Pool steps, shallow ledges and anti-slip surfaces

Planning pool access, concrete steps, handrails and shallow ledges

We start by planning how guests actually get in and out of the water. A hotel pool of about 25 by 8 metres with a single steel ladder, for example, is awkward for guests to share, and a pool that has just two small top steps leaves bathers having to climb the rest of the way. On pools like that, we have built full concrete steps all the way down to the pool floor, and we can add steps, handrails and grab rails or a shallow beach entry — also called a Baja shelf, shallow ledge or tanning ledge — finished in PebbleCrete while retaining existing tiles where they are sound.

Such shallow zones were rarely built in the past because people walked on smooth ceramic tile. A textured exposed-aggregate finish makes them practical and attractive: the textured surface feels different underfoot from smooth glazed tile, and the surface on these zones should be chosen with this in mind. On a Baja shelf or tanning ledge we can also include air massage with many air jets across the ledge, fibre-optic lighting, or overhead projection, which looks most striking on shallow water. Any electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician as agreed with you.

• New concrete steps built all the way to the pool floor in place of a steel ladder or awkward short steps
• Handrails and grab rails fitted at steps and entry points to give swimmers steady support
• Building or widening corner steps, underwater seats, Baja shelves, shallow ledges and tanning ledges
• Finishing step treads, risers and ledges in textured PebbleCrete with neat bullnose or square-sculpted edges while keeping sound pool tiles untouched

Anti-slip coating for steps, entries and surrounds

Wet stone, polished tiles and smooth pool entries feel slick underfoot around villa terraces, hotel walkways, beach bars and outdoor showers. Where you want to keep an existing stone or tiled surface, we offer a translucent anti-slip coating, with surface suitability and appearance assessed at inspection.

Anti-slip treatment needs a completely dry substrate before application. This is a practical limitation to plan for when scheduling work around rain, splash, deck washing or high groundwater. During our inspection, we check how the area can be dried and show you an anti-slip finish sample.

• Pool steps, shallow beach entries, Baja shelves (tanning ledges) and underwater benches
• Pool coping stones, terrace walkways, shower areas and poolside bar floors
• Translucent finish that lets the existing stone, tile or PebbleCrete colour show through once applied to a completely dry surface

What requires draining and what stays open

Anti-slip work on pool surrounds, walkways, bar floors and outdoor showers is done without draining the pool, provided the substrate is kept completely dry. Building concrete steps, fitting underwater fixings, adding a Baja shelf, resurfacing benches or applying anti-slip treatment to submerged steps requires the pool to be drained so the surface can dry thoroughly.

We inspect the pool and deck first, confirm whether full or partial draining is needed — taking care with wet-season rain and high groundwater — and agree the programme for the individual project. Because hidden problems beneath old steps or finishes may only appear once work starts, the work can proceed in stages.

What to send for a first discussion

Send us the details below to discuss new steps, handrails, a shallow ledge or anti-slip treatment and receive a quotation.

• Photos of the current ladder, steps, shallow entry, underwater seating or surround areas
• Your property location in Phuket or elsewhere in Thailand
• The approximate pool size, water depth at the entry and deck area to be treated
• What you want changed, such as full concrete steps to the floor, handrails, a Baja shelf, refinished ledges or anti-slip coating