Garden shed over manhole

Not sure weather its allowed, but you'll probably need to replace the cover with one of the airtight variety to stop dodgy smells in your shed.

You can erect a house over a manhole if you want, providing it's a proper airtight one and remains accessible!

David

Yes - good point! This wont be my 'working shed', however, - just a storage shed. I seem to have collected so many power tools, boxes, workmate, 'things that may come in handy', etc that I can hardly get access to my workbench! I'm sticking the new shed next to my working shed just so that I've got somewhere to store the stuff that I only need occasionally.

I was going to say that the gap beneath the shed should allow any 'nasty niffs' to blow away - but in thinking about it, if I create a hatch I will have to create a 'box frame' around the manhole, and beneath the floor, to support the floor and stop it from sagging. I suppose I could always seal around the manhole cover with some form of non-setting sealant that would still allow it to be lifted if and when necessary. I've lived in the house for nearly twenty years now and never needed access to the manhole so far! I did consider, in view of that, just sticking the shed over the manhole and not bothering with a hatch. Sod's law dictates, however, that if I did this the manhole would be overflowing with sewage within a week!!!

Kev

I should just do it, as you've said.

Built a garage over 2 manholes, and they needed to be airtight. Though you may well get away with not doing so is it wise? Any gases escaping, and they will, may well be trapped in your shed. Cor strike a light! :-)

I've got the problem at the moment, but in my concrete garage.

Thanks to all for your various comments. I will put the shed over the manhole but will find some way of making it airtight.

Kev

FWIW, we have a manhole cover in the landing (downstairs) When I removed the carpet and "found" it, I unscrewed the 2 big brass screws holding the cover down to find it is (was) only made air tight by a thick wadge of tar around the recess the cover sits in. Might be an quick & easy solution to your predicament.

I guess mine really needs replacing with a new & properly air/gas tight cover, though that's another job for the future.

:¬(

Had a similar one a few houses ago..in the slot round the edge was a piece of cod which was plastered in some sort of grease type substance.

sponix

I would have thought sardines would be a better fit...now, what did you

Hang on....cord?

Did you smell anything fishy? :-)

Yes - good idea. I had thought of using some of that waterproof tape used for sealing guttering - but some sort of none-setting sealant just squeezed into the gap would be ideal. Had a pleasant surprise today. I phoned up the company who are making the shed for me, just to make sure that their guys wouldn't refuse to erect the shed over a manhole. When I said that I would be cutting a hatch into the floor they offered to do the job for me, foc, while they are making the floor at the factory. Just asked me to send them precise measurements so that they would be sure to cut the hatch in the right place. Isn't it nice dealing with companies like this?

Kev

On Thu, 6 Oct 2005 12:46:50 +0100, a particular chimpanzee named "Uno Hoo!" randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

If the shed is exempt (see ODPM website for what is & isn't exempt), then it's exempt from _all_ requirements, including those for building over a sewer or drain. If it's a sewer managed by your local sewerage undertaker, then their permission may be needed (but to be honest, if the shed could be moved aside by a couple of workmen, I don't think they'd be bothered).