Confer Plastics

Confer Plastics spa steps and hot tub access

Getting in and out of a hot tub is the one movement every bather repeats, often several times in an evening, usually barefoot and usually wet. A cabinet that sits well above patio level turns that simple step into a stretch, and a stretch taken on a slippery surface is where most spa accidents begin. Confer Plastics is known for moulded plastic access products for pools and spas, and the Handi-Step is the part of that range listed here: a free-standing step designed to sit against the side of a hot tub and take the strain out of the climb.

The Handi-Step for round and square hot tubs

The Handi-Step is built to work with both round and square tub shapes, which matters more than it sounds. Many steps are made with a flat back panel that leaves a gap when pushed up against a curved acrylic shell or a barrel-style surround, so the tread never quite reaches where the foot wants to land. A step intended for both profiles sits closer to the cabinet on a rounded tub while still bedding flat against a straight-sided one.

Here you will find it listed under article number 300398. Note that number down somewhere, because step models are easily confused by appearance alone and the article number is the quickest way to find the same item again if a second tub, a second access point or a replacement is ever needed.

Measuring up before you order

A step only works if the heights line up. Before choosing, take a few measurements with a tape and write them down rather than estimating by eye:

• Cabinet height — from the finished surface the step will stand on, up to the top edge of the hot tub surround. Decking, paving slabs and gravel all give different effective heights.
• Surface type — a step needs a firm, level base. Soft lawn, loose gravel and uneven slabs allow rocking, which undermines even a well-made step.
• Available footprint — measure the clear space in front of the tub, allowing room to stand on the bottom tread without backing into a fence, wall or cover lifter.
• Cover lifter clearance — if a lifter mechanism swings the cover to one side, check the step is not placed where the cover will come to rest.
• Who uses the tub — children, older bathers and anyone with limited mobility benefit from a step placed where a handrail or the tub edge can be gripped on the way up.

Placement, levelling and everyday care

Position the step so the treads run parallel to the tub wall and push it in until the back is in contact with the cabinet. Any gap between step and tub is a place for a foot to slip into. If the ground slopes, pack beneath the lower side with a thin paving slab or shim rather than leaving the step to find its own level; a step that rocks even slightly will feel unsafe and will wear unevenly at the contact points.

Plastic steps are easy to look after. Rinse off suncream, body oils and spa water residue now and then, since these build into a film that is far more slippery than the moulding itself. Keep the treads clear of leaves and algae in shaded gardens, and check the underside and joints at the start of each season for cracks or movement. In winter, lifting the step clear of standing water and ice means it will not be frozen to the slab when it is next wanted. If the tub is drained and left empty for a long period, moving the step out of permanent sunlight will help keep the surface looking fresh.

Confer Plastics at PoolParthub.com

Here we list the Confer Plastics Handi-Step for round and square hot tubs, article number 300398, as a straightforward access solution for spas whose cabinet height makes stepping in awkward. It suits portable hot tubs installed on a patio, on decking or on a prepared base, and it is equally at home with a new installation or an older tub that has always been slightly too tall for comfort.

Spa and pool access products sit alongside the filters, pumps, covers, seals and chemicals we supply for hot tubs and swimming pools across Europe, so a step can be ordered together with the consumables needed to keep the water right. If you are unsure whether this model suits the shape and height of your tub, take the cabinet measurement first and compare it against the product details on the listing above.