Concrete cover on the well - everything you need to know

As is known, there are no trifles in the construction of a water supply system, and each element performs its functions. Concrete covers for wells are designed to protect water and sewer wells. And do not underestimate their importance, because they protect the space of the well from the ingress of dirt, precipitation.

In addition, this cover will not allow pets and people to fall into the well, which is also important for safe operation. Despite the seeming simplicity, the value of these structures is great, because they serve as a barrier to any kind of negative factors, and without them we cannot simply use the wells.

Main criteria to be met by the product.

Due to the fact that reinforced concrete covers for wells are quite difficult to do with your own hands, and the price of finished products is quite democratic, the easiest way is to order the version you need, which will be delivered directly to your home. To make the right choice, it is worth considering a few basic factors, if they all satisfy you, then this option is most preferable..

Note! Many believe that it is possible to make the lid itself, in fact, in the production, the material is compacted on powerful vibration equipment, and it is dried using hot steam, which greatly increases strength. To achieve this effect at home is impossible.

Advantages of concrete products

This material has a lot of properties inherent only to him:

• In the manufacture of high-quality concrete is used, which is additionally reinforced, which gives the product the highest reliability. The use of vibrating tables in production allows you to achieve a strong uniform structure, and steam treatment makes the surface much stronger.
• The service life of concrete is at least several decades. It is not subject to corrosion and rotting, well tolerates high humidity and temperature drops, is not damaged by insects and rodents.
• It is worth noting, despite the fact that the lid has an impressive weight, it is sufficient to simply install it - just put it on top and, if necessary, treat the joints with cement mortar. There is no need to stock up with special tools and equipment - all work is done manually or with the help of a crane.
• A large mass serves as a guarantee that animals and children will not be able to move the well cover. Safety of this type of construction at the highest level.
• Concrete is an environmentally friendly material that does not emit any harmful substances, and this is very important when the cover is used on wells with drinking water. You can be sure that rust and other products of material destruction will not fall into the water.
• A wide range of configurations, sizes and types of layout of the hatch - it can be in the middle or shifted to any side.

The disadvantages of concrete products

Such well covers have their own drawbacks, which cannot be ignored in this review:

• A large mass of products is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The product is difficult to transport, to carry out loading and unloading works better than any technique, or it is worth to collect at least 6 people to simplify unloading and installation. It is impossible to unload the large lid manually.
• Low aesthetic appeal, whereby the cover can be used on sewers and water-bearing wells, the water from which is produced using a pump.
• High requirements to the conditions of production - with non-compliance with the technological process, the properties of the material deteriorate significantly - it becomes fragile and begins to collapse within a few years after installation.

What should be considered when choosing

The large mass and complexity of transportation does not have to replace the product, because the cost of transportation is quite significant.

Therefore, it is better to avoid unplanned costs and choose what you need:

• The first criterion is the size; the concrete cover of the well should be equal to or slightly wider than the diameter of the well ring. You should not take too big a product, because its weight is much more and the cost is much higher.
• The second criterion is the thickness, which usually varies within 10-20 centimeters. Robust options should be chosen if the cover will be made walking or driving vehicles. For simple wells, 10 centimeters thick are perfect.
• The location of the hole for the hatch - it can be either in the middle or on the side. Most often this is unprincipled, but sometimes it is important to improve usability.

• The shape of the well hatch, most often it is a standard round hole with a diameter of 70 cm. But some manufacturers produce products for wells with a collar, there the shape of the hole is square, it usually has a metal closing hatch.

Key features of the installation process

The instruction is quite simple, however, it is worth remembering the basic rules for mounting the cover:

• If the lid is very heavy, you should take care of attracting mounting equipment, if the weight is 150-200 kg, 5-6 people can handle it on their own. The main thing is to carry out work carefully and not to allow the element to fall on its feet.
• After installation, you should take care of the installation of the hatch, previously used cast iron products, but nowadays the easiest way to buy a plastic cover - it has a low price, low weight and ease of installation. At the same time the material is durable and durable.

Tip! If the lid will be a passage or passage, it is better to use lids made of cast iron.

Conclusion

In fact, choosing and installing concrete covers is quite simple. And due to the strength of the material such a lid will serve you very, very long. The video in this article will vividly show some features of the concrete variant of the lids.