If you know us at emu. Plumbing. Gasfitting. Relining, you know we’re huge fans of the latest technologies in all things pipe relining. We love using our high tech tools in CCTV drain inspection, water jetting, robotic cutting and pipe relining to offer the best solution possible.
We’re often asked about pipe relining vs pipe replacement. And you might expect us to say relining is always the way to go. But even though we love it, it might not always be the best solution.
If your pipes are deep and underneath foundations or landscaping etc, then absolutely relining is likely the best solution! But, if your damaged drainage pipes are easily accessible, then, replacement may be the most cost effective and logical solution.
We’ve put together this little guide to help when dealing with damaged drainage pipes.
What’s the difference between relining and replacement?
Drain pipe relining is the process of repairing a damaged area or length of pipe from within. We insert a pipe liner of selected material, impregnated with silicate, epoxy or UV resin into the damaged area of the pipe – creating a completely new and incredibly strong inner pipe which is then permanently bonded to the existing pipe.
Drain pipe replacement, on the other hand, is the traditional method of digging up the area where the damage has occurred and replacing that section.
This sounds like a quick and easy method, but considering a lot of your commercial plumbing can be underneath driveways, buildings or landscaping, it can turn into a big job with a lot of variables (and costs)!
There are more contributing factors that come into play when you’re making your decision between pipe relining and pipe repair. Read on!
The Cost of Pipe Relining Vs Pipe Replacement
There are many things that can affect the cost of relining or replacement repairs. Which means there is rarely a simple price point for either of these services.
If your damaged pipes are underneath building foundations, it means you’ll need to do a full concrete cut, jackhammer to remove and excavation job to reach these pipes. Not only will the excavation be costly and time consuming, you’ll also have to reinstate everything that was removed in the process, including concrete, tiles and more.
However, if the damaged drain is fairly shallow and not under anything important, replacement could be the best solution.
When it comes to pipe relining, the costs are dependent on a lot of factors including access, type and size of the pipe and the severity of damage.
Pipe relining metre rate prices are generally considered to be higher than pipe replacement per metre. But remember to consider the added costs that may come with pipe replacement. Concrete cutting, excavation, gravel bedding, backfilling, re-concreting and re-landscaping, time consumed and headaches can cost you in many ways. And always take into account down time, access issues, noise, dust, amenity use and what that may ultimately cost your business, if drain replacement is chosen.
Learn more about How Much Pipe Relining Costs in our comprehensive guide.
The Time it takes for Pipe Relining Vs Pipe Replacement
Excavation works to repair a buried or obstructed pipe & then reinstate all that has been excavated can take days or weeks. If you need to re-landscape, it could take months for your site to look as good as it once did. You’ll need to consider how this is going to affect your property, your business or your team.
However, pipe relining takes only a matter of days, often less (with the brand new UV relining technology, it could be even less still!).
The entire process, including CCTV pipe inspection to pinpoint the damage, water jetting or Picote machining to get the damaged area clean and the actual relining itself can take less than a week. From major drainage issues to “business as normal” in only a day or two? Yes please!
The Durability of Pipe Relining Vs Pipe Replacement
While you may be thinking that a brand new pipe will be more durable than a relining option, that’s not strictly the case. A correctly installed patch or liner will actually make the host pipe stronger than it was when new.
At Emu Plumbing, we use RSM, Trellebord and Epros pipe relining products that come with a 50 year manufacturer’s guarantee! We at Emu, also offer a 20 year installation guarantee on all our pipe relining. So you can be confident our work will endure the test of time.
When You Should Choose Pipe Relining
There are a number of reasons why you should consider pipe relining for your next job:
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- If your pipes are positioned down an embankment, underneath buildings, driveways or landscaping the cost of excavation (and replacing) these areas can be prohibitive, so relining will likely be the answer.
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- Overall, pipe relining comes with fewer added expenses. Less labour, less parts, less repair to surrounding areas and less equipment.
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- Pipe relining is nearly always quicker. It takes time to excavate (and potentially rebuild) – with pipe relining this isn’t going to be a worry!
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- Excavating a large area can be dangerous. When large machinery becomes involved the risk of accidents, injuries, telco service interruptions, complaints etc, on your site increases. And spare a thought for your tenants or teammates who need to work/play with that noise and drama in the background!
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- Reduce your environmental impact with trenchless relining. Large excavation and construction works come with an increased carbon footprint. Pipe relining is a simpler and less invasive process with less impact.
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- Stress less with pipe relining. Ongoing construction can be stressful to a business and it’s employees. We’re sure we all agree that non-essential construction should be avoided where possible!
When You Should Choose Pipe Replacement
While we love pipe relining, we also know there are cases when traditional pipe replacement is the best way to go. These occasions include:
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- If your plumbing is experiencing significant sagging, then it could be best for a complete pipe replacement.
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- Pipes that are easily accessible or aren’t buried deep with clear and easy access may be quick and cheap using the simple dig and replace method.
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- Problems with pipe alignment can be a reason to replace your pipes. If your pipes are badly misaligned, it could be best for replacement to avoid continuous future damage.
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- If the pipes are severely damaged, it may not be possible to repair them using pipe relining. If there is too much damage it isn’t possible to properly clean out the pipes to prepare for lining. Or if the structural integrity of the pipe is too far gone – liners need an existing pipe to adhere too, they can’t be pipes on their own. So if this is the case replacement is the only option.
When you work with Emu Pipe Relining, our team will always determine what’s going on before offering a quote or solution. Before we even think about pipe replacement or relining, we’ll inspect your pipes using CCTV drain cameras to find the location of the damage and how bad it is. That way we can give you all the costs and timeframes you need to make the right decision for you.
