Can you pave over a manhole cover in the back garden?

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Hi. I want to get my garden patio re-paved and ideally I'd like to pave over the manhole cover. I know you can get recessing trays for paving slabs but because of its location it really will spoil the look of it if I have to do that.

In 25 years it's never had to come up but I appreciate why it might not be a good idea. Would it be possible to leave it with a sand filled joint should access ever be needed?

The house is Victorian so I'm assuming it's a combined surface and foul waste drain - is that relevant? Thanks
 
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You need to get the lid up and see what goes where in the manhole. Can you post some pictures ?;)
 
There are five inlets of which two are blocked off with green 'bungs'. Of the other three one is the bathroom waste (incl toilet), the second is kitchen waste and the third is from a surface water gully in the garden. Nothing comes into it from the neighbours, it all heads out towards them. Do you really want the picture?!
 
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bad idea. could be very expensive idea for a house holder down the line.
you can get recessed covers with brass frames.do it proply
why not ask to move post to building forum
 
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Is there a difference in having a paving slab set 'loosely' to one sitting in a recessed tray?

If done well I know the trays can look okay but my preference would be to avoid it if possible as I don't want anything breaking up the joint lines, it would ruin the look.

If the Building forum is more appropriate, then please can this be posted there. Thanks.
 
Thanks. I understand that but I can lever up a paving slab as easily as I can lever up a recessed tray. I'm hoping for suggestions that will meet both aims. For example, could I used a shallow recessed tray with the paver on top of it rather than in it so that the metal isn't visible? If it was in a different position I'd fill the tray with gravel and stick a plant on top.
 
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There are five inlets of which two are blocked off with green 'bungs'. Of the other three one is the bathroom waste (incl toilet), the second is kitchen waste and the third is from a surface water gully in the garden. Nothing comes into it from the neighbours, it all heads out towards them. Do you really want the picture?!
That's a good enough description, thanks.
 
someone suggested it should be in the Building section

Actually they suggested that it should be moved to here not that it should be duplicated. Moving it would mean all the responses are in one place.

If you click on Report and ask, the moderators can move a thread or close of one of them.

but I can lever up a paving slab as easily as I can lever up a recessed tray

Surely that is only true is the paving slabs have not been laid properly. If they are on a full bed then getting one up will be hard and make a mess and when you put it back down it probably won't match.

From the other thread
it would ruin the look

But you will need to make it clear where the access is for the next owner. Will you like the look of it when you have carved "Manhole under here" into the slab?
 
Not ideal.
If it's never been up you could But you need to mark the slab with a grinder ,initial I,C
Inspection Chamber .
Then it's easy to find.
Or a small sign on the fence with the distance.
 
Thanks. I understand that but I can lever up a paving slab as easily as I can lever up a recessed tray. I'm hoping for suggestions that will meet both aims. For example, could I used a shallow recessed tray with the paver on top of it rather than in it so that the metal isn't visible? If it was in a different position I'd fill the tray with gravel and stick a plant on top.
And when there is an emergency and you are out and no-one knows where the manhole is or that there is actually a manhole?

You may not actually own it or have control over covering it anyway if the water company has responsibility for it as part of their system.

Fit a recessed lid.
 
This is what the guys did who laid our patio a few years back, doesn't look out of place imho..

20180601_185003.jpg
 
Funny question, the answer is no, you're not likely to persuade us it's a good idea. But you don't need our approval anyway. Our neighbours manhole was concreted over for at least 30 years, one day it blocked and they were stuck. Fortunately the insurance company managed to find it after digging up the whole patio. But in the mean time the insurance co and thames water were debating whose job it was and they had no use of the loo whatsoever.
 

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