Patch lining, for a short localised defect
A resin soaked liner is positioned across the defect using a packer, inflated against the pipe wall and left to cure. Once set it forms a rigid sleeve bonded to the host pipe, sealing cracks, open joints and small holes.
It suits a single crack, one displaced joint or a root entry point in a pipe that is otherwise sound. There is no excavation, the work is normally completed in a single visit and the drain is back in use the same day.
Full relining, for a longer damaged section
Where a longer run has multiple cracks, open joints or general deterioration, a full length liner is installed through the pipe and cured in place, creating a new pipe inside the old one. It restores structural strength and gives a smooth bore that resists root entry and future build-up.
The pipe has to be cleaned and prepared first, usually with jetting and sometimes with drain milling to remove roots, scale or intruding concrete.
Excavation and replacement
If the pipe has fully collapsed there is nothing left to line against, and the only real repair is to dig down, remove the failed section and lay new pipework. The same applies where a run has lost its fall and needs re-laying to the correct gradient, or where an unsuitable or badly installed connection has to be rebuilt.
Excavation costs more and disrupts more, so we only recommend it where a liner genuinely will not do the job, and we reinstate what we lift.
Choosing between them
- One short defect, pipe otherwise sound: patch liner.
- Several defects along one run: full reline.
- Roots throughout with open joints: mill out, then reline.
- Fully collapsed or deformed beyond lining: excavate and replace.
- Loss of fall causing standing water: excavate and re-lay to gradient.
What happens after the repair
We camera the run again after the work so you can see the finished repair, and that post repair footage forms part of your record. It is what insurers, factors and future buyers will want to see.
Questions we get asked
How long does a no dig repair last?
A correctly installed cured in place liner is a structural repair with a long design life, generally quoted in decades, provided the host pipe is properly prepared beforehand.
Do you need to come inside the property?
Usually not for a liner. The work is carried out from the inspection chambers outside.
Can you reline a pipe with roots in it?
Yes, but the roots must be removed first, normally by drain milling and jetting. Lining over live roots is not a repair.