Installing a Block Paving Manhole Cover
Step by step guide on how to fit a manhole cover with block paving inside the manhole lid
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Stage 1: Remove the existing driveway
Galvanised Recessed Manhole Cover
Hot dipped galvanised recessed manhole covers can be used to hide existing manholes, the block paving is installed inside to continue the pattern of the surrounding paving.
Install The Outer Frame
Install The Outer Frame of the Recessed Manhole Cover
The manhole cover is bedded into place using a 3:1 mixture of sand and cement making sure its at the correct height and fall.
This can be achieved by using a tight string line from one side of the drive to the other, the line will be at the finished height of your block paving
Place the manhole cover outer frame onto a bed of sand and cement and gently tap into place until it is flush with your string line
Haunch both the inside and outside of the manhole cover outer frame to hold it in place and place the manhole lid in place
The manhole lid is placed inside the outer frame to stop anyone from falling down the manhole<
Block Paving Around the Cover
The recessed cover showing the main area of the drive now completed
A Bed of Sand and Cement
A 4:1 mix of grit sand and cement to form a bed for the block paving inside the manhole cover
Mix the sand a cement together before you add any water, then add a little bit of water at a time until the mixture is what's known in the trade as tacky, when you squeeze a handful together it stays in a ball and does not fall apart
NOTE:
if you add too much water and the mixture is wet then you will not be able to stop the paving blocks from sinking into the bed
Cover the Total Area
Cover the total area of the manhole cover and lightly compact using a steel trowel
Piece of Wood as a Guide
Using a notched piece of wood as a guide screed the total area making sure its perfectly flat
Semi Dry Cement Bed
Remove any excess sand and cement mixture
Semi Dry Cement Bed
The semi dry cement bed has been screeded to the correct height and is now ready to lay the block paving
Line Up The Block Paving
Use a straight edge or piece of timber to line up the block with the surrounding laying pattern and start to place the full blocks into position
Mark & Cut Each of the Pieces
When all the full blocks have been placed into position mark and cut each of the pieces
Block Paving Manhole Cover
The manhole cover with all the cut blocks in place
Kiln Dried Sand
Brush kiln dried sand over the blocks and tap lightly on the top of the blocks using a block of timber and lump hammer to vibrate the sand into position.
The manhole lid was removed from the frame to put the kiln dried sand in place as extreme care should be taken to avoid any sand getting in between the cover and the frame
The Finished Manhole Cover
The finished manhole cover is now placed in position, once its completed all you see in the 4 corners are the heavy gauge lifting eyes to accept standard profile lifting keys which are used to lift out the cover
