Where can I buy a small Sewer Grate?

[Jerry.Tan]

Posted June 3, 2015

There's a step next to my gravel (farm) driveway, which goes down 2 wooden steps to my patio, and to my house porch. During heavy rains, water tends to run down the driveway and poured over those steps. So, I raised the steps to provide a 3 inch rail. Then I dug a trench along the patio edge where the water could channel. I put a run off spot above that trench, so any water that went against that rail would go into that trench. The idea worked, except the water now pours over and makes a deep washout at the head of that trench.

To solve this, I have decided to make a concrete storm sewer right at the edge of the steps and have it drain into the trench via some 6 inch PVC pipe. My plan is to dig a hole next to the steps at the top of them. Pour a concrete base at the bottom of the hole. When it's dry, I'll set a 5 gallon plastic pail in the hole, and fill all the way around the pail with concrete (about 4" thick). The pail will have a hole in the bottom for the 6" PVC pipe.

So, when the concrete is hard, there will be a concrete basin (lined with the plastic pail, which will stay in the concrete). The water will run into that basin, and exit the 6" PVC pipe which will flow down the trench. All of this is do-able and should work about the same as a storm sewer in a road.

But I need a grate to put on top, and I dont know where to get one. A plastic pail is 12" dia. But with 4" of concrete all the way around, it will be about 20 inches. Therefore I need a grate that is about 20" square. (I will form a lip with the concrete for it to sit in.).

I should mention that this grate must be steel and strong. I dont want a person to fall in, but we also have horses around here and they do get loose at times. I dont want one of them to break a leg in the hole. Therefore the grate must be capable of at least 1200lbs. (weight of a fairly big horse).

Anyone know where to buy such a thing? I looked at some building supply stores and all they had was much smaller plastic things.

I have thought about asking the county, or nearby town about buying an actual road grate, but those are too large. (Even though I suppose I could make a larger pad for it).

My only other option would be to have a machine shop make something, but that would likely be very costly.

Maybe someone on here knows of a source for them???????

Thanks

[gfretwell]

[trader_4]

Check at HD, Lowes, building suppliers, etc. in the plumbing section. They have some. I was looking at a channel type product for a similar application. It's two parts, channel, removable top grate, made of resin, about 5" wide, 4ft long. It tough enough to use for driveways. They also have square ones, about 6 x 6, etc. If there are any concrete product suppliers around you, they typically stock them too.

[micky]

That's if he's standing on one leg, or has all 4 legs on the grate.

Normally I don't like plastic imitations of metal or wood, but I think they make some realistic looking plastic grates. I have no idea how much weight they are rated for, but some of that plastic is amazingly strong.

[Jerry.Tan]

True, one leg wont be the full weight. And only 2 legs at most could be on the grate at once. But I still want it strong.

If it's plastic and can handle 1200lbs or greater, (legally rated), I'd consider it.

[Don Phillipson]

If big box stores lack what you want, it does not cost much to have a custom grate made by local metalworkers. If you get the grate before you pour concrete, you are assured of a good fit.

[micky]

After years of mild flooding on a driveway about 120 yards from me, they put in a drain with a series of grates, maybe 12" wide by 36", that cars drive over. 12 is not 20 and tires are bigger than horses' hooves, and I only think the grates are plastic. I'll try to remember to look. I wonder if they'll let me take one out and look at the maker's name embossed underneath. Or maybe it's embossed on top,although that would make little lakes where water would sit.

[taxed and spent]

why don't you use a precast drop inlet box? Such as:

[Scott Lurndal]

They're not all that hard to build for oneself; a simple plywood mold and a bag or two of premix are sufficient.

[taxed and spent]

but then you have a long thread about where to buy the grate.