Drain repair costs: patching, relining or excavation

Almost every repair falls into one of three types. A patch repair seals one defect from inside the pipe. Relining puts a new continuous pipe inside the old one along a whole length. Excavation means digging down and replacing the damaged section. Which one applies is decided by the footage, not by preference.

The main factor is the number of defects. One crack near a chamber is a short, contained job. Several cracks along a run each need their own patch, positioned and cured separately. Access matters too: a defect a long way from the nearest chamber takes more setting up. Our no-dig patch repair page explains how a patch goes in.

For a liner, length and pipe diameter are the starting point, since more pipe means more material. Bends make installation more involved, and every branch connection along the run has to be reopened from inside after the liner has cured. A run that needs heavy cleaning or root cutting before lining also adds time.

Digging costs are shaped mostly by what you cannot see. A shallow pipe under a lawn is quick to reach; a deep one under concrete or block paving takes far more work, and the surface has to be put back afterwards. Space for the dig, nearby walls and other services in the ground all affect the method. Our collapsed drain repair page walks through an excavation step by step.

A cracked pipe that still holds its shape can be patched or lined. A collapsed or badly displaced one cannot, because a liner needs something to support it. Choosing a method without seeing the pipe risks paying for a repair that fails or digging where no digging was needed. That is why we always start with a camera before quoting a repair.

Footage also shows things that change the method in smaller ways: a branch connection that will need reopening after lining, a bend that limits how a patch can be positioned, or a second defect a little further along that would be cheaper to deal with in the same visit. These details are why two quotes for what sounds like the same repair can differ.

Before you commit, two questions are worth answering. First, is the damaged pipe yours? Shared drains and those beyond your boundary are often the water company's responsibility, and our guide on who is responsible for drains explains the usual position. Second, does your home insurance cover accidental damage to underground pipes? Some policies do. Read the wording and speak to your insurer before work starts, as they may want to see footage.

This is general guidance only; your policy and circumstances decide the answer.

A clear repair quote should say which method will be used and why, where the defect is and how long the repaired section will be, what will be dug up and how it will be reinstated, and how the finished work will be checked. If anything might change the price once work starts, it should say what that is.

It is also fair to ask how long the work will take, whether the drain can be used during it and who to contact if anything changes on the day.

Start with our drain repairs page to see how we approach remedial work, or send your survey footage or a description and George will explain the options.