What drain lining is

Drain lining repairs a damaged drain from the inside. It is also called pipe relining. A flexible liner, soaked in resin, goes into the old pipe and sets hard. As a result, you get a new pipe inside the old one without digging.

Traditionally, a damaged drain meant excavation. That meant digging up the garden or breaking through a driveway. Lining avoids most of that mess, since the work happens through existing chambers.

How the liner works

The liner is a felt or fibreglass tube coated in resin. Engineers feed it into the pipe, then press it against the walls, since a tight fit gives a sound repair. Once the resin cures, it forms a smooth, continuous surface. Curing can use hot water, steam, light or air, depending on the system.

The smooth surface also helps flow. Rough or scaled pipes slow waste down, whereas a liner gives it an easier path. It can also resist root entry, because it seals the gaps roots use.

What drain lining can fix

Lining suits several structural problems, for example:

Cracked pipes, caused by ground movement, roots or age
Root entry, once roots are cleared by cutting or jetting
Open or displaced joints, which the liner bridges
Worn pipe walls, especially in older systems
Leaking joints, which let groundwater in or sewage out

Lining does not suit every fault. A fully collapsed pipe usually needs digging, because a liner cannot pass through. Sometimes a short dig is combined with lining the rest. Our article on why we use drain relining explains how we decide.

The process

A lining job follows set stages, and each one matters. First, a camera survey maps the damage and shows whether lining is suitable. Learn more in what a CCTV drain survey is and about the CCTV drain survey.

Next, the pipe is jetted clean. The walls must be clear of fat, scale and roots, because resin will not bond to dirt. Then the liner is cut to length and soaked in resin. After that, it is fed into the pipe and inflated against the walls to cure.

Finally, a second camera check confirms the liner has fitted. It should cover each defect and leave a clear bore, because gaps would defeat the repair. This record also helps if you sell the property.

Advantages over digging

Gardens, paths and driveways stay in place
Reinstatement work is usually smaller
The household faces less mess and noise
The new surface is smooth and helps flow

Lining often costs less than excavation, although the price depends on the pipe and the fault. A survey tells you more. See what changes the price of a CCTV survey before you book.

Is lining right for your property?

Lining suits many North London homes, since Victorian and Edwardian clay drains often suffer from roots and open joints. For an example, read blocked drain in Edgware: what 70-year-old clay drains need.

It also suits drains under mature gardens or block paving, where digging would be costly. Businesses may prefer it because it keeps disruption low. In contrast, a known fault in one accessible section may be cheaper to dig out.

Who decides

A drain specialist surveys the pipe and recommends a repair, although you make the final choice. Our guide on what a drain specialist does describes the role. If you are unsure whether to survey first, read do you need a CCTV drain survey.

A drain that blocks again and again may need lining. However, check first, so see main drain keeps clogging. Regular care also slows wear, as why it is important to have drain maintenance explains.

Next steps

The first step is always a camera survey, because it shows what is wrong. We offer drain repairs and wider blocked drains help across North London. Our area includes drain unblocking in Enfield, blocked drains in Barnet and blocked drains in Edgware. Send the online enquiry form to discuss your drain.