How to Install In-Gound Pool Ladders

Pool with installed ladder

Installing an in-ground pool ladder adds a safety feature to the deep end of your pool. Pool owners often remove ladders during the winter to prevent damage to the metal railings as well as the pool. This do-it-yourself job can be accomplished alone in a short amount of time or even faster with a helper. Many pool companies also offer ladder installation as part of their spring service for opening a pool.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder
• Ladder Bumpers
• Garden hose
• Ladder hole covers
• Ladder wedges
• 1/2 inch socket
• Wrench

Instructions

1. 

   Clean out the ladder cups in your pool deck with a high-pressure spray of water. Over the winter, dirt, leaves and grime accumulate inside these holes. Failure to clean out the ladder cups will prevent installation of the ladder. Watch out for flying debris that can be quite smelly from decomposition.

2. Insert the ladder bumpers onto the bottom edges of the ladder railing. Ladder bumpers look like a rubberized cork and help protect pool liners or concrete siding from damage as the ladder moves.

3. Place the ladder wedge inside each ladder cup on the pool deck. Insert the socket and loosen the wedge with a counter-clockwise turn so it lies flush against the outside edge of the cup. When tightened, the wedge holds the ladder firmly in place to prevent slippage.

4. 

   Slide the ladder carefully into the water, making sure the bumpers don't fall off into the pool. Installation works best if you stand between the ladder rails and slowly slide the ladder bumpers against the side of the pool. Slide the ladder covers up the exterior rails to keep them out of the way.

5. Insert the exterior ladder posts into the ladder cups in your pool decking. Wiggle the ladder until the rails slide completely into the cups with very little play. Rails should be positioned inside the wedges to allow for tightening of the bolts.

6. Attach the socket to the wrench and tighten down the bolts inside the ladder wedges in a clockwise motion. It comes in handy to have a helper to hold the plastic ladder covers out of the way when tightening the bolts. Tighten both sides completely and position the ladder cup covers to hide the point where the ladder meets the deck.

7. Test the ladder to assure complete and proper installation.