Key takeaways
- Lining avoids trenches, so landscaping and pavement stay.
- Open-cut replacement is sometimes necessary, especially for collapsed pipe.
- The restoration cost of digging is often the hidden budget item.
- The camera inspection should decide the method, not the contractor's preference.
The short answer
If your pipe is cracked, leaking or root-invaded but still in place, lining is usually the less disruptive repair. If it has collapsed, is badly bellied or needs a bigger diameter, replacement by open cut or pipe bursting is the better choice.
What digging really costs
The pipe itself is only part of a trench job. You also pay for excavation, shoring, backfill, and restoration of whatever was on top: lawn, landscaping, driveway, patio or street. Published guides often cite open-cut sewer replacement in the range of roughly $50 to $250 or more per foot before restoration, which is why a trench under a driveway can become very expensive.
What lining costs
Published residential CIPP ranges commonly run about $80 to $250 or more per foot, depending on diameter, length, access and conditions. Because there is little restoration, the total often compares well with digging, particularly under hardscape, trees or slabs.
Time and disruption
A typical home lining is completed in about a day. A trench job can take several days plus restoration. Lining also avoids the noise, mud and open holes that come with excavation.
When digging or bursting wins
Collapsed pipe, pipes with deep bellies, and lines that need an upsized diameter generally cannot be lined. Pipe bursting replaces them using two small pits. A short spot dig may also be the answer for a single bad section. Ask for the camera footage and have the contractor show you why.
Related services
Ready for a firm answer on your own pipe? Try the Pipe Problem Finder or call 800-224-9245 for a free camera inspection.