That’s pretty much how I see it too—patch jobs are just buying time if the pipe’s already shot. Sometimes folks get sticker shock on full replacement, but after the third or fourth leak, it adds up anyway. Curious, anyone here ever try epoxy lining on really old cast iron? I’ve seen mixed results—sometimes it just flakes right off if the metal’s too far gone. Wondering if there’s a trick to making it last or if it’s just not worth the hassle once you’re at that stage.
Curious, anyone here ever try epoxy lining on really old cast iron? I’ve seen mixed results—sometimes it just flakes right off if the metal’s too far gone.
Yeah, I’ve seen that happen too. We tried epoxy lining in my uncle’s basement—pipes were probably from the 50s. Looked good for about a year, then started peeling in spots where the rust was deep. I think if the pipe’s pitted or flaking inside, the epoxy just can’t grip. At that point, it’s like putting a band-aid on a broken leg... sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and swap ‘em out.
At that point, it’s like putting a band-aid on a broken leg... sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and swap ‘em out.
That’s pretty much my take too. Once you’ve got heavy pitting or scale, epoxy’s just not gonna bond well, no matter how good the prep is. I’ve seen folks spend a lot on lining, only to end up replacing the pipes a year or two later anyway.
I’m curious—has anyone here tried spot-repairing the worst sections and lining the rest, or is that just delaying the inevitable? Sometimes I wonder if partial replacement plus lining could buy a few more years, or if it just creates more headaches down the line. Seems like it always comes down to how much you trust what’s left of the pipe…
Sometimes I wonder if partial replacement plus lining could buy a few more years, or if it just creates more headaches down the line.
Tried that once in a duplex—patched the worst spots, lined the rest. It bought maybe two years before leaks started popping up in places we hadn’t touched. In my experience, you’re just kicking the can down the road. If there’s heavy pitting, I’d rather deal with the mess all at once than risk water damage later. Peace of mind’s worth a lot when you’ve got tenants relying on you.
I get the urge to just patch and move on—nobody wants to rip up a bunch of walls if they don’t have to. But honestly, once pipes start showing their age, it’s like playing whack-a-mole. If you’ve got visible pitting or corrosion, I’d lean toward a full swap. It’s messy, but at least you’re not waking up to a call about a surprise leak at 2am. Been there, done that, wouldn’t recommend.
