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Manhole Repairs & Installations

Replacement covers and frames, rebuilt chambers and new manholes, for homes, car parks and commercial sites across Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and London.

Servicing and
repair engineers
24/7
call-outs
Clear report
after every visit
Our own vans
and tankers
34 years
in drainage

The basics

Why your manholes matter

Manholes give access to your drains for inspection, cleaning and repairs. But a broken, rocking or sunken cover is also a trip hazard, a danger to vehicles and a way in for rainwater, silt and roots.

If someone is hurt by a damaged cover on your property, you could be held responsible. Keeping manholes in good order protects people and your drains.

Cut-away

The parts of a manhole

Hover over or tap the numbers to see each part, and where problems usually start.

Parts of a manhole A cut-away of an inspection chamber, showing the cover and frame set in mortar bedding on the surface, the chamber walls, the benching sloping down to the channel at the bottom, and the incoming and outgoing pipes. 1234567
  1. 1CoverMust be the right load class for where it is, from gardens to roads.
  2. 2FrameHolds the cover level with the surface. A rocking or sunken frame is a trip hazard and lets water in.
  3. 3Mortar beddingSets the frame on the chamber. When it breaks up, the frame starts to move.
  4. 4Chamber wallsBrick, concrete rings or plastic. Cracks and missing mortar let in groundwater and roots.
  5. 5BenchingSloped concrete that guides flow into the channel and stops waste settling.
  6. 6ChannelThe open half-pipe that carries flow through the chamber. Cracked channels cause blockages.
  7. 7Pipes in and outJoints where pipes meet the chamber are a common place for leaks and root entry.

Where is the manhole?

B125

Warning signs

Signs your manhole needs repairing

Most manhole problems start with the frame. Once the mortar bedding breaks up, the frame starts to rock, the cover works loose and the surrounding surface cracks.

Inside, cracked brickwork and damaged benching let in groundwater and roots, and can cause blockages.

Call us if you notice

  • A cover that rocks, clanks or sits proud
  • Cracked or broken covers
  • A frame sinking below the surface
  • Cracks in the paving or tarmac around it
  • Water, roots or smells coming from the chamber
Get a quote

On the day

What’s involved in replacing a cover and frame

  1. Make safe and assess

    We make the area safe and check the chamber and the right cover class.

  2. Remove the old frame

    The old cover, frame and broken bedding are carefully broken out.

  3. Re-bed the new frame

    The new frame is set level with the surface on fresh bedding mortar.

  4. Reinstate and check

    The surface around it is made good, and the cover checked for a snug, quiet fit.

Get a quote Call 03333 233566

Why Clearmasters

Why choose Clearmasters?

We repair and install manholes as part of looking after whole drainage systems, so we’ll spot and fix any problems in the drains while we’re there.

Ask us a question

Always on hand

Planned servicing at a time that suits you, and 24/7 call-outs when something goes wrong.

Straight answers

We explain what we found in plain English, and give you honest advice on what needs doing now and what can wait.

Trained engineers

Our engineers hold current confined space entry certificates and work on treatment plants, pump stations and drainage every day.

The right cover for the job

We fit covers to the correct BS EN 124 load class for where they are.

What our customers say

9.87/10

Checkatrade

From 132 reviews · Read them
4.9/5

Google

From 63 reviews · Read them

Scores as of September 2026

Read all our reviews

Questions answered

Manhole FAQs

Which manhole cover do I need?

It depends on what will drive or walk over it. Covers are rated to BS EN 124: A15 for pedestrian areas, B125 for driveways and car parks, C250 for kerbside and forecourts, D400 for roads and E600 for heavy loading areas. Try the picker above.

What causes manhole damage?

Vehicles driving over covers that aren’t strong enough, breaking mortar bedding, ground movement, and age.

Do you offer emergency repairs?

Yes. A broken cover is a hazard, so we can make it safe quickly and come back to finish the repair.

How long does a repair take?

Replacing a cover and frame usually takes a few hours, plus time for the mortar to set. Rebuilding a chamber takes longer.

Can you install a new manhole?

Yes, for new drainage, extensions or where you need access to an existing drain.

Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.

Related services

Manhole InstallationsNew inspection chambers and manholes. CCTV Drain SurveysCheck the drains while the cover’s up. Excavation and ReplacementWhen the drains need digging out too. Gully ClearanceKeep surface water drains flowing.

Fully accredited & compliant

We're independently vetted and certified so you can trust who you're letting onto your site.

SafeContractor

Health & safety pre-qualification accreditation, verifying our processes meet recognised safety standards.

RISQS

Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme — approved to work safely within the rail industry supply chain.

Achilles UVDB

Utilities Vetting Database membership, confirming we meet the utilities sector's supply chain standards.

Trading Standards Approved

Vetted and approved under the local authority's trusted trader scheme for honesty and fair dealing.

NADC Member

Members of the National Association of Drainage Contractors, the UK trade body for the drainage industry.

Registered Waste Carrier

Registered with the Environment Agency, so your waste is handled and disposed of fully within the law.

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