Why do you need a well cover and how to make it yourself

From time immemorial, the upper part of the well was decorated with wooden houses made in the traditional Russian style, which protected the source from debris, and also served as storage space for buckets. However, recently the Russian style is used by summer residents quite rarely, and water, most often, is extracted with an electric pump. Therefore, the houses were replaced by well covers, which we will discuss later.

Purpose of well covers

So, the well cover performs three functions at once:

• Protection of the well from falling into it of various debris on top. In addition, the cover protects the water from sunlight, which provokes the growth of algae.
• Insulation in the winter, because the freezing of the well is a real disaster for the owners of country houses. At best, the freezing will lead to the fact that the autonomous water supply will cease to function. At worst, the equipment will fail, or even a major overhaul of the well itself will be required.

A good insulated lid will eliminate the possibility of the system freezing, which will save you from many problems, because the price of water-extracting equipment is very high.

• Decoration. There is a huge selection of cover designs. Therefore, it should be selected in accordance with the general interior of the site.

Each function is very important, so the choice of caps must be approached responsibly, having understood all their types.

Types of covers

This element, in contrast to houses for wells, can be made of a variety of materials, depending on this product differ in their purpose.

Most often they are made:

• Wooden;
• Reinforced concrete;
• Plastic.

In addition, there are combined models, for example, a tree with polystyrene foam, which provides good thermal insulation of the structure.

In addition, they may differ in their shape, there are round covers of wells and square. They can also be removable or hinged (in the form of a door-hatch).

Note! If the structure is removable, then it is desirable that it be round, like a drainage well cover, in order to exclude the possibility of its falling into the shaft.

Plastic covers

Such products are distinguished by their decorative qualities.

In addition, they have excellent performance:

• Do not collapse even from strong temperature drops;
• Resistant to ultraviolet radiation;
• For a long time retain their saturated color.
• Inside, the product is usually reinforced with stiffeners, which ultimately ensures its reliability and durability.
• The cover is tightly mounted on the concrete ring, therefore it prevents the penetration of insects into the well.

However, do not rush to make a choice in favor of a plastic product, since it has some drawbacks, which you should also familiarize yourself with:

• Relative instability - for this reason, it is not recommended to close the well in this way for families with small children. However, the problem can be solved with the help of cargo, which is suspended from the inside.
• Bad protects against cold.

Wood

The wooden product, perhaps, better protects the well, and the decorative properties of the wood can hardly match. As a rule, this design is a wooden shield, reinforced below with ribs. It is made of a powerful board that provides the product with high reliability and safety.

There are round and square covers of wooden wells. What design to choose - you decide, as the form does not affect the performance properties. Most often, in such a wooden shield there is a square door-hatch. Sometimes they are bicuspid.

Reinforced concrete

Designs from this material are much less common, as their decorative qualities leave much to be desired. However, the concrete cover can be well insulated and at the same time use a removable hatch, as it is unlikely to install a canopy.

Making a wooden cover

Having at least a little experience with wood, it will not be difficult to make a wooden cover with your own hands.

For this you will need:

• Suitable boards;
• Bars;
• Hacksaw;
• Screwdriver;
• Screws.

Tip! Before using boards and bars, they must be treated with an antiseptic composition, and then let the wood dry. This procedure will significantly extend the life of the product.

Instructions for making the cover is as follows:

• First of all, it is necessary to put together a wooden board of the required size by fastening the boards with bars. In this case, the hole for the hatch can be provided immediately, or cut it after.
• Then you have to complete the door in the same way as the shield itself.
• Further, canopies are installed, as well as other accessories, to which the handle and hinges for the lock belong. I must say that the accessories also perform a decorative function, so you should choose it carefully.
• At the end of the work, the product is varnished.

Tip! For better insulation, you need to double the lid and fill the space with heat insulating material, for example, mineral mats.

Conclusion

The lid is an important element of the well, since it performs several functions at once and, ultimately, affects the water quality and durability of the whole structure. Therefore, equipping a source of autonomous water supply, be sure to pay attention to this detail. Moreover, as we found out, the lid is not difficult to make even independently.

Additional information on this topic can be obtained from the video in this article.