Honestly, I get why folks go for lining, but I’m not totally sold on it as the only answer. It’s a solid fix, sure, but it’s pricey and not always necessary right away. At my uncle’s place, we tried regular root cutting and flushing with copper sulfate every few months. Not glamorous, but it kept things flowing for years before he finally needed to line the pipes.
Barriers didn’t do much for us either—roots just seem to laugh at those things. But sometimes, if you catch the problem early and keep up with maintenance, you can stretch out the life of your pipes without dropping a ton of cash all at once. Lining is great if you’re at your wit’s end, but I wouldn’t call it a must for everyone dealing with roots. Just my two cents... sometimes the old-school methods still have some life left in them.
Yeah, I hear you—lining isn’t always the first thing I’d jump to either. If you’re catching roots early, regular cutting and copper sulfate can buy a lot of time. One thing I’d add: make sure you’re using a proper root saw, not just a standard snake. I’ve seen folks burn out their motors trying to chew through big roots with the wrong gear. Also, if you’re flushing with copper sulfate, don’t overdo it—too much can mess with your septic or local water. Maintenance buys time, but once you start seeing backups every month or two, lining starts looking a lot more attractive... even if your wallet disagrees.