If you’re renovating your home, building an extension or transforming your garden, one thing can quickly spoil the finished look…
A traditional metal manhole cover right in the middle of your beautiful new paving, patio or flooring.
The good news? It doesn’t have to.
At Spudulica, our range of recessed aluminium manhole covers allows you to create a better finish by filling the cover with the same paving, tiles or flooring used around it. The result is a neat, almost invisible access cover that still provides easy access whenever you need it.
But should you choose a double sealed or triple sealed aluminium access cover? Let’s take a look.
What Is a Recessed Aluminium Manhole Cover?
Unlike traditional cast iron covers, recessed aluminium manhole covers are designed to be filled with your chosen flooring material.
Whether you’re laying the finished access cover blends neatly into the surrounding surface, leaving only a slim aluminium edge visible.
Every cover supplied by Spudulica includes lifting keys, making future access simple whenever maintenance is required.
Double Sealed Aluminium Manhole Covers
Our double sealed recessed aluminium covers are designed primarily for outdoor applications.
They feature:
- Odour-resistant and water-resistant design
- Heavy-duty recessed tray with reinforcing mesh
- Neoprene sealing gasket
- Additional T-seal to help prevent dirt and debris collecting between the frame and cover
- Lightweight corrosion-resistant aluminium construction
Once filled with paving or blocks, the weight of the infill helps keep the cover securely in position while creating an almost invisible finish. Perfect for patios, paving and driveways.
Triple Sealed Aluminium Manhole Covers
For indoor installations, we always recommend choosing a triple sealed aluminium manhole cover.
These covers include:
- Two neoprene compression seals
- Additional T-seal
- Locking screw system that secures the tray firmly to the frame
- Odour and water-resistant construction
- Reinforced recessed tray ready for tiles, flooring or paving
The locking system provides a tighter seal between the cover and frame, helping reduce the risk of odours, moisture and air movement from below the floor.
This makes them an excellent solution for homes where drainage inspection chambers or service access points are located inside the property.
Why Are Triple Sealed Covers Recommended Indoors?
Many homeowners don’t realise that access covers located inside a property should provide an effective seal against foul air and moisture from the drainage system.
Current UK Building Regulations require foul drainage systems to be designed so that foul gases cannot enter the building. While compliance depends on the overall drainage installation, using a high-quality sealed recessed access cover is an important part of achieving this.
That’s why at Spudulica we recommend our triple sealed recessed aluminium covers for indoor projects.
With three separate sealing points and a tray that locks securely into the frame, they provide additional protection and peace of mind for homeowners.
Example
Imagine you’ve just completed a kitchen extension with beautiful porcelain floor tiles throughout.
Unfortunately, there’s an inspection chamber positioned right in the middle of the room.
Replacing the old cast iron cover with a triple sealed recessed aluminium cover allows you to lay the same porcelain tiles directly into the recessed tray. Once finished, the inspection chamber virtually disappears into the floor while remaining fully accessible whenever required.
The same principle works equally well outdoors.
Choosing the Correct Size
One of the most common mistakes when ordering an access cover is measuring the existing frame instead of the clear opening.
Recessed aluminium manhole covers are sold by their clear opening size, not the overall frame dimensions.
Before ordering, we strongly recommend reading our measuring guide to ensure you select the correct size for your project.
Taking a few minutes to measure properly can save a lot of hassle later.
Why Choose Spudulica?
At Spudulica, we supply quality recessed aluminium access covers suitable for both homeowners and professional installers.
Our range includes multiple clear opening sizes and tray depths. Whether you’re laying a new patio, renovating your kitchen or finishing a home extension, we’ll help you find the right access cover for your project.
