problem.
I'll put a basic shopping list in the description.
@@getitdone308 Thanks so much for all your info!! I appreciate it. When I'm done I'll send you a pick. I plan on staining the outside wood with a blue wood stain, I'm curious to see how it will look next to the pool. Thanks again!!!
Hi again!! Almost done, but ran into a problem. How did you weight down the inside ladder?? Thanks!!
It's very buoyant isn't it? Screwing/bolting it to the H frame and then also the actual top platform/step holds it down just fine. I had to have my daughter stand on it in the pool to hold it in place until I could get a couple screws in. After that...no problem!
@@getitdone308 I screwed it into the platform, but my inside steps ended up smaller, unable to connect to frame. Do you think if I tied it to cement blocks, I bought a durable mat to protect the liner as well. Thanks again!
I’m about to go get supplies!! Do you think if I paint it it will be ok in the water?
My personal preference is to NOT paint anything that's going in the water. I'm pretty confident it will chip/flake away and be a bear on my filter. Everything else though (H frame and outside steps)...YES! I too need to add some protection to mine.
Please post a pic so we can see your finished product!
I want to build this myself but i am no carpenter....i wish there were step by strp instructions that could help me and a full material list
Idk if you mention it in the video im still watching but will the wood in the water become a problem over time?
I've had it in for 3 months. No problems whatsoever!
Hi, I'm about to do this for my pool for the same reasons as you. Did you research the expected structural life of the wood that is immersed in the pool water. I was thinking of using 100mm/4" plastic soil pipe for the pool side with maybe 2" plastic pipe for the steps. Alternatively if I use timber I want to make the poolside easily detachable so it can simply be lifted out and kept dry when not in use and/or when the bottom cleaner is in use.
I built it in 2020 when wood wasn't expensive. It was only about $100 (at least 1/3 the price of an "official" pool ladder). My thoughts were that if there was a problem, it's cheap enough to fix/replace with more wood. Here we are into the 2nd season and ZERO problems with it.
I looked extensively into PVC for a system. I didn't because I wanted a little more comfort than round steps would offer. Also I was concerned about slipping on smooth PVC.
You bring up a good point about making the pool side removable. I am considering hinging the pool side ladder to pivot it up.
@@getitdone308 I talk your point on how uncomfortable a rounded step may be so I'm now thinking of somehow making a 'double ladder' using 1 1/4" pipe in a double framework so the steps are 2 pipes next to each other and maybe fix s flat surface between them such as the plastic steps of the original ladder! :)
@@getitdone308have you changed to hinges?
Are the steps going into the pool 10 inches high to get to 50 inches on top platform thanks
I'm pretty sure that was the case. You can make them as close as you want.
I may have missed it in the video but how wide did you build the steps?
Nevermind, I found where you said about 32"
Ahhhhhh back when that much wood for the inside was only life $20 😅 those were the days
Right!? I got in while the gettin' was good!
Thanks for this video! Just built it total price was 256 form home Depot, I used carriage bolts on the stairs to take them off! and my pool is taller so I have ,6 steps on the outside other than that its identical, very study I'm 350#s and support me well!, Thank you again
Glad it helped. I'll be switching to carriage bolts too. I'll post a video shortly. I also put solar lights on top of the middle H frame too. It's great!
@@getitdone308 that's what I told my wife we should do!
Great info on weight.
My daughter is over 300 lbs. I want to build this for her but was concerned the 2x4 steps would bend or break in the middle....thoughts???
Also, I have a 52 inch, wonder if I could use the same exact replica of yours
Yes. It may have to be made just slightly taller though.
My pool is chlorine. Thoughts? Will the wood survive?
All pools are chlorine. Saltwater systems produce chlorine. So technically my pool is chlorine...and the ladder works great!
zip tie strips of wet mat to the treads
OMG! Thank You! I didn't think of that! Great idea! You win the internet today!
Did you bury the 4x4s?
No. Sitting on the concrete. The ladder gets taken down each year.
Are the 6x6 post buried or just sitting on the ground?
Standing on the concrete.the ladder is taken down each season with the pool.
@@getitdone308Awesome! Is it necessary to take down the pool every year? The first year I took it down, but when I put it back up I had a few pin holes around some of the creases. Last year I just left it up and stored the pump. I had no issues getting it going this year. ps Im doing the skimmer mod next!
Is it necessary? No. I did because I have teenagers that can do it for me...and set it up. It really only took a short time to break down/set up. Also, I have a storage shed, so it was safe for the winter. I took it down out of fear of "something" happening to it in the off season.
Is it ok to use treated lumber in a pool?
Well...I've had it 3 years and had ZERO problems with it.
How many inches vertical between your steps. Trying to engineer now.
I honestly don't know. It's 4 steps, then the top platform...which goes above the rail (48"). The top platform is a little higher off the top step...but the rest of the steps are evenly spaced
@@getitdone308 ok, I’m thinking maybe 10 inches. A little more than normal but it’s a ladder so it should work with the handrail, it works for you, that’s for sure. Thanks for the quick response.
Wood in the pool? Won't it warp, splinters?
In the 3 years I had it...never a splinter. To be fair, the 3rd year when I was installing it, I noticed a spot on the top that may cause a snag, so I sanded it down smooth. Easy fix. It didn't warp either. I did put a kitchen rubber mat on the pool floor under the legs so it didn't rub. Honestly, it was THE best upgrade I did for my pool.
THIS COULD ALSO BE DONE BY USING A ROUTER OR SAW TO DADO A NOTHCH IN THE RAILS TO RECIEVE THE STEPS AND LAGGED IN FROM THE SIDES ELIMINATING ALL THE BLOCKS TO FASTEN THE STEPS TO. ALSO PUT A BOARD ACROSS THE BOTTOM LEGS OF THE LADDER TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE PAD. THIS WILL SPREAD THE WEIGHT OUT EVENLY ON THE POOL LINER.
Thomas, I really appreciate the suggestions! I like the idea of the cross beam to disperse the weight. I think I'll give that a try this year.
I thought about routing the rails too. At the time, my thought was that it provides 1 full-board thickness for the fastening blocks...thus more support...vs routing out the rails and not having as much thickness. I think if I were to do this over again, I'd do what you suggested.
I'm also considering hinging/pivoting the ladder-side (in the pool) so I could pull it up when not in use. Not fir safety's sake, but because the vacuum tends to get stuck behind it...so taking it out if the water would prevent that. But a simple short beam on the bottom step (or near it) that pointed backwards would do that too.
R u sure its 36 inches span. That's 3 feet right sorry we use metric sys here and I m in the middle of building this. Thx for ur help
I'm not sure what you're referencing about the 36" span. The space between the pool's posts is approximately that. I targeted 36" for the width of the H frame as well...but it wasn't precise. When all is said and done, the width of each step was somewhere around 32".
You can make them as wide as you want. There's no "set" width.
Appreciate ur quick response 👍👍👍👍👍👌
@@getitdone308 done the main frame and the 45 degree stairs. The part to go in the water next. Test driven mine. It's solid. Cant thank u enough for sharing this
Glad it works for you! Love to see a pic!
@@getitdone308 its done. Still few cuts here and there. Thx👍👍👍. Uploaded video in my channel for u to check it out
What wood is it ?
Pine
2 years later, I'd like to see how long that lasted or what kind of adverse effect you had by adding chemically treated lumber to your pool
Sure! Check out my video where I show you just that. No adverse effects whatsoever.
ruclips.net/video/s9BMckMSPjs/видео.html
We are putting flex seal on the ladder
Tell me how it comes out. I was curious how it worked. Are you putting it on while the ladder is submerged?
I'd like to know too
I've seen people use PVC never wood😳Great job though 😉🌞🌊🔨⚒🪜 Get no slip stripes from Lowe's or Home Depot for steps😉 💯👍🏽
I seriously looked into PVC. I wanted something a lot more beefy though. The wood is great.
I did add non-slip bath tub straps to the outer stairs and top platform. I need something for the inner ladder though.
@@getitdone308 would pvc hold a good amount of weight? But I think we will do wood. I'm worried about the pool liner.
PVC is STRONG! But you'd have to use the bigger PVC to maximize the strength...and provide enough space to put your foot without hurting it.
Wood's been great! Truly. I put a rubber mat down under the feet of the ladder to protect it. They're the ones used in restaurants for anti-slipping. (you can get them at Home Depot). No problems whatsoever to the liner.
@@getitdone308 thank you, would we put concrete in the PVC
I sure love this idea but will use untreated wood.
I used the treated. It gave me zero problems for the ladder (in the water). Nonetheless...untreated will likely work just as good.
Where's the follow up video a year later?
ruclips.net/video/s9BMckMSPjs/видео.html
turf grass for the steps..
Good idea! Thanks!
I recommend woodglut to every beginner and not only.
Are you from China or something 😂😜🤪😂😜🤪😂😜🤪
?
That is a horrible idea. Your water will be constantly contaminated. Get a good set of resin steps…it’ll be ok for a while but this is a bad idea. Not to mention if it touches the liner your gonna have a hole.
I've had it for 3 years. Zero water problems whatsoever. I've also put a rubber mat under the steps where it touches the pool floor surface to protect it.