A lid fits on every potty. With the rain barrel, this is sometimes even essential. If you have purchased a model without a suitable cover, you can easily add one by making the cover yourself. With the instructions on this page it's child's play.
How can you build a lid for a rain barrel yourself?
To build a lid for a rain barrel yourself, first create a precisely fitting template from easily cut material. Then cut the lid out of the desired material, such as wood, and impregnate it with weather-resistant varnish. Drill a hole for the downspout and place the lid on the bin.
Benefits of a lid
- Protection from falling leaves
- Protection from breeding mosquitoes
- Protection against evaporation
- Rain barrel also serves as a storage area
- Pets don’t fall into the rain barrel
- Less algae formation
It goes without saying that a lid on your rain barrel prevents leaves from accumulating. But did you know that mosquitoes in particular love to lay their eggs in the rain barrel. This can become a real nuisance in humid summers. The risk of pets falling into the rain barrel is also often underestimated. Cats, for example, love to fish for dragonflies or algae that move in the water. Speaking of algae, the unpleasant aquatic plants need light to develop. If you take this away with the help of a lid, only a few species can survive. Ultimately, you benefit from a higher water gain due to less evaporation as well as an attractive appearance when you place flower pots on the rain barrel.
Lid requirements
- Removable
- Perfect fit
- Stable
In order to be able to regularly check the water level, a removable lid is recommended. This also makes cleaning easier. Keep in mind that in winter there will be masses of snow on the lid and exert a lot of weight. Ultimately, even the most beautiful lid doesn't serve its purpose if it doesn't fit perfectly on the rain barrel.
Build your own rain barrel lid
- Place transparent material that can be easily cut on the rain barrel.
- Trace the outline on the inner edge of the opening with a sharpie marker (€20.00 on Amazon).
- Cut out the circle.
- Use the template to cut a matching lid from the desired material.
- Do the same with the opening of the downpipe.
- In this case, do not make another cover, but use the template to drill a hole in the cover.
- If you use wood to make your lid, we recommend impregnating it with environmentally friendly, weather-resistant varnish.
- Place the lid on the rain barrel.
- Direct the downpipe through the hole provided.
