Concreted man hole

[madge1]

Morning all

We're planning a side extension, and in the bit we want to extend over there is a concreted man hole cover

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• madge1
• 21 Sep 2012
• 1

.

Looking at it (and we've only been in 6 months), it looks like it's not been touched for about 20 years. The concrete is degrading and the brick work around is falling apart. It is a private sewer, in that no-one else's pipes come near it.

Can we build over it, or do we need to allow potential access in the future (bearing in mind it would almost be easier to dig next to it, through the earth, than through the concrete at the moment!). If we do need to allow access, can we have a little cupboard into the wall of the extension, or does it mean it just can't be extended over full stop?

Thanks

Madge

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

You cant put a wall directly over a chamber, but depending on whats under the cover there are options. If drain runs straight through, fairly simple task to relocate chamber outside proposed build. If there's a bend and/or connection under there then a diversion may be necessary. Alternatively realign the proposed new wall so the chamber is competely inside or outside of the build.

 

[madge1]

Thanks for that; realised we couldn't build directly on it; more a "do we need to maintain the ability for access?", if it's obviously been concreted for 20 years. We can just seal it up, or put an open reccess, with a wooden door in front of it. Never come across a concreted manhole before you see!

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Yes, never a good idea to bury a manhole. Sod's law says you'll need to get to it if you do.

Concrete chambers and lids were quite common some years ago, I suspect the introduction of preformed plastic chambers and their ease of installation made concrete chambers less attractive.

 

[madge1]

Many thanks. Guess we need to find out what's in there before working out what to do!

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Any drain that runs under the building would need to be protected from the load of the structure above anyway. Difficult to advise further without being on site, but sometimes can be easier to divert/reroute existing drains to outside of the new build, and if new connections are proposed then a new chamber can be fitted in a more suitable position.