Installing a Block Paving Manhole Cover

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Stage 1: Remove the existing driveway

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

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