Polymer sand well: types, installation, review of advantages and disadvantages

As part of drainage systems, water supply, outdoor sewage and stormwater there are various well structures. Previously, they were made of wood, then of brick and reinforced concrete. But now more and more polymeric and composite materials are being used.

One of such options is a polymer-sand well from prefabricated elements. What is he so good, can you assemble it yourself? It is these questions that we will examine in detail in our article.

And also consider the constituent elements of polymer sandstone well, especially its use, the main pros and cons.

Device and characteristics

Initially, the walls of the well mines strengthened logs of wood waterproof species. Then they began to do it with the help of reinforced concrete rings.

But in the last decade they were replaced by composite building materials, which in terms of strength characteristics are not inferior to concrete, and in terms of ease of installation - far exceed it.

Elements of a polymeric sandy well are made from:

• plastic (recycled materials in the form of waste of various polymeric products);
• fine sand with humidity from 0.1 to 10%;
• multi-colored pigments based on iron oxide.

According to the manufacturing techniques, the sandy filler should be dry and uniform. Quality products are obtained only from reclaimed sand. Then inside it does not form voids, leading to a decrease in the strength and water resistance of parts of the well.

Some unscrupulous manufacturers use instead sifted career analog, which did not undergo preliminary washing. As a result, after a couple of months, caverns, voids are formed in the polymer-sand product, and simply holes — lumps of clay rocks fall out of plastic.

With high humidity of the raw material, not only the cost of evaporation of moisture increases, but also the strength decreases with the moisture resistance of the material. It turns out not so durable, cold-resistant and resistant to water.

However, when buying, by eye, to determine the poor quality products is almost impossible. Here we have to completely rely on the integrity of the manufacturer.

Dyes are added to the product at the stage of preparation of the mixture and baked with it in the process of hot pressing. They become part of the overall molecular structure of the material.

Therefore, even polimerpesk hatches, which are constantly in the sun, do not fade and do not require tint.

Characteristics of polymer-sand products

The sand filler used in the manufacture of the mixture accounts for about 75–80% of the total mass. He is responsible for the rigidity of the product. The rest is a binder polymer and a dye. The polymer components bind the sand into a strong, practically waterproof monolith.

As a result of hot pressing, the product is quite light, durable, durable and resistant to aggressive media.

Polymer sand products are more durable and water resistant than concrete competitors. They calmly tolerate temperatures down to minus 70 centigrade. And withstand up to 500 freeze / thaw cycles.

At the same time, the polymer-sand composite is resistant to chemicals. He is not afraid of the aggressive environment of sewage. And when washing the well, you can use any detergent, both household and industrial.

Features of operation

Structurally, the well is a vertically recessed hydraulic structure. During operation, it is exposed to groundwater and wastewater, as well as temperature fluctuations during the seasons of winter freezing of the soil and subsequent thawing.

The material of its manufacture must have an increased resistance to these factors, otherwise the tightness of the tank will be questioned.

Polymer sand wells differ in diameter of the inner rings and the hatch. These elements are durable enough, but when holes appear, they will be difficult to repair. The best option in this case is a complete replacement of the leaky part.

On the one hand, polymer-sand well constructions are cheap and easy to assemble, and on the other hand, their individual parts cannot be repaired. With the appearance of holes in the walls of the ring will have to be changed. And for this purpose it will be necessary to dig the well to the level of damage and re-shift its elements.

Manufacturers promise up to half a century of operation of products from polymer sandwich and perfect tightness of the joints of the rings. Provides tightness due to the groove on the edge of all elements of the well, which do not allow the rings to diverge when the ground moves.

Another weighty plus of the groove-ridge lock on the ends of the rings is that when assembling the well, verticality is spontaneously observed.

The negative nuance is the compliance of the polymer base to mechanical stress. If you use hard scrapers when cleaning the well and apply excessive diligence while doing so, it is possible to damage the polymer walls, as a result, to reduce the water-repellent qualities of the underground structures.

Where are polymer-sand tanks used?

Well-made structures made of composites can be found on the roads, industrial sites and the territories of private estates.

They are applied:

1. When organizing storm sewers for drainage wells and manholes for drainage.
2. As septic tanks drives sewage.
3. At arrangement of wells with technical water.
4. As hermetic walls during construction borehole caisson.

Airtight structures are collected from individual polymer-sand rings mainly for accumulation and removal of effluent.

They perfectly keep sewage sewage inside, do not react to the aggressiveness of such an environment, and impeccably prevent the penetration of liquids outside the sewer system.

The device of a standard well from a polimerpeschny composite

Well-sand polymer construction consists of several modules:

1. Bottom (round base part).
2. Rings in the required number of pieces.
3. Tapering up the neck.
4. Luke.

Most often on sale there are parts with a diameter of 850, 1000, 1100 mm. But everything depends on the manufacturer and the purpose of the structure. There are no hard state standards in this matter, all products are manufactured according to specifications.

It is possible to make a well of almost any depth out of polymer sandwich. It is enough to collect the required number of rings and connect them together. It is only necessary to correctly select the thickness of the walls so that they can withstand the weight of the structure from above.

The base has a thickness of 4.5 - 5 cm, and the ring is produced in a height of 20 cm. The hatch and the neck in the form of a truncated cone come in different sizes. On all the details there is a protrusion ("comb") and a recess ("groove"), allowing you to quickly and tightly connect the parts in a monolithic structure.

Polymer sand hatches differ in the type of load on:

• Lungs (stand up to 3 tons). They are used for the installation of inspection and drinking wells in the adjoining plots of the private sector, as well as in the zone of green plantings.
• Average (able to withstand up to 5-6 tons). Used in parks, on sidewalks and small car parks for passenger cars.
• Heavy (withstand up to 12 tons). Designed for roads and local areas in cities.
• Super heavy (do not collapse even with loads of 25 tons).

The price of different manufacturers and in different regions varies in a fairly wide range. But on average a ready-made set of a polymer-sand well three meters high will cost 25,000–28,000 rubles.

Composite hatches are without a locking mechanism, with threaded fittings (bolt with a secret) or a flag or spacer latch.

For private households, the first option is suitable, but in a park or on the sidewalk it is better to close the well with a polymer sandwich hatch with a secure constipation, otherwise it can be carried away.

To hand over a plastic product on metal will not work, but our compatriots are able to adapt any thing on the farm. It is better to err.

More detailed features of polymer manholes we reviewed in this article.

Advantages and disadvantages of such a well

Among the advantages of polymer wells it is worth mentioning:

1. Low weight of individual parts and the entire structure as a whole.
2. Ease of installation work.
3. The ability to make structures of any depth.
4. The stability of the polymer composite to moisture, frost and sewage.
5. Easy to connect the sewer pipe from the house.
6. Guaranteed service life of 50 years.
7. Environmental safety material.
8. Benefit from the price among analogs (in terms of the cost of consumables and installation).

Composite material of plastic and sand are not afraid of salt, acid and alkali contained in sewage and soil. It calmly withstands the continuous action of water, the swelling of the soil through the winter, and the sharp frosts.

Some manufacturers claim a hundred years of operation without major repairs. But who checked it? Too little time has passed since their appearance on sale.

A polymer sandwich ring weighs about 50–60 kg, and its diameter is slightly more than a meter. It can be transported in the back of a gazelle, and even one person can handle loading / unloading.

At installation of a polimerpeschany well it will not be required to involve load-lifting equipment. To install the elements in the excavated pit, there are enough hands of a pair of workers and ropes.

What can be said about the concrete analogue. We recommend to get acquainted in more detail with the installation features septic tank made of reinforced concrete rings.

The only significant drawback of the well structure of the composite under consideration is the inability of the material to withstand heavy loads with the wrong choice of cover and thickness of the rings. If you put a truck on the easy hatch, the first one will inevitably crack.

The same situation with the rings. If you put products with thin walls at the bottom, and make the well very deep, then it will not last long. The bottom row will simply wrinkle under the top. No tricks in the form of props and boosts here will not help.

Standard mounting technology

Works can be performed both in summer and in winter. Difficulties with the assembly of parts should be a minimum. Only digging of frozen ground can cause problems. The main thing that used sealant allowed to work at the existing outdoor air temperature.

Installation is carried out in five stages:

1. Unloading of composite parts.
2. Digging trench.
3. Assembling a “constructor” from polymer sanding segments.
4. Connecting pipelines.
5. Backfill.

Everything is simple, you can cope with the work yourself without the involvement of hired workers. It is important to correctly calculate the required number of rings or carefully follow the project.

Stage # 1 - preparation of parts and earthworks

The heaviest element of the well weighs no more than 60 kg. To unload the car will be enough effort a couple of people. At the same time, the weight of the whole structure will not exceed a couple of tons, one “Gazelle” is enough to transport it from the store.

Despite the high strength characteristics during transportation and storage of the ring should be laid boards. And the bottom is better to put on a pallet or platform made of wood.

A pit under a polymer-sanding well will have to be 120–130 cm wide. The outer diameter of the rings does not exceed 110 cm. Ten centimeters on each side is enough to put the details in the dug mine.

If the well is made without a bottom, then a variant with a gradual excavation of the earth under the bottom ring is possible. But with such an undermining, the pit will have to be dug wider, otherwise it will be inconvenient to work with a shovel. Should I do extra work, taking out one and a half to two times more soil, it is up to the excavator to decide.

Stage # 2 - Section Laying and Pipe Insertion

The assembly of the well rings can be performed both in the pit itself and next to the subsequent descent down all or part of the structure at once. In any case, you can do it by two people. But when lowering the already collected well into the pit, you will need a tripod with a winch or a crane.

The bottom or starting ring is placed on a sand pad 15–20 cm thick pre-poured in and compacted at the bottom of the foundation pit.

Next, the groove in them is filled with sealant or bitumen mastic and the next part is inserted into it with a comb. So one by one all the other rings fit, and a mouth is installed on top.

Polymer sand is quite easy to handle. Holes in it for the pipeline inputs can be made without the use of powerful tools. Enough with a conventional drill with a conventional crown for concrete or ceramics. Plus, it is not necessary to grind the edges after such drilling.

To seal the joint of the pipe and wall, it will be enough to insert a rubber cuff into the hole.

Stage # 3 - connecting pipes and checking tightness

After installing the polymer-sand well in its place in the pit is connected sewer pipes. To find out more information on installing outdoor sewer pipes, go to by this link.

Then a check of the tightness of the joints is performed, for which water is poured inside the obtained container. If the leakage is not noticeable, then it remains only to fill the gap between the walls of the pit and well construction.

The material of polymer well insulation is not required. But in cold regions a heat insulator in the form of foam plastic is recommended to be put in, otherwise the liquid inside will freeze. Here it is necessary to be guided by the project of the sewer or storm system, part of which is the assembled structure.

If a polymer well type does not suit you, we suggest that you read the instructions for installation of sewer wells from other materials.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Answers to frequently asked questions about such wells:

Nuances of installation of a polymeric and sandy well:

Advantages and disadvantages of polymer-composite products:

The prefabricated well, sections of which are made of polymer-sand composite, has a lot of advantages over its counterparts from other materials. It is resistant to various negative factors, durable and fairly cheap.

This is a great option for the formation of inspection shafts when laying cable lines and septic tanks. But when you buy polymere products for the device of the drinking well, you should look at the certificates. Not all products are applicable in this case.

With your own hands did you assemble a well from polymer-sanding rings at the dacha? Tell us if you needed assistants during assembly and installation, or did you do all the work alone?

Or maybe you are just planning the construction of this type of well and you still have questions after reading the article? Ask them in the comment box below.