Pipe relining repairs a damaged drain without digging a trench. The engineer pulls a flexible liner soaked in resin into the old pipe, then presses it against the wall while it hardens. The result is a new pipe inside the old one.
Relining suits cracks, root damage and leaking joints. However, it does not suit every pipe. A pipe that has collapsed or lost its shape may need digging instead, and a camera survey shows which case you have.
The main benefit is less mess. Gardens, drives and patios stay in place, because the work uses existing access points. Ask what the liner maker says about its expected life, and ask for that in writing.
Scotland has its own building rules. Ask your council's building standards team whether your job needs a building warrant. Do this before work starts, since you cannot ask afterwards.
A camera shows where the damage is and how long the section is. That decides whether relining can work, because a collapsed pipe cannot hold a liner.
The engineer jets the pipe to remove deposits and roots. A clean wall helps the resin bond to the pipe, so this step matters.
The engineer pulls or turns the resin liner into place, then presses it against the wall with air. It takes the shape of the old pipe, so no trench is needed.
A final camera run shows whether the lining is smooth and in the right place. Ask for the before and after footage, since it is your record of the work.
Prices vary a lot because pipe size, length and access differ. A short repair needs less material than a long run. UK guides give different figures, since they count the cost in different ways.
Ask for a written quote after the camera survey, because it shows what is needed. Compare it with a quote for digging up and replacing the pipe, including putting the surface back.
Nobody can promise a lifespan for your pipe, because it depends on the ground and the pipe. Ask what the liner maker says, and ask for it in writing. A camera check after the work shows the finished lining.
No. Relining suits many cracks, root intrusions and displaced joints. However, a pipe that has completely collapsed may need digging, and a camera survey shows which method fits.
It uses existing access points, so there is normally no trench. Cleaning, the liner and the camera checks still take time and equipment on site. Ask how long the job will take.