It decides not only how the well looks but also whether rain and snowmelt get into the well. That is why we start good finishing with protection and only then move on to looks. We fit covers and well houses, raise the top of the well and put the ground around it in order. Describe your well and what you want in the form.
Why the finishing matters more than it seems
Most well contamination comes from above: through the cover, the top joint or down the outside of the rings when rainwater runs towards the well. Groundwater that reaches the well through sand and gravel is filtered naturally, but surface water from the yard carries in soil, fertiliser and bacteria. So every well finish has three jobs:
- the top ring must stand high enough above the ground that yard water and snowmelt cannot run in;
- the ground around the well must be compacted and slope away from the well, with a clay layer that stops water running down the outside of the rings;
- the cover must close tightly so that leaves, insects, mice and light cannot get into the well, since light makes algae grow.
If coliforms show up in a test after rain or the water turns cloudy, the cause is often right at the top: cloudy well water.
What well finishing is made of
| Part | Job | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Top ring | Height above the ground, protection against surface water | An extra ring if the well has settled; replacing a damaged ring |
| Clay layer and apron | Stops water running down the outside of the rings | Compacted clay around the top rings, topped with paving, crushed stone or lawn sloping away from the well |
| Cover | Closes the well | Concrete cover with a hatch, wooden cover, composite cover, insulated cover |
| Well house or small roof | Protects from rain and leaves, gives the well a finished look | Wooden well house with a roof and a small door, a small roof over the cover |
| Cladding | Appearance | Wooden cladding, stone facing, decorative render on the top ring |
| Entries | Pump pipe and cable | A sealed entry through the ring wall or the cover, frost insulation |
Well cover: which one to choose
A concrete cover with a hatch is the most durable: it does not rot, it is heavy and it closes the well safely even when children play in the yard. A wooden cover looks better, but wood rots in damp conditions, and rotting wood gives the well water a musty smell. If you choose wood, it needs a waterproof layer underneath, and the wooden parts must not be treated with products that get into the water. Composite covers are light and do not rot, but they must be fixed down so they cannot be lifted off easily.
If there is a pump in the well or the water pipe goes out through a ring, the cover must be insulated. The pipe exit in the well wall must sit deep enough not to freeze, and the entry must be sealed so that water cannot run in along it. On choosing and installing a pump: well pump.
Well house and cladding
A well house is not required, but it has a practical side too: it protects the cover from rain, snow and leaves and lets you fit a winch or pump controls inside. We build the well house over the top ring so that the cover can be opened and the well cleaned without taking the well house down. Wooden or stone cladding makes the well part of the garden, but it must not hide joints that need checking and must not hold water against the ring.
How well finishing is done
- Inspection We check the top ring, the joints, the height above the ground and how water runs across the yard. If the top is damaged, we repair it first: well repair.
- Raising the top If the well has settled or the yard level has risen, we add an extra ring and seal the joint.
- Clay layer and apron We dig out the ground around the top rings, backfill with clay, compact it and lay an apron on top sloping away from the well.
- Cover and entries We fit the cover you have chosen, seal the pump pipe and cable entries and insulate them where needed.
- Well house or cladding If you wish, we build a well house or fit cladding. After the work we disinfect the well if it was left open for a longer time.
How much does well finishing cost?
There is no single price for well finishing, because the job can be anything from replacing one cover to rebuilding the whole top with a well house. The price depends on:
- what the finishing includes: only a cover, a cover and an apron, or a full set with a clay layer, a raised top ring and a well house;
- materials: concrete, wood, stone or composite, insulation;
- the ring diameter and the height of the top, which set the size of the cover and the well house;
- groundwork around the well: how deep to dig, whether clay has to be brought in, what apron to lay;
- whether the pump pipe and cable entries need sealing and insulating;
- access to the well for machinery and materials.
Give the ring diameter in the form if you know it, and say what you want done. A specialist will name the price once the scope of the job is clear. Related prices: prices.