Pipe relining for 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. 

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. 

1. 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.
2. 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.

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.

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.