Firstly, the steps come with 6 cut out areas to insert feet into, but they only give you five feet, double checked specs, yes, 5 feet, so 2 holes in the front and one on each corner, = 6, pre drilled holes, you have to pick which hole does not get a foot. Then, because there are no pre drilled holes in the stainless steel arms you have to put the whole set of steps in the water and try and mark where your holes need to be drilled into the stainless steel arms. What looks like a sleeve to put the arms into, IS NOT, it’s only a half round, no support for the back of the arm, so when you try and mark the arms for drilling they move inward. A very frustrating experience, you then have to bring the steps back out of the water, obviously, and drill your holes to attach the arms with what?? Oh yes, they give you WOOD SCREWS, to attach stainless steel arms!!! Go to hardware store, and because there is no support for the back of the arms, even if you had the correct screws, purchased washers, bolts and nuts to drill right through the stainless steel, to give them more support. Finally what should have been an easy install took a whole afternoon. Not over yet because, once the arms are attached, the steps, become very hard to maneuver in the water, to get any trapped air out, now we have air trapped inside and they want to float away. I cannot believe that this is such a poorly manufactured design, and with totally inadequate hardware, for an item that costs nearly $1500.00. Where is the other foot, why wood screws for attaching stainless steel, why no sleeve for the arms to slide in. All these items easy fixes by the manufacturing Company. Do not buy this item, unless the price drops to $300.00, because that’s all they are worth, they do look nice once installed, but not worth anywhere near what is being charged for stupid design flaws, a missing foot, and hardware for wood. I wish I could have returned, but you do not know what you are dealing with until you start the install. All I can do is warn other potential purchasers.

these are life changers for older people.the deck mounting brackets arent up to the task.i changed them out with thicker metal pool slide mounts.i also found that the railings get really hot in the sun.the rail covers(available on this site)are just the answer.as for cleaning,well,it is a bit of a challenge,but,the convienience the steps provide are worth that extra work.im 70,and can get the stairs out solo.one more thing.the sand ballasts work,but,i added a 5 pound lead fishing weight into each one.it made a big difference in how much they move around

First of all, I love these steps. It made a world of difference in that more people used our older pool because they could now wade in rather than try to hike themselves up and down the wall ladders. I used the pool all the time because of the convenience these steps gave. That said, I only rated them a 3 because they are very difficult to install and impossible to clean behind without fully disconnecting them. There are no lead holes in the metal and nothing to secure the screws on the other side so I can see them losening up over time. They could easily make them easier to install and clean. Hopefully a 2.0 will come out soon. I still recommend them though. Turns your old pool into whole new pool that's safer for kids, pets and elderly or if you just wants to sit on the first step and lounge.

The steps and railings are good however the screws provided are not intended for concrete or steel which is around inground pools. They are wood screws. The screws also do not screw into the metal railings easily either. I had to buy all new screw hardware to complete the installation.