I've seen quite a few lined pipes hold up surprisingly well over the years, so you might be onto something there. Most reputable lining companies give around a 20-30 year estimate, but honestly, I've run into some that have lasted even longer without issues. Of course, it depends on installation quality and the specific conditions underground—like soil type, root density, stuff like that.
PVC replacements are solid for sure, but if your landscaping's important to you or you've got concrete slabs in the way, lining can save you a ton of headaches. Had a client once who went with lining about eight years ago; last I checked in with him (maybe six months back?), he hadn't had any backups or root intrusions yet. Not saying it's bulletproof—nothing really is—but from what I've seen firsthand, properly installed liners usually hold up better than people expect.
If you're leaning towards lining at all, just make sure you vet the installer thoroughly. Good prep work and proper curing make all the difference between a liner lasting decades versus only a handful of years.
Good points all around. A few quick things I'd add from my experience:
- Definitely agree that liner quality and installation prep are huge factors. I've seen liners fail prematurely, but almost always because someone rushed the curing process or didn't clean the pipe thoroughly beforehand.
- PVC is great if you can swing it, but yeah... tearing up landscaping or concrete slabs can be a nightmare. Had a homeowner last year who regretted going full replacement after seeing the mess left behind.
- If your basement drain keeps backing up, make sure you're addressing root intrusion or blockages upstream first. Even the best liner won't help much if there's an unresolved issue further up the line.
- Might also want to check out camera inspections before committing either way—could save you from guessing what's really going on down there.
Either way, sounds like you're thinking this through carefully, which is half the battle already. Good luck with it!
Good advice here, especially about the camera inspection. Had a similar issue last spring—basement drain kept backing up after heavy rains. Thought it was just roots at first, but turned out there was also a cracked pipe section further down the line. Ended up going with a liner after weighing the environmental impact and cost of tearing everything up. Been smooth sailing since, but yeah... prep and proper curing were key. Definitely worth taking your time to get it right.
Liners can be great, but honestly, they're not always the best long-term fix, especially if soil shifts around your property. Had a rental where we did a liner, worked fine for 2 years... then cracks reappeared. Ended up biting the bullet and replacing that section completely.
"Had a rental where we did a liner, worked fine for 2 years... then cracks reappeared."
That's interesting because I was actually considering a liner for our basement drain issue. We just moved into our first house about six months ago, and last weekend noticed water pooling around the basement drain after heavy rain. Now you've got me wondering if liners are more of a temporary fix... Is there any reliable way to check if soil shifting might be an issue before committing to a solution?
