Loose inspection cover - driveway

[Panamax]

In the middle of my driveway there's is a large, rectangular inspection cover for the drains. Over the years the thing has settled a bit and the lid now tilts and rattles/clanks when a vehicle goes over it.

Is there a good DIY solution for this? Strip of heavy rubber (car inner tube) round the edge? I don't want to have to have the whole chamber levelled.

All suggestions welcome.

[alscar]

We had a similar issue and 2 previous poor repairs / attempts to re level didn’t really help.
Our “ jack of all trades “ chap then re levelled it and made a cast iron cover to go over it.
Doesn’t move now !

[Panamax]

Hmmm, there's a message there somewhere!

[LHRFlightman]

Is this any good?

https://youtu.be/1PTdgalBLSk?si=7_oIvlOL9e8OGKR1

[Panamax]

It's a thought, albeit a challenge in a tarmac driveway.

[Panamax]

Have looked more closely this morning and the news isn't good. The problem isn't the lid rattling in its frame but the frame rattling on the brickwork - so a proper repair now required, which will mean replacing some tarmac. Bummer.

I found this on Youtube which looks handy, especially as I'll need a rapid setting concrete/mortar of one sort or another. Anybody done this job?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGVbOmbubCo

[wolfracesonic]

I’ve done loads over the years, it’s not a major job, the most important thing is to put some ply/hardboard in the bottom of the chamber, saves you having to fish your tools and debris from out of the drain! If you can avoid driving and walking over it for a couple of days regular mortar and concrete will be fine. The stuff in your vid will do the job but looks overkill for a domestic job if setting time is not a priority. Blue Circle do some early set repair mortars which will be cheaper and probably easier to get hold of. The tarmac sadly will look like it’s been patched, if you’re going to do it yourself and buy the tarmac you get in the sheds, keep it in the house a day or so before you need it, it’s pretty much unusable at low temperatures.

[paulwirral]

You’ll probably get away just using mortar for the repair to the tarmac around the frame if you put plenty of black cement dye in the mix , assuming you don’t want to mess about with tarmac , I did it once and it wasn’t any more noticeable than fresh tarmac .

[wolfracesonic]

Good shout with the dyed mortar, especially if you only have to a thin strip to make good, daft buying a 25kg bag of bitmac only to throw most away. You can stipple the mortar with a stiff bristled hand brush to get a ‘tarmacy’ texture.

[Panamax]

Some great tips there, thanks. Yes' I'd already been trying to get my head around how to make sure the drains don't get full of crud, tools, mobile phone etc!

Sounds like it should be just a matter of buying the right gear and taking the job at a sensible pace.