Pipe Relining: The numbers don’t lie
Why it is invariably more expensive to excavate and replace, compared to pipe relining.
Before pipe relining technology, the only option to repair a damaged pipe was to excavate and replace the line. At best, excavation involved digging down through soft ground causing a little mess and a temporary disruption of your domestic harmony. At worst, you’re looking out the window, protecting your eyes and ears from the jackhammer that is demolishing your driveway, distraught at the thought of the bill you’re yet to receive and wondering when the nightmare might end.
Pipe Relining technology was developed to avoid excavation, providing a less disruptive and cheaper alternative, which is exactly what it does. And whilst there are varying degrees of excavation, rarely (if ever) is it a cheaper option than relining, not to mention relining is much more pleasant.
We have outlined three separate scenarios, taken from real-world projects, that compare an excavation and pipe relining solution side by side so that you can see that the numbers don’t lie when you’re deciding whether to dig and replace or simply, reline.
01 Root infested sewer line
Tree roots have compromised the sewer line that runs from your property to the boundary tap. It is buried 2m under your pristine lawn and; there is no access for an excavator! CC.TV inspections have identified a significant blockage and multiple cracks in the old terracotta pipe that is 10m in length.
Reline:
- Clear the line using a high-pressure jetter, no excavation.
- Reline the old pipe, creating a new, stronger more durable one within the damaged exterior
- PRICE: $5000 +GST
Excavate & Replace
- Manually dig a huge trench along the section of the damaged pipe, completely ruining your prize-winning lawn.
- Shoring of the trench, which is required when working inground deeper than 1.5m.
- Clear dirt from around the pipe and fully excavate the line, increasing the risk of ground shifting.
- Cutaway tree roots and replace the terracotta pipe with a new PVC pipe.
- Replace the soil & patch the lawn (with more soil, creating an ugly mess).
- PRICE: $12,000 +GST
02 A damaged drain that runs under the pool
To everyone’s delight, you have installed a pool in your backyard – just in time for summer. To your despair, the original sewer drainage runs under the new pool and has become damaged due to ground movement, causing cracks and misalignments in your summer which is 20m in length.
Reline
- Clear the line using a high-pressure jetter, no excavation.
- Reline the old pipe, creating a new, stronger, more durable one within the damaged exterior.
- Price: $10,000 +GST
Excavate & Replace
- The pipe cannot be diverted due to height issues regarding the correct fall of the pipe to connect to the sewer main.
- The pool and surrounding area will have to be excavated to gain sufficient access to the pipework to repair the damage or replace the line entirely.
- Resulting in major groundworks and a significant tidy up including landscaping.
- PRICE: Upwards of $40,000 +GST
03 Blockages beneath the bathroom
The waste line from the house to the boundary tap has become compromised due to ground movement, causing sewage to back up into the bathroom. The damaged pipe is located under the new, polished concrete floor of the bathroom and a stencil create driveway. The pipe is 30m long including 3 junction connections.
Reline
- Clear the line using a high-pressure jetter, no excavation.
- Reline the old pipe, creating a new, stronger, more durable one within the damaged exterior.
- Robotically reinstatement of three junctions.
- PRICE: $16,500 +GST
Excavate & Replace
- Excavate bathroom concrete floor to gain access to replace pipework.
- Excavate a channel a trench down the stencil crete driveway.
- Replace all pipework, backfill, reinstate concrete floor and foundations, reinstate stencil crete driveway with a strip of new concrete.
- Price: Upwards of $35,000 +GST
Sydney Relining
You may have noticed that the pipe relining process rarely deviates from 3 simple steps:
- Clear the line.
- Install a new, stronger pipe in the carcass of the old one.
- Leave without causing a mess.
From time to time and typically due to a unique combination of circumstances, the old school dig and replace technique may still be employed, but for the vast majority of pipe, drain, and sewer faults, the simple application of relining techniques will be much more cost-effective for your wallet and much less offensive on your eyes, ears, and blood pressure.
We’ve had a relationship with Ranelagh for over 15 years now. At first, they asked us to reline their nine-inch boundary trap. Since that time, we have relined most of their subsoil exterior drainage. Over time, the building realised that they were actually starting to develop issues with the cast iron stack drainage. Cast iron is now defunct material, and it actually rust from the inside out.
Some of the symptoms that the residents were experiencing in relation to the dilapidated cast iron network were smells, leaks, blockages, and in the most extreme case, flooding. It would have been best if we could actually move the residents out of the building. Because that was logistically impossible, we had to break down the project into individual length reline shots. We brought on our friends from Time to Reline, which enabled us to have two inversion teams and two junction robot teams doing two shots per day and also cutting out all the junctions as necessary. We were able to reline over a kilometre of drainage, do 800 cuts, and remove one and a half tonnes of metallic silt within a six-week time period.
“We’ve had a relationship with Ranelagh for over 15 years now”
If you’re a manager of a building that was built in the ’60s and ’70s, you will have cast iron sewer drainage. Sooner or later, this will leak, break, and cause major issues for the building. Now is the time to have a look at it and see if we can provide you a solution.
Our reputation supersedes any issues that the residence or building itself might actually have. No problem is too big or small. I’m extremely proud of this project. It’s the biggest residential project of its kind in Australia and possibly the world. It’s been a great opportunity not to showcase to the industry what our skills and capabilities are, but also to other building managers and committees alike in Sydney that are experiencing the same issues with cast iron pipe work.
Frequently Asked Pipe Relining Questions
The Advantages of Pipe Relining for Efficient Pipe Repairs
Pipe relining is a modern, trenchless method for repairing damaged or leaking pipes without the need for invasive excavation. This innovative technique involves inserting a flexible, resin-coated liner into the affected pipe, which is then inflated and cured to form a new, durable pipe within the existing one. The result is a seamless and corrosion-resistant pipe that not only restores the structural integrity of your plumbing system but also improves flow efficiency. By choosing Pipe Relining, you can extend the lifespan of your pipes, prevent future damage, and minimise the risk of costly repairs down the line.
Embracing Pipe Relining as a preferred solution for pipe repairs offers several benefits, including reduced costs, minimal disruptions, and enhanced environmental sustainability. Since there’s no need for large-scale digging, Pipe Relining helps you save up to 50% in repair expenses compared to traditional methods, while also reducing the time and resources required for the job. Furthermore, the trenchless nature of Pipe Relining significantly lessens the impact on your property and the surrounding environment, preserving your garden, landscaping, and infrastructure. By opting for Pipe Relining, you’re investing in a long-lasting, efficient, and eco-friendly solution for maintaining the health of your plumbing system.
