Ideas for covering a sump pit in a walkway?

[a_scanner_brightly]

Hi there,

The next chapter in this saga, started here: https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/do-it-yourself-forum!/my-house's-sump-pump-situation-is-baffling/msg1779783/#msg1779783

So, I installed a new sump pit in this walkway.  Pictured here, at the bottom: https://imgur.com/a/atKKw

The lid this sump pit came with isn't very durable.  It's plastic. I'm concerned about foot traffic busting through it.

I was hoping to find a metal grate/manhole style cover big enough to fit over it but surprisingly Home Despot and its ilk don't stock such things.  I went to the junk yard and couldn't find anything either.

Is this really such an exotic thing to want?  I'm imagining a tight, strong metal grating that I could trim to size with an angle grinder.  Then build up around it with gravel so it doesn't protrude.

Thoughts on where to find such a grating?  Or alternatives on covering it?

I'm tempted to just make a cover out of treated wood but then my concern with that is it'd have to be thick to be strong enough to support people, and then it turns into a trip hazard because of how thick.

Thanks for any ideas!

[CowboyAndIndian]

I see several issues with your sump pump installation.

• Wires are just hanging around. What is the code for an electrical installation outdoors? I'm positive that it would fail an inspection
• Are you plugging the sump pump into a GFCI outlet?
• That does not look like a sump pump, but a grinder, pump for a below-grade bathroom. Is it designed to run outdoors? (The second wire is for an alarm in case levels in the barrel get too high. I use the same type of pump my basement bathroom.)

I would make sure that the pump was covered and protected from the elements. Also, the power cable should run thru a protective pipe (Lawnmowers will cut this wire if exposed).

You could make a nice outdoor seat, with pressure treated lumber for the legs and maybe trex for the top. This would

[a_scanner_brightly]

I'm not finished.  Those are important concerns and I'm addressing them.  It's an actual sump pump, plugged into a GFCI outlet now and the plan is to run that wiring through conduit, but I'd like to settle the cover first.

[lthenderson]

I've seen others use those plastic rocks to cover their sump pits and septic access points.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dekorra-34-in-L-x-32-in-W-x-15-in-H-Flat-Plastic-Cover-in-Tan-Brown-111-SS/203330355?

[GuitarStv]

Ask google and ye shall receive . . .

https://www.metalsdepot.com/steel-products/steel-bar-grating

 - this is what you're looking for, right?

[Louisville]

Reroute the walkway around the hole.

[BudgetSlasher]

I would avoid grating unless you know, for sure, that the pump will not be harmed by all the things that can fall down the grate.

[a_scanner_brightly]

I've seen others use those plastic rocks to cover their sump pits and septic access points.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dekorra-34-in-L-x-32-in-W-x-15-in-H-Flat-Plastic-Cover-in-Tan-Brown-111-SS/203330355?

OMG that's amazing

[a_scanner_brightly]

Ask google and ye shall receive . . .

https://www.metalsdepot.com/steel-products/steel-bar-grating

 - this is what you're looking for, right?

It is.  The shipping costs on these things are pretty high though, since they're heavy.  Wondering how to find these locally.  Home Depot-like stores don't carry this stuff and everyone I ask at them kinda just shrugs.

Search "metal supply"?

[BudgetSlasher]

Ask google and ye shall receive . . .

https://www.metalsdepot.com/steel-products/steel-bar-grating

 - this is what you're looking for, right?

It is.  The shipping costs on these things are pretty high though, since they're heavy.  Wondering how to find these locally.  Home Depot-like stores don't carry this stuff and everyone I ask at them kinda just shrugs.

Search "metal supply"?

The home depot website tell me free delivery and free pick up in store for the rock; even most things that are not free shipping are free pick up in store since they already have freight running to the store on a regular basis.