Finally won the battle against invading tree roots

Did you have to dig up your whole yard for the lining, or was it trenchless? I’m dreading the idea of tearing up my new landscaping...

Totally get the landscaping dread - been there. The good news: lining can be trenchless. They just need a couple of access holes (usually at the ends), so your yard doesn’t turn into a war zone. Only downside is, if the pipes are super collapsed, sometimes they still gotta dig. But if it’s just roots, trenchless usually does the trick. My roses survived, but my nerves didn’t!

- Totally get the landscaping stress - been there, too.
- Trenchless saved my wallet and my sanity. They only dug two small holes, barely touched my lawn.
- If your pipes aren’t totally shot, you’ll probably be fine.
- I was worried about sprinkler lines, but they worked around them.
- It’s not cheap, but way less mess than a full dig.
- Hang in there...it’s not as bad as it sounds.

- Trenchless is a lifesaver, but man, I’ve seen some wild stuff when roots get really ambitious. Had a job last month where the roots basically turned the main line into a spaghetti strainer. If you catch it before it gets to that point, trenchless is usually golden.
- Landscaping stress is real. I once watched a guy nearly cry over his prize azaleas. The crew tiptoed around them like they were landmines.
- Sprinkler lines are always the wild card. Sometimes they’re mapped, sometimes they’re just... somewhere. I’ve seen more than one “oops” moment, but a good crew will patch things up quick.
- Price-wise, yeah, it stings, but not as much as re-sodding your whole yard after a full dig. Plus, you don’t have to explain to your neighbors why your lawn looks like a WWI battlefield.
- Only thing I’d add - if your pipes are ancient clay or Orangeburg, sometimes trenchless isn’t an option. Had a lady swear her pipes were “just fine” until we found out they were basically paper mache.
- Hang in there. Once those roots are out of the picture, you’ll sleep better. And hey, maybe your grass will forgive you by next spring... or at least stop giving you the side-eye.

I get the appeal of trenchless, but sometimes folks underestimate how invasive roots can actually be. In some cases, even if you catch it early, those roots have already compromised the pipe’s structure. I’ve seen “quick fixes” end up costing more down the line when a full replacement would’ve solved it for good. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and dig, especially with those old Orangeburg lines... patch jobs don’t hold forever.

I hear you on Orangeburg - those things are basically paper mâché at this point. But have you ever tried the cured-in-place liners? I was skeptical, but one of my rentals had a root nightmare and the liner’s held up for six years now. Wondering if it’s just luck or if the tech’s actually improved...

Cured-in-place liners have come a long way compared to what they were 10-15 years ago. Early on, there were a lot of failures - bad installs, resin issues, you name it. But the materials and methods have definitely improved. If your liner's lasted six years without trouble, that's not just luck in my experience. Most reputable suppliers now offer warranties for at least ten years, sometimes more.

One thing to watch out for: if the pipe's already collapsed or severely misshapen, CIPP isn't a magic fix. It needs some structure to bond to. And roots can still be an issue if they're not properly cut out before lining - I've seen liners get punctured by aggressive roots when the prep wasn't done right.

But for Orangeburg replacement? It's honestly one of the better options if you can't or don't want to dig everything up. Just make sure whoever does it actually knows what they're doing... that's where most problems start.

Had a liner put in after roots wrecked my rental’s old clay pipe. Installer did a solid job with the prep - snaked and hydro-jetted everything first. Six years later, still no issues. I do wonder if it’s just luck, or if the new resins are that much better now.

I do wonder if it’s just luck, or if the new resins are that much better now.

Honestly, a bit of both. The newer resins are way tougher than what we had even a decade ago - think superhero suit for your pipes. But prep work is still king. Hydro-jetting and snaking before lining? That’s like flossing before you brush - makes everything stick better.

Seen liners last 10+ years easy when installed right, but I’ve also had to dig up “miracle” liners that failed in half that time because someone rushed the cleaning. Roots are stubborn little jerks, but if they can’t get a grip, they usually move on to torment your neighbor instead.

Six years without issues is a good sign you’re not just lucky… unless you’ve got a four-leaf clover growing over your cleanout cap.

Yeah, six years is nothing to sneeze at. I’ve seen liners start failing around year three when the prep was half-baked, so you’re definitely ahead of the curve. I think you nailed it with the combo of better resin tech and solid prep - one without the other just doesn’t cut it.

I remember a job a few years back where we had to go in after someone skipped the jetting step. Looked fine at first, but roots found the tiniest gap and just went wild. Had to basically redo the whole thing. Since then, I’m borderline obsessive about cleaning before lining.

If your pipes are still clear after all this time, you’re doing something right. Maybe a little luck, but mostly good work and the right materials. Those roots are persistent, but they’re not magic.

Couldn’t agree more about the prep - skipping jetting is just asking for trouble. I’ve seen folks try to save time and then end up with a root jungle a year later. Honestly, I think people underestimate how sneaky those roots can be. Six years clear is pretty impressive. Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket... or just enjoy some root-free plumbing for a while.

I get where you’re coming from about jetting, but I’ve actually seen it do more harm than good in some cases. If the line’s already got cracks or weak spots, high-pressure jetting can make things worse - blow out joints or push debris deeper. Sometimes a good old-fashioned mechanical auger is safer, especially with older clay pipes. Not saying jetting doesn’t work, just that it’s not always the magic fix folks think it is. Root barriers outside can help too, though they’re not foolproof. Six years clear is solid, but I’d still keep an eye on things... roots have a way of sneaking back when you least expect it.

That’s a good point about jetting - sometimes the “latest and greatest” methods aren’t always the safest, especially with older pipes. I’ve seen neighbors deal with major headaches after aggressive cleaning made things worse. Six years clear is honestly impressive. Root barriers can help, but yeah, nothing’s totally foolproof. I like to do a quick visual check around the yard every spring just in case... roots really are sneaky. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things to keep problems at bay.

Jetting’s definitely not my first choice with old clay or cast pipes - seen too many blowouts and cracked joints after someone got a little overzealous. Had a job last fall where a homeowner tried to “blast the roots out” and ended up with half their yard dug up for repairs. Like you said, nothing’s totally foolproof, but keeping eyes on trouble spots and not going overboard with the latest gadgets goes a long way. Roots always find a way if you let your guard down…

Totally hear you on the jetting - seen too many folks treat it like a magic wand and end up with a plumbing horror show. For old pipes, I usually stick to the “gentle persuasion” method: hand auger first, then maybe a foaming root killer as backup. It’s not flashy, but it beats digging up half the lawn. Also, I swear those roots have a sixth sense... they know exactly where the weakest joint is hiding. Just gotta keep an eye out and not get trigger-happy with the gadgets.

Those roots are sneaky, aren’t they? I’ve lost count of how many times I thought I’d cleared a line, only for the same spot to clog up again a few months later. I get the appeal of jetting, but I’ve seen it do more harm than good, especially in those old clay pipes. Sometimes I wonder if the roots are just waiting for us to get cocky with the power tools. Hand auger and root killer might not be glamorous, but hey, if it saves the pipes (and my back), I’m all for it.

Funny you mention the hand auger - I've had better luck with that than any fancy equipment. Jetting just made a mess of my old terracotta lines, too. Root killer’s not pretty, but it’s kept things flowing for me... at least for now. Those roots really do seem to have a sixth sense for weak spots, don’t they?

Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with roots - like they’re drawn to the tiniest crack. I tried jetting once and all it did was stir up more trouble, ended up with a muddy mess in the basement. Hand auger’s slow, but at least I know what’s going on down there. Root killer buys time, but those trees don’t give up easy.

Hand auger’s slow, but at least I know what’s going on down there.

I get that - being able to see and feel what you’re dealing with is reassuring. I tried root killer too, but it felt like a temporary fix. Ended up mapping out where the worst roots were and replaced a section of pipe with PVC. Not cheap, but it’s been quiet since. If you’re still getting backups, maybe a camera inspection would help pinpoint the trouble spots? It’s not fun, but it beats guessing.

Camera inspection is a game changer, honestly. I was super skeptical at first - thought it’d just be another bill - but seeing the actual roots on the screen made it way easier to figure out what needed fixing. If you’re on the fence, I’d say it’s worth it, especially before dropping cash on new pipes. Mapping out the trouble spots helped me avoid tearing up the whole yard, too. Root killer felt like putting a band-aid on a broken leg... worked for a bit, but the backups always came back. PVC swap has been solid so far, fingers crossed.

Man, I feel you on the root killer being a temporary fix. Tried that route myself and it was like playing whack-a-mole with my plumbing - roots kept coming back for more. Camera inspection really does take the guesswork out. PVC swap is the way to go, in my book. Here’s hoping your pipes stay root-free... and your yard doesn’t look like a bad excavation site anymore.