How much does a recessed cover cost in County Armagh?
In Northern Ireland, a recessed cover usually costs £240–£620 including VAT. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Recessed manhole cover fitted (per cover) | £240–£620 |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£950 |
| Soakaway | £860–£1,900 |
| Highway authority dropped kerb application fee | £50–£480 |
Guide figures for Northern Ireland, checked 9 November 2026.
Towns we cover in County Armagh
We quote recessed covers in every town across County Armagh, including:
What is included?
A recessed manhole cover is a shallow steel or aluminium tray set in a frame, filled with the same blocks as the drive so the paving pattern carries straight across the chamber. Only a thin rim and two lifting points show.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
- Recessed tray bedded on mortar and set flush
- Removal of the old cover and frame
- Blocks cut to continue the pattern inside the tray
- Lifting keys handed over
- Chamber brickwork raised or lowered to the new level
What the survey covers
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- How the new work ties into the paving
Rules for front drives in County Armagh
In Northern Ireland, a hard surface between the front of the house and the road that covers or replaces more than 5 m² must be porous or permeable, or drain to a permeable area within the property, to be permitted development.
Hard surfaces within the grounds of a listed building need listed building consent. Planning is handled by your district council, so check with its planning office if you are unsure.
Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland are approved by DfI Roads (the Department for Infrastructure), not the council; check planning separately with the council.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
How it works
Send the basics
Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.
Survey
We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.
Written quote
An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.
The work
Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.
Recessed covers in County Armagh: questions
Do you work in Craigavon, Portadown and Armagh?
Yes. We cover all of County Armagh, including Craigavon, Portadown and Armagh.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in County Armagh?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Who approves a recessed cover in County Armagh?
For a dropped kerb, DfI Roads. For drainage and covers on private land, no approval is usually needed, but connections to public sewers need the water company's consent.
How much does a recessed cover cost in County Armagh?
Guide price: £240–£620 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
