Tried gravel last year, seems to stay put better and keeps weeds down.
Totally agree, gravel’s been the best for me too—mulch just gets messy after the first big storm. I hear you on the metal lids, but honestly, composite hasn’t held up for me either. I do like that you’re keeping up with the Rustoleum though, it really does make a difference. Wildlife under there is just a fact of life… I once opened mine and found a frog family. Gave me a laugh, at least.
Gravel definitely has its advantages—less mess, fewer weeds, and it doesn’t wash away as easily as mulch. I get the appeal. As for lids, I’ve seen both metal and composite fail over time, though metal’s usually easier to patch up if you stay on top of rust. Composite ones tend to crack in extreme temps, at least around here. And yeah, critters are just part of the deal... had a snake curled up once. Not my favorite surprise, but at least they keep the mice in check.
SEPTIC SYSTEM NIGHTMARES: DID YOU KNOW THIS?
Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of a snake encounter, but I did find a turtle wedged under my septic lid last summer. Took me a minute to figure out how it even got there. I went with a metal lid for durability, but you’re right—rust is a pain if you don’t keep up with it. Composite seemed promising, but our winters are brutal and I’ve seen them split. Gravel’s been solid for me, though. Less mud, and I don’t have to weed every week... small wins, I guess.
SEPTIC SYSTEM NIGHTMARES: DID YOU KNOW THIS?
Man, turtles and septic lids—never a dull moment, right? I hear you on the rust. I tried painting my metal lid, but it still flakes off eventually. Composite looked good until our first freeze cracked it down the middle. Gravel’s underrated, honestly. Less mess, fewer weeds, and my boots stay cleaner. Sometimes it’s the little victories that keep us sane with these systems.
SEPTIC SYSTEM NIGHTMARES: DID YOU KNOW THIS?
I get the gravel thing, but honestly, it didn’t work out for me. Ended up with a bunch of rocks kicked into the yard and my mower hated it. I switched to pavers—way easier to keep clean and no more surprise projectiles.
