I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...

wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...
I presume there is no need for these lids to be watertight so just the
lintels should be OK with just a few inches of soil for the grass. Do
you need hatches? They would be difficult to in corporate with the
lintels unless you made a custom steel frame to slot the ends of the
lintels into and transfer the load to some full width lintels. Basing on
a traffic quality hatch might be helpful.
Alternatively fill em with rubble and other crap and soil on top. Might
get a bit of sinkage over time but sprinkling a little topsoil on the
grass and it will re-grow through to compensate.

or rubble plus concrete then soil?

On 18/08/2017 11:44, Bob Minchin wrote:
wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...
I presume there is no need for these lids to be watertight so just the
lintels should be OK with just a few inches of soil for the grass. Do
you need hatches? They would be difficult to in corporate with the
lintels unless you made a custom steel frame to slot the ends of the
lintels into and transfer the load to some full width lintels. Basing on
a traffic quality hatch might be helpful.
Alternatively fill em with rubble and other crap and soil on top. Might
get a bit of sinkage over time but sprinkling a little topsoil on the
grass and it will re-grow through to compensate.

or rubble plus concrete then soil?

The septic tank soakaway is a bit smelly when the current lid is lifted
so that needs to be air tight, but the other soakaway doesn't need to
be. I was thinking of using regular manhole covers for access, set on a
mesh of lintels but couldn't see how to join the short ones, maybe the
answer is to put the X and Y lintels at different levels and build up
from the lower ones

On Friday, 18 August 2017 10:59:57 UTC+1, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...

We covered ours by putting L-shaped steels across the gap and then putting paving slabs onto them.

Jonathan

On 18/08/2017 11:44, Jonathan wrote:
On Friday, 18 August 2017 10:59:57 UTC+1, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...

We covered ours by putting L-shaped steels across the gap and then putting paving slabs onto them.

Jonathan


Interesting, but I'd be worried about corrosion and the whole thing
suddenly letting go in 10 years time

On Friday, 18 August 2017 17:31:37 UTC+1, wrote:
On 18/08/2017 11:44, Jonathan wrote:
On Friday, 18 August 2017 10:59:57 UTC+1, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...

We covered ours by putting L-shaped steels across the gap and then putting paving slabs onto them.

Jonathan


Interesting, but I'd be worried about corrosion and the whole thing
suddenly letting go in 10 years time

Ten years later it still looks good.

jonathan

On Friday, August 18, 2017 at 5:31:37 PM UTC+1, wrote:
On 18/08/2017 11:44, Jonathan wrote:
On Friday, 18 August 2017 10:59:57 UTC+1, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...

We covered ours by putting L-shaped steels across the gap and then putting paving slabs onto them.

Jonathan


Interesting, but I'd be worried about corrosion and the whole thing
suddenly letting go in 10 years time

Get the steel galvanised or cold galvanise it yourself

On 18/08/2017 10:59, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...


It depends whether you have a sense of humour. I favour a light covering
of sticks with grass and leaves on top. Then you stand the far side, and
beckon your soon-to-be-ex-friends towards you. Such fun! :-)

On 18/08/2017 15:26, GB wrote:
On 18/08/2017 10:59, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...


It depends whether you have a sense of humour. I favour a light covering
of sticks with grass and leaves on top. Then you stand the far side, and
beckon your soon-to-be-ex-friends towards you. Such fun! :-)

At least they wouldn't need a burial if they fell into the septic tank
soakaway - they'd already be interred ;-)

On 18/08/2017 10:59, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...

I covered one years ago by simply using shuttering ply supported by a
length of 4x2 with a hole cut in the ply for a standard manhole cover,
an up-stand of shuttering was fitted around the hole then 6" of concrete
with a bit of rebar poured on top, and the manhole frame set into it.
Once set I cut the 4x2 where it passed through the manhole, removed the
up-stand shuttering, fitted the cover, but left the shuttering ply in
place. This gave me a level concrete cover. If you want to grass over it
just set it at a lower level and build with up with bricks to raise the
cover.

Mike

On 21/08/2017 09:51, Muddymike wrote:
On 18/08/2017 10:59, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a
soakaway that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing
it to the leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and
both need the covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with
the lawn and have a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab
concrete rings but these are expensive, heavy to transport and would
be unsightly. My only other thought is to try to set-up something
(concrete lintels?) across the soakaways, a couple of feet below
ground level, to support paving slabs and a cover, then to pour
concrete in situ to complete the pad. Comments and counter suggestions
are very welcome ...

I covered one years ago by simply using shuttering ply supported by a
length of 4x2 with a hole cut in the ply for a standard manhole cover,
an up-stand of shuttering was fitted around the hole then 6" of concrete
with a bit of rebar poured on top, and the manhole frame set into it.
Once set I cut the 4x2 where it passed through the manhole, removed the
up-stand shuttering, fitted the cover, but left the shuttering ply in
place. This gave me a level concrete cover. If you want to grass over it
just set it at a lower level and build with up with bricks to raise the
cover.

Mike

I did consider something similar (didn't think of putting support
timbers where they could be sawn out afterwards) but was concerned about
the concrete dropping a little as the shuttering rotted away, that's
partly why I was thinking of using slabs as a base. Hmmm, if there were
a few holes around the periphery of the shuttering (over the soakaway
brickwork) the concrete would create support pads for when the wood rots
.... that may be the simplest way forward. Thanks!

On 21/08/2017 12:00, wrote:
On 21/08/2017 09:51, Muddymike wrote:
On 18/08/2017 10:59, wrote:
I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a
soakaway that takes the septic tank output before (presumably)
passing it to the leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet
diameter and both need the covers sorting out in a way that gets them
flush with the lawn and have a standard access hatch. I've
investigated prefab concrete rings but these are expensive, heavy to
transport and would be unsightly. My only other thought is to try to
set-up something (concrete lintels?) across the soakaways, a couple
of feet below ground level, to support paving slabs and a cover, then
to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad. Comments and counter
suggestions are very welcome ...

I covered one years ago by simply using shuttering ply supported by a
length of 4x2 with a hole cut in the ply for a standard manhole cover,
an up-stand of shuttering was fitted around the hole then 6" of
concrete with a bit of rebar poured on top, and the manhole frame set
into it. Once set I cut the 4x2 where it passed through the manhole,
removed the up-stand shuttering, fitted the cover, but left the
shuttering ply in place. This gave me a level concrete cover. If you
want to grass over it just set it at a lower level and build with up
with bricks to raise the cover.

Mike

I did consider something similar (didn't think of putting support
timbers where they could be sawn out afterwards) but was concerned about
the concrete dropping a little as the shuttering rotted away, that's
partly why I was thinking of using slabs as a base. Hmmm, if there were
a few holes around the periphery of the shuttering (over the soakaway
brickwork) the concrete would create support pads for when the wood rots
... that may be the simplest way forward. Thanks!

Thinking about it I now remember using a couple of old joist hangers to
support the temp 4x2 so that when I cut the middle out the ends just
pulled out! I lived there for 15 years and never noticed the slab drop
due to the ply rotting. You idea of a few holes in the shuttering above
the tank wall sound like a good one.

Mike

On 18/08/2017 12:00, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 18 Aug 2017 10:59:56 +0100, wrote:

I have a Well soakaway (to pump water into before it runs clear and
could be pumped into the loft tanks - all now redundant) and a soakaway
that takes the septic tank output before (presumably) passing it to the
leach field. Both are brick, just over 4 feet diameter and both need the
covers sorting out in a way that gets them flush with the lawn and have
a standard access hatch. I've investigated prefab concrete rings but
these are expensive, heavy to transport and would be unsightly. My only
other thought is to try to set-up something (concrete lintels?) across
the soakaways, a couple of feet below ground level, to support paving
slabs and a cover, then to pour concrete in situ to complete the pad.
Comments and counter suggestions are very welcome ...

We have a soakaway taking rainwater run-off from the roof. The
soakaway itself is approximately a 5 ft cube inside, with a roughly
rectangular access hole in the roof. When we moved here some 17 years
ago, I investigated it. You can get down into it, crouch in it and
turn around, but nothing more than that. The sides are made of pot
blocks (these *******s http://tinyurl.com/y8u4wkxh) laid on their
sides without mortar.

The roof was made of one or two sheets of corrugated iron laid across
the top, with concrete poured onto that, possibly with some wire
netting embedded in it to reinforce it but I can't remember for
certain, and probably a bit of shuttering around the access hole. The
concrete was about 3 inches thick. A large heavy piece of slate covers
the access hole, but a 2ftx2ft concrete slab would do just as well.
The whole structure is buried, partly under the grass and partly under
a flowerbed, and is covered by about 3 inches of soil so is totally
invisible and not readily accessible.

The property dates from 1952, which is when I assume the soakaway was
put in. The corrugated iron was rather rusty when I looked, but the
concrete seemed OK, and it's all still OK AFAIK, so it's lasted about
65 years.

Thanks. That's along the lines I was thinking of, but I was going to use
lintels to bear the load - maybe I'm over-thinking it ...