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Milled lead

Today's best lead prices

£2.53 per kg ex. VAT

£2.73kg	1 - 249kg
£2.70kg	250 - 499kg
£2.66kg	500 - 999kg
£2.53kg	1000kg+

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Bel Jacob

Recessed Manhole Covers

Recessed manhole covers available at DRAINAGE SUPERSTORE are hand-picked from brands like ACO, EJ, Wrekin and Clark Drain. So you can be assured of their high quality. Manufactured from 304-grade stainless steel, galvanised steel, cast iron or aluminium (some smaller size covers available in plastic), our recessed manhole covers are highly durable, long-lasting and great value.

What is the purpose of a recessed manhole cover?

A recessed manhole cover allows safe, functional access to drains and sewers without compromising looks. Like a regular manhole cover, such as a cast iron drain cover, these products cover and protect manholes and drains by locking into the ground. If maintenance is required, they can be removed easily.

Unlike a regular manhole cover, recessed covers feature a tray that can be filled with various materials depending on the cover’s use. For example, a recessed tray in a hospital can be filled with epoxy resin to match hospital corridors. This reduces the risk of slipping on the cover, keeping hygienic, sanitised areas and maintaining a theme. A big black manhole cover in the middle of a grey reception area will be out of place.

What can I fill a recessed manhole cover with?

An in-built tray for recessed manhole covers can be filled with whichever substrate you choose. What and how you fill it with is based on the depth your chosen cover can handle. This is important to check as some trays, like plastic recessed manhole cover trays, may not support the weight of certain substrates.

For example, an 80mm deep tray holds 60mm block paving externally. If your paving is 60mm, then opt for an 80mm tray so that you can give the paving a solid 20mm concrete bedding. This keeps the content in place.

Internal recessed manhole cover materials

Internally, you can fill a recessed manhole cover with block paving, concrete, screed, tile paving and epoxy flooring. Screed and other non-slip materials are perfect for filling a manhole cover for a garage or utility room in domestic properties. In commercial zones, concrete or epoxy material may be more common to match the flooring to the aesthetic.

External recessed manhole cover materials

When recessed manhole covers are used externally, you have a broader range of materials to fill the tray with. Block paving and resin paving are common options for pedestrian zones in public spaces and hardscaped gardens. Other options include concrete, screed and even artificial grass. If you choose artificial grass, it will stay looking good with minimal maintenance. Alternatively, if you use real grass, maintenance will be time-consuming. Its quality is also limited, especially since it will require a permeable substrate to keep the grass alive.

How can you hide a manhole cover?

It’s never advisable to cover a manhole permanently, as the system requires immediate access at any time for various reasons. However, you can minimise the impact by disguising the manhole cover using a recessed manhole cover. It blends into the garden, pavement or driveway using the same materials as the original flooring. So no implications for access or maintenance, and no extra cost once the recessed manhole cover is installed.

Always consider loading class first when choosing a recessed manhole cover. Find the loading class you need for your chosen area (you can work it out via our manhole cover load classes table) and choose the correct one. Do not increase the loading class you think you need for your manhole cover just because it’s going to be filled with block paving, for example. Manufacturers take this into account, assessing the cover and its structural load capacity.

What manhole cover load class do I need?

Manhole covers come in load classes to show how much weight each type can take. Different materials, dimensions, shapes and manufacturers produce different results and maximum load capacities for their manhole covers. So it’s paramount that you check this. However, all manufacturers use the same ‘measuring stick’ for load classes. So you can simply select ‘B125’ and choose from those displayed without worry.

How do you measure manhole cover size?

Manhole covers need to sit comfortably over the hole they’re covering. So, measure the inside dimensions of the hole, not the manhole cover itself. Take this measurement in millimetres for accuracy, as it’s also the standard unit for manhole cover manufacturers. Once you have this measurement, shop confidently for recessed manhole covers.

If you’re unsure which recessed manhole cover you need, contact our helpline on 01752 692 221 or use the live chat on your screen to determine which manhole cover will be the best fit for your project, and choose between cast iron manhole covers, stainless steel manhole covers, a patio drain cover and more.