Couldn’t agree more about skipping liners unless you’re absolutely stuck. I’ve seen way too many “quick fixes” with liners fail after a couple years, especially if the original pipe was in rough shape to begin with. PVC is just more reliable long-term, even if it’s a pain to dig up the yard. Curious—did you use glued or gasketed joints? I’ve seen some folks swear by one over the other, but I’m not convinced there’s a huge difference unless you’re dealing with a lot of ground movement.
I’ve wondered about the glued vs. gasketed thing too, especially since I’m always looking for ways to save a few bucks without cutting corners. When I replaced a section of my old clay pipe last year, I went with glued joints just because that’s what the hardware store had in stock, and it seemed straightforward enough. But I did worry about whether it’d hold up if the ground shifted or settled a bit—my soil’s pretty sandy, so who knows.
Did you notice any price difference between the two types? I’ve heard gasketed can be a bit more forgiving if you need to adjust things during install, but maybe that’s just marketing. Also, did you do any extra prep to keep roots from coming back, like root barriers or special backfill? I’m always paranoid about those things sneaking back in after all the work’s done...
Did you notice any price difference between the two types? I’ve heard gasketed can be a bit more forgiving if you need to adjust things during install, but maybe that’s just marketing.
Honestly, gasketed was a bit pricier at my local place, but not by much—maybe a buck or two per joint. Worth it for me since I’m not the world’s most precise DIYer and needed to wiggle things around. For roots, I went heavy on gravel backfill and wrapped the pipe in that cheap landscape fabric. Not perfect, but so far, no root drama. Root barriers seemed like overkill for my setup, but I get the paranoia... those suckers always find a way.
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. I went with the cheaper non-gasketed stuff because, honestly, every dollar counts for me. It was a bit more fiddly to line up, but with some patience (and a few muttered words), it worked out. I did the same landscape fabric trick—figured it couldn’t hurt, right? Roots are relentless, but so far, things are holding up. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough... at least until the next project pops up.
I get the temptation to save a few bucks—believe me, I’ve pinched more pennies than I care to admit. But those non-gasketed joints can be a gamble, especially if you’ve got tenants who treat the yard like a jungle gym. Last time I went cheap, a root found its way in after two years and turned my basement into a wading pool. Sometimes that extra upfront cost saves a lot of cursing down the line... but hey, if it’s holding up, more power to you. Just keep an eye out when the next rainy season rolls around.
