Sydney Relining: pipe relining a unit blocks and strata managed properties in Sydney
Apartment living is the norm for most Sydneysiders. Us regular folk are likely to spend at least a few years renting in a building with multiple levels, shared spaces, and (not so) friendly faces. If we’re well behaved, scrimp and save, we might just about be able to afford to buy a place of our very own, and have the joy of being a decision-maker in an unlikely bunch of fellow owners and Strata managers. Sound familiar?
Due to the high instance of apartment living and the increased stress that high-density developments put on aging plumbing systems, a big chunk of the pipe relining work we undertake in Sydney is for apartment buildings. From shared sewer drains to stormwater pipes, we’ve relined it all, but always with one thing in mind – you. The property owner or strata committee member who simply wants to be rid of the rancid smell or unsightly leak – with as little fuss and expense as possible.
Here is how we minimise the cost, mess, and disruption when pipe relining Sydney’s units and apartments to keep you and your neighbours happy before, during, and after we leave.
We’re conscious of costs
Pipe relining is typically cheaper than a traditional dig & replace solution due to the reduced labour and equipment involved in excavating. On smaller projects, you’re likely to save around half, whilst larger projects save up to two-thirds the price of the old-school method.
However, we’re also conscious that in shared properties, the cost can often be a source of friction and more often than not, determine whether the relining project goes ahead – or the smell, unsightly mess and disruption remain for another year. So there are a number of things we can do to increase the saving pipe relining naturally offers, to further lessen the blow.
- More men, less time – we have the luxury of having multiple crews on the road. In some instances, this allows us to work on different aspects of the project simultaneously reducing the time-on-site, increasing efficiency, and lowering the costs.
- A staged approach – Often, especially at larger, older properties, multiple faults may occur around the same time in different sections of the plumbing system. To spread out the cost, we are in some instances able to prioritise and compartmentalise the work into separate, smaller projects. Reducing the initial outlay whilst removing the immediate risk of leaks.
We do our recconasance
The old adage of failing to prepare is preparing to fail was pretty much written for reliners. In fact, the majority of the work that we do is in scoping and preparing the job, before we start relining pipes. When we are scoping out a pipe relining project, we like to consider not only the technical, but human factors to ensure we deploy a solution that is effective in solving the problem, whilst minimising disruption.
Technically, the most important and determining factor with the pipe relining process is the access to the damaged section of the pipe. How and where we can access the plumbing system, along with the length of the damaged pipe along with the number of junctions, influences the method of pipe relining we can use, as well as the time it will take to complete the project – as well as the cost. By fully surveying the project from top to bottom, we are able to devise effective technical solutions.
The human element is equally if not more important and infinitely more complicated to judge – after all, pipes don’t have ears, thoughts, or feelings. When visiting a property, we’re always keen to get to know the residents of the building as depending on their habits, we can adjust our hours, water downtime, and work areas to minimise disruption.
We respect your property
When we leave your property – with your pipes sparkling new, watertight, and good for the next 50+ years – we want it to look as though we were never there at all. No damage, no mess, no rearranging of the guy from 1A’s Balinese-inspired pot garden – just as we found it and how you like it. To ensure we keep this promise, we plan carefully and work hard throughout to minimise mess and disruption.
By establishing designated work areas, we avoid getting in your way and ensure that any (necessary) mess is concentrated in a confined space, allowing you to give us a wide berth when we’re on-site and ensuring that we contain ourselves – after all, everyone needs boundaries.
Pipe Relining
How does pipe relining work?
Think of relining as feeding an inner tube into the current pipe, then hardening and sealing that tube until it’s stronger than any clay, terracotta, or plastic pipe.
Rather than excavating and replacing the damaged pipe, causing mess and disruption to your property (and your bank balance) – we reline from the surface.
Using the best available Watermark accredited tech and using ultra-strong, impenetrable EPOXY resin, we cause a minimal fuss, often maintaining services and completing most projects within a single day.
The process
- Investigate – Using CC.TV technology, we investigate the problems and provide you with an itemised quote for the work that needs to be done, taking the time to explain where the budget is being spent and why arming you with the information you need.
- Prepare – We take time to prepare above and below ground to ensure we cause minimal disturbance by establishing safe work zones and diverting any plumbing systems where possible, avoiding service disruptions.
- Reline – Only then do we cure and install our impenetrable EPOXY resin using state-of-the-art relining techniques that allow us to accurately pinpoint the damaged section of the pipe, drain or sewer and navigate any bends or junctions.
We create and install a guaranteed 50-year solution with our superior relining products & materials coming with a life expectancy of 50 years and up.
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.
