With the variety of weather New Jersey gets throughout each year, water and sewer pipes are subject to general damage, wear and tear, and overall degradation after decades of constant use. For older style metal pipes, rust and corrosion are an inevitable issue that you will eventually need to deal with. If you’re going to be purchasing a new home, it is a good idea to reach out for a professional sewer and water line inspection to see if you may need pipeline restoration before moving in. It is common practice in New Jersey to perform video camera inspections before purchasing a home.
What is Pipeline Restoration?
Pipe restoration encompasses a wide range of services and can involve minor or major repairs to your sewer line. Some cases may require excavation, but many sewer pipe restoration jobs can be done using modern trenchless techniques which require little to no excavation at all and will leave the area around the pipes undisturbed.
Types of Pipeline Restoration
One of the most common types of pipe restoration methods used by NJ contractors is pipe lining, most frequently done with CIPP (cured-in-place pipe). Pipe liners are made using a number of materials such as fiberglass cloth, resin, and polyester. Some common pipeline restoration methods include:
- Grouting – this technique is primarily used in situations where cracks have formed allowing groundwater to begin seeping into an otherwise structurally sound manhole. Grouting will fill any voids and create a watertight seal.
- CIPP Lining – an increasingly popular mode of manhole rehabilitation. In this process, a resin-saturated felt tube made of fiberglass cloth undergoes impregnation, is inverted or pulled into a damaged manhole or pipe before hot water or steam is used to activate (cure) the resin. This creates a seamless replacement lining that should greatly extend the life of the manhole.
- Epoxy Topcoats – a chemical resistant epoxy barrier is sprayed to provide additional protection against harsh elements within a sewer.
How Long Does Pipeline Restoration Take?
How long it takes to repair a broken or damaged sewer line will vary greatly depending upon your individual circumstances and the requirements of your pipeline repair project. Unfortunately there is no one-size-fits all answer to this question.
Most pipeline restoration can be done using trenchless methods, which will greatly reduce the amount of time needed compared to traditional excavation methods. Depending on the scale of the restoration needed, most projects can be completed within a day or two.
How Much Does Pipeline Restoration Cost?
Without looking at the specific damage or work that needs to be done on your sewer lines it isn’t possible to provide a concrete estimate of the cost. When it comes to sewer excavation services, the cost will ultimately depend on several factors including:
- Sewer pipe material
- Geographic location, accessibility, and required method of excavation
- Repairing vs replacing
- Extent of repairs
- Complexity of repairs
- Camera inspection
- Cleanup
If traditional excavation is required, it is going to cost more than if the repairs can be accomplished through trenchless repair methods.
Visit our blog to learn more about sewer repair and replacement costs.
Pipeline Restoration or Replacement Options in NJ
If restoring or repairing an existing pipe is an option, it will generally be the easier and cheaper option. However, sometimes a sewer or water pipe may be irreparably damaged in which case a pipe replacement is the only option. Techniques such as pipe bursting can remove old pipe and insert a new length of pipe, all without any excavation.