The main task in the arrangement of a summer cottage or a country house is autonomous water supply. Along with deep wells, traditional wells are by no means less popular. To protect against external factors, it is necessary to provide for the construction of additional structures. In addition to the protective canopy, they also install a cover for the well.
Features
Increased requirements for the quality of drinking water extracted from the ground, cause the adoption of certain measures to prevent foreign objects and substances from entering it. It is for this that a cover for the well (plastic) is installed on the upper part of the structure. And although this material is relatively recent, it has many of the qualities needed to exploit a source of drinking water.
Due to the emergence of many types of structures and materials of manufacture, the owners of summer cottages have the opportunity to either make a protective element on their own, or purchase a ready-made factory model. In this case, you should pay attention to the following qualities of the cover:
- Mechanical strength. It is not uncommon for a bucket of water to accidentally fall on the body. After such exposure, the lid should retain its integrity and original dimensions.
- Unaffected by changes in performance due to exposure to temperatures, both low and high. Decorative covers for wells should also have these parameters.
- Performance properties. Of course, you should not resort to repairing or updating the appearance of a part so often.
Based on these requirements, several groups of materials can be distinguished that are used to make protective structures for wells.
Material of production
The cover on the well should perform not only protective functions, but also meet the aesthetic requirements of the owner. Traditional wooden boards have been used for centuries. And now you can often find such designs, both on old wooden log cabins and on new ones. The following types of well covers are currently available:
1. Plastic
The most common designs. In most cases, they have a rigid frame with an opening lid. At the same time, the polymer material should not lose its properties due to exposure to direct sunlight, temperature differences, and precipitation.
Along with these positive features of operation, it is necessary to note the affordable cost and a large selection of forms, including designer ones.
2. Wooden
Manufactured independently and arewooden flooring - solid or with a lifting lid. These models are used for non-standard sizes of the head (upper part), or if it is not possible to purchase factory copies. The advantages lie in the relative cheapness and availability of the material of manufacture. However, due to the rapid destruction of the fibrous structure of the boards, the operational life of the structure is short. In addition, she needs constant care - painting, removing damaged boards and replacing them with new ones.
Summarizing, we can say that the cover for the well - plastic - is the best choice for protecting the structure.
Varieties
If you need to purchase a factory model, then you should know the basic parameters. As the material of manufacture, it is recommended to choose structures made of polymer. However, for the right choice, you need to know the main technological and operational parameters of the cover.
Shape and size are decisive. If the upper part of the well is made in the form of a cube, then the cover, respectively, should be chosen square. Its plane can completely cover all structural elements or only a mine with water. If there is a protective visor on the well, decorative covers are installed, which are necessary to prevent debris from entering the water.
Selection and installation
How to correctly determine the size and design of the hatch? To do this, you need to know the dimensions of the site on which it will be installed, and the diameter of the well shaft. After measuring these parameters, chooseappropriate manhole cover.
Installation of the structure includes several steps:
- Cleaning the top of debris and dust.
- Leveling the surface with a planer (wooden frame) or by pouring a concrete screed (reinforced concrete rings).
- Installing the cover on the well. After careful fitting, the structure is fixed with mounting dowels.
- Checking the functionality of the opening part of the lid.
At the end of the installation, it is recommended to wait a while - construction debris, which will inevitably fall into the well shaft, should settle to the bottom. This will take 2-3 hours.
Self-made
But what if you need a special cover for the well? You can build a similar structure with your own hands using wood. To do this, the dimensions of the formwork are measured and a drawing of the future cover is drawn up.
Boards are stuffed onto a wooden frame made of 40x40 mm bars. A lifting cover is installed on a pre-marked place. It is connected to the structure with hinges. To improve the tightness, the surface can be upholstered with any moisture-resistant material. Most often, ruberoid is used for this. Installation is completely similar to the above method.
A quality well cover can be made by yourself or purchased at a store. The choice depends entirely on the requirements of the site owner, his financial capabilities and taste.
