Fix cracked, broken or root-damaged pipes without digging up your yard. Structural epoxy lining creates a new pipe inside the old one — 50-year design life, completed in a single day.
Pipe relining is a trenchless (no-dig) method of repairing damaged underground pipes without excavation. Instead of digging a trench to expose and replace the pipe, we insert a flexible liner coated with structural epoxy resin through an existing access point. The liner is inflated against the pipe walls and cured in place — creating a seamless new pipe inside the old one.
The result is a structurally independent pipe with a 50-year design life, completed in a single day, with no damage to your driveway, garden, landscaping or building foundations.
Pipe relining is suitable for most pipe damage scenarios:
Relining is NOT suitable for completely collapsed pipes (where the pipe has lost its circular shape) or pipes with severe bellies exceeding 10% of the pipe diameter.
Every pipe relining job follows the same diagnostic-first process:
The table below compares pipe relining with traditional dig-and-replace:
| Factor | Pipe Relining | Traditional Excavation |
|---|---|---|
| Disruption | Minimal — no digging | Major — trenches, machinery, restoration |
| Time | 1 day (most residential jobs) | 3–7 days |
| Cost | $3,000 – $8,000 (typical residential) | $5,000 – $20,000+ (includes restoration) |
| Design life | 50+ years | 50+ years (new pipe) |
| Landscaping damage | None | Significant — driveways, gardens, paths |
| Structural impact | None — no excavation near foundations | Risk of undermining footings |
For most residential pipe repairs on the Central Coast, relining is the faster, less disruptive and more cost-effective solution — particularly where pipes run under driveways, buildings or established gardens.
Pricing depends on pipe diameter, length, access difficulty, and the number of junctions:
| Pipe Type | Typical Cost Range | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer main (100mm, up to 10m) | $3,500 – $5,500 | CCTV, jetting, liner, cure, final inspection |
| Sewer main (100mm, 10–20m) | $5,500 – $8,000 | As above, longer run |
| Stormwater pipe (150mm+) | $4,000 – $10,000 | Larger diameter liner, more resin |
| Junction repair (single) | $1,500 – $2,500 | Patch liner at junction point |
| CCTV inspection only | $350 – $550 | Full pipe camera survey with USB report |
Source: O'Brien Plumbing cost guide 2026. Prices are GST-inclusive estimates. Fixed quote confirmed after CCTV inspection.
The structural epoxy liner has a 50-year design life. It is backed by a 25-year product warranty from the liner manufacturer. The lined pipe is often stronger than the original pipe.
Yes — that is one of the main advantages of relining. We access the pipe from an existing inspection opening or cleanout, so there is no need to excavate under driveways, slabs or building foundations.
The liner adds approximately 3–5mm to the wall thickness, slightly reducing the internal diameter. However, because the lined surface is perfectly smooth (unlike the rough interior of old clay or cast iron pipes), flow capacity is actually improved despite the minor diameter reduction.
Yes — modern liners are flexible enough to navigate 45° and 90° bends. We can reline pipes with multiple bends as long as the pipe has not collapsed.
If the pipe has lost its circular shape (fully collapsed), relining is not possible. In that case, we recommend pipe bursting (pulling a new pipe through the old one) or traditional excavation for the collapsed section only.
Need a Pipe Relining Quote?
We start with a CCTV inspection to confirm relining is the right solution, then provide a fixed-price quote on the spot.