A Beginners Guide to Drain Re-Lining
One thing that is often overlooked in our homes and businesses is the health of our drainage system. Although used every day, this system is frequently taken for granted and over time drainage pipes can become worn and ineffective. Years of general use and abuse can lead to cracks and holes which if left untreated, can cause serious issues and can often lead to hefty emergency call out and repair bills.
Metro Rod are experts in drain repair and in many instances we can repair broken or damaged pipes using our specialist ‘No-Dig’ technologies, repairing the pipe from the inside with minimum disruption and mess. We use a mixture of techniques, including full pipe re-lining, which repairs the pipe from the inside and therefore eliminates the need to dig up the ground to access and fix damaged drains.
Here at Metro Rod Hull, Lincolnshire & Peterborough, we are proud to have become one of the industry leaders in full drain re-lining and have thoroughly researched and invested in the best equipment possible to achieve high quality, long lasting results. Although we are able to offer a while breadth of options in drain re-lining, our most popular methods by far is the Brawoliner technique. This epoxy resin based method adheres 100% to the internal diameter of the pipe, and their 10-year warrantee give complete peace of mind that your re-line will last for years to come.
What is drain re-lining?
Drain re-lining is the method of repairing a length pipe through the use of inserting a 360-degree tube or ‘liner’ into a drain which is impregnated with resin. This resin forms a protective shield that lines the full internal diameter of the drain, effectively acting as a hard second skin on the inside of the pipe. This covers all the imperfections, cracks and holes in the drain and allows the waste to once again move through to system with little to no resistance. This lining becomes an impenetrable skin which stops further damage, such as tree/root ingress from occurring in the future and has an estimated life span of approximately 50 years.
How is drain lining completed?
Drain re-lining is often much quicker to complete than a traditional excavated repair and causes much less disruption to site. Even the longest re-lines can be completed in a matter of hours, allowing you to return to full working order in the shortest amount of time.
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The first step to complete a full drain re-line is to insert a CCTV camera into the system in order to establish the condition of the drain. This will ensure that there are no obstructions such as root masses or rubble that need to be removed and will also identify the exact location of where the liner must begin and end.
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Next, the manhole from where the work will be carried out is fully cleaned to ensure no debris will be transferred into the liner which could affect its structural integrity. The diameter of the drain is then carefully measured to ensure the right size of liner is used and the correct felt and resin for the job is chosen. In order to ensure that the liner will demonstrate optimum strength, it is essential that the correct materials and ratios are considered. This will safeguard the lifespan of the liner and will ensure that it will last for the maximum amount of time possible.
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Once the liner has been prepared, it is fed into the drain ‘inside out,’ with the adhesive resin on the inside of the tube (like an inside out sock!) Once the liner is mostly underground, the end is sealed with stainless steel bands and a flat hose is attached to the bands and is passed through the centre of the liner, inverting it and exposing the resin which will in turn attach to the internal diameter of the pipe.
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Following the inversion, water needs to be passed through the liner at a constant temperature to in order to cure the resin. An air driven pump is used to send water from a boiler down the flat lay hose to the far end of the liner, expanding the liner until it attaches to the inside of the pipe. The water is then stabilised at a pre-determined temperature and left to settle for a set amount of time to allow the resin to harden, before being cooled. It can often take several hours for the resin to completely ‘cure’ but once finished, the protective barrier will be intact and the last step can be completed.
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The last step of lining will be to re-open the connections to external laterals. Inserting a full liner will of course line the entire internal diameter of the drain, therefore entrances for joining lateral lines are in effect ‘sealed off.’ This however is quickly and easily resolved with the use of a robotic cutter. This specialist piece of cutting equipment is inserted into the drains and a camera located at the front of the device allows the operator to easily direct the cutting head and precisely re-open the connections.
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Once complete, the pipe will be fully restored to full working order and will once again be fit for use.
What are the benefits?
There are multiple benefits to full drain re-lining as a solution to your drainage issues including:
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Time effective installation - our skilled engineers have been thoroughly trained on the completion of full re-lining and therefore installation can be completed in a highly time effective manner compared to more traditional excavated repairs.
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No digging required - our no dig solutions mean less mess and less disruption to your home or business.
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Cost efficient and structurally sound - a full re-line will once again restore the internal integrity of the pipework without the need for complete replacement.
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10 year manufacturers warrantee on the product– With our Brawoliner materials, you can have complete peace of mind that your repair will be stronger for longer with our 10 year guarantee on materials.
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Minimum expected life span of 50 years –Our liners are expected to have an estimated life span of approximately 50 years, outlasting the expectation of many ceramic or metal based pipework!
If you’re interested in finding out more about our drain lining techniques, please give us a call on 01472 859895 and one of our technical managers will be able to talk through your requirements and advise you on the best solutions for your needs.
Talk to your local Metro Rod specialist
We are always happy to arrange a free site assessment and no obligation quotations for any work you might need. Alternatively, you can call our emergency hotline number on 0800 66 88 00
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