Can I Retrofit My Older Pipes Using Pipe Relining?

What is Pipe Relining?

Pipe relining is an unobtrusive method that rehabilitates worn or impaired pipes without the upheaval of digging. The resin solidifies under UV light, ensuring a lasting and seamless repair of your plumbing.

Our team provides pipe relining solutions that can be used to repair pipes made from various materials like cast iron, clay, PVC, and concrete. Relining your drain poses minimal threat to your garden’s aesthetic and reduces disturbance to your property.

This efficient, often single-day, procedure negates the need for follow-up construction work such as re-plastering or re-tiling, emphasising its minimally invasive attributes. Consequently, relining not only resolves pipe issues swiftly but also offers a more cost-effective, neater, and less invasive alternative to pipe replacement. Choose our pipe relining services for a durable solution with a fifty-year lifespan, backed by comprehensive warranties.

While not a solution for completely shattered pipes, relining is effective for drains with cracks, corrosion, or leaks, circumventing the complexities of traditional pipe replacement.

How Pipe Relining Works

The trenchless pipe relining process can take several key steps:

1. Inspection - high-resolution CCTV drain cameras thoroughly assess the pipe’s interior to pinpoint any damage or flaws that are critical for the new lining. This targeted approach ensures precise repairs tailored to your needs.
2. Cleaning - We utilise high-pressure water jets to effectively clear obstructions from blocked or broken pipes, ensuring the drains are unimpeded.
3. Inserting the liner - A resin-coated liner is impregnated with epoxy and then carefully propelled into the pipe using air or water pressure.
4. Curing the liner - Methods like UV light, hot water or steam are used to uniformly cure the epoxy resin and harden it, bonding it to the existing pipe walls.
5. Reinstating laterals - Small robotic tools are used to precisely reopen lateral connections and access paths.
6. Final testing - CCTV inspection ensures relined pipes are smooth, watertight and restored to full functionality before returning the plumbing system to use.

Pipe relining is a less intrusive option for restoring old pipes when compared to traditional replacement. The durable epoxy or polyurethane used in pipe relining not only fixes blocked or damaged pipes but also greatly extends their service life, all while maintaining the tranquility of your garden.

Evaluating if Your Pipes Can Be Relined

A detailed inspection by our specialists is crucial to ascertain whether your pipes are suitable for extensive relining, ensuring you are provided with the optimal answer to your plumbing issues. They will use high-tech CCTV cameras to closely examine the pipes and identify any cracks, leaks, blockages or other defects.

The plumber evaluates various aspects of the pipe relining process, which includes:

• The extent of damage - is it localised or affecting a long section pipe?
• Pipe material and diameter - a variety of pipe types can undergo relining, including previously installed materials such as clay, concrete, iron, and PVC.
• Accessibility

If pipes have complete breaks, severe cracks or extensive corrosion, there’s no possibility for relining since the liner needs a reasonably sound host pipe to adhere to. Partial relining of intact sections may still be an option though.

Property owners now commonly opt to offer pipe relining as the preferred choice for updating old plumbing, avoiding extensive replacements. It’s less disruptive, quicker, and more affordable. For a comprehensive consultation, call us to explore how our services can rejuvenate your pipes and assess their compatibility for relining.

The Pipe Relining Process Step-by-Step

Here is a detailed guide of the Sydney pipe relining process carried out by our dedicated team at Colyton Plumbing:

1. Inspection - We thoroughly inspect the pipes needing repair using high-resolution CCTV cameras. This allows us to identify affected sections and determine if relining is suitable.
2. Cleaning - Before pipe relining, high-pressure water jets are utilised as a part of the meticulous prep work we use to ensure a clean pipe interior.
3. Liner Insertion - A flexible epoxy resin-coated liner tube is inserted into the cleaned pipes using compressed air or water.
4. Curing - We uniformly cure the resin liner using UV lights, steam or hot water so it hardens and bonds tightly to the walls your old pipe.
5. Reconnecting - Small robotic cutters are used to reopen any lateral connections or access points sealed over during insertion.
6. Testing - Final CCTV inspection checks for a smooth, continuous lining with no defects before restoring full plumbing functionality.

The outcome of pipes relining ensures minimal damage your existing infrastructure, effectively installing a new pipe that’s robust, seamless, and durable for decades. With minimal digging or property damage, the process allows ageing pipe systems to be restored quickly and cost-effectively.

The Pros and Cons of Pipe Relining

Pipe relining holds major benefits when compared to traditional pipe replacement:

• Less need to dig up and disruption - Pipe relining eschews the need for trench-digging; there’s no necessity for the jackhammering of concrete floors and walls
• Versatility - Capable of refurbishing a diverse array of materials including cast iron, clay, concrete, and PVC
• Durable - Pipe relining provides minimal upheaval and significantly augments your system’s longevity by over half a century, evidenced by our warranty guarantees.
• Cost-effective - Generally costing 60-70% less than complete replacement
• Minimal property damage - Requires just small access openings into pipes

However, some limitations of trenchless drain relining include:

• Pipes that are excessively damaged may still require replacement if they are too deteriorated to support the liner
• Access required to interior of pipes -
• Not suitable for some pipe types like asbestos cement or galvanised steel

Our efficient relining services offer a quick and cost-effective solution for homeowners looking to revitalise their existing pipes.

Pipe Relining vs Replacement

Pipe relining presents a myriad of benefits over traditional pipe repairs and complete replacements:

• Cost - Pipe relining typically costs significantly less than pipe replacement
• Disruption - Relining requires just small access points into pipes rather than major digging and jackhammering
• Speed - The relining process usually takes just a single day compared to weeks for replacement
• Property Impact - Relining inflicts considerably less damage on your entire property in comparison to pipe replacement

However, for pipes that are severely damaged, corroded, or collapsed, where relining is unfeasible, a complete replacement may be the only recourse. However, for property owners, partial relining of less degraded sections may still be a viable option, without the damage pipe relining can prevent.

In most homes, pipe relining which utilises epoxy or polyurethane restores piping systems effectively. It counters the significant disturbance and costs associated with replacing your sewer pipes. After considering all the pros cons, and with warranties extending up to 50 years, pipe relining, which consistently shows reliable results, distinguishes itself as the ideal repair solution for ageing or leaking pipes.

What Types of Pipes Can Be Relined?

Pipe relining, which is a versatile process suitable for repairing and restoring most common pipe types found in homes, includes:

• Clay pipes - Used extensively in older homes, clay pipes are prone to cracks, breaks, root intrusion and blockages. Sewer relining provides an effective refurbishment approach fortifying compromised sewer systems with lasting integrity.
• Cast iron pipes - Cast iron drain, waste and vent pipes have a tendency to corrode internally over time. Epoxy relining renews these pipe drain systems, remedying deterioration from within.
• PVC pipes - While robust, decades-old PVC can still degrade and leak. Polyurethane relining restores PVC drain pipe systems.
• Concrete pipes - Concrete stormwater and sewer pipe beneath homes can crack and require structural rehabilitation. Relining achieves this underground.

Pipe relining can enhance sewer systems of various materials, including ABS, copper, and galvanised steel, addressing multiple structural issues.

In some cases, when pipes have succumbed to full collapses or critical damage, a replacement might become necessary. But for most common pipe types with repairable damage, relining is the preferred renovation method due to its effectiveness across materials and configurations.

How Long Does Pipe Relining Last?

Pipe relining products are extremely durable, with most epoxy or polyurethane liners rated to last over 50 years. Many pipe relining experts extend warranties that match this impressive 50+ year lifespan upon relining your existing infrastructure.

The longevity of a relined pipe depends on the calibre of the materials and the precision of the installation process. Premium-grade epoxy and polyurethane resins, properly cured, form a robust barrier inside pipes. This seamless new pipe-within-a-pipe prevents further corrosion, degradation, or tree roots invasion of your sewer, extending the functional life indefinitely.

External factors can also influence durability. you don’t want to fret over tree root invasions, ground shifts, or harsh soil conditions affecting your sewer line, thanks to our advanced relining techniques. However, in most typical home environments, quality pipe relining results remain highly durable for 50 years or more before necessitating any repairs or replacement.

So if you learn more about the condition of your existing pipes and if they’re structurally sound overall, relining them restores functionality and prevents leaks for decades to come. Contact your plumber at Colyton Plumbing today to evaluate your pipes and determine if long-lasting pipe relining is the right restoration solution for your plumbing system.

What Does Pipe Relining Cost?

The cost of pipe relining depends on the length and diameter of the pipe being repaired, but it generally falls between 60-70% lower than the cost of complete replacement.

Factors affecting pipe relining costs include:

• Pipe size and length pipe - assessing extensive sections and larger diameters, which typically incur higher relining costs
• Pipe material - Epoxy or polyurethane liners suited for cast iron, clay, concrete etc have different costs
• Accessibility - Ease of accessing pipes can impact equipment and labour needed
• Location - Commercial relining is usually more expensive than residential premises

We ensure transparent communication about any additional costs should in-depth preparations be needed before relining. Despite potential preparatory costs, relining remains a more economical choice, saving you from excavation expenses and providing refurbished plumbing without extra charges.

As a guide, here are ballpark figures:*

• 75mm pipe - $80 to $140 per linear metre
• 100mm pipe - $100 to $180 per linear metre

*Exact prices will depend on site/project requirements. Don’t hesitate to contact the adept professionals who offer pipe expertise at Colyton Plumbing for an accurate relining quote tailored to your individual needs.

The small upfront investment in pipe relining, often seen in drain repair, saves considerable sums over time compared to replacement. Relined pipes offer remarkable value by eliminating the need for recurrent leak repairs or section replacements, ensuring longevity beyond 50 years.