Drain Lining
What Is Drain Lining and How Does It Work?
How Does Drain Lining Work?
The process is straightforward but requires expert precision and equipment. Here’s how we carry out drain lining in and across the UK:
- CCTV Drain Survey: We first carry out a detailed CCTV drain inspection to identify the damage and confirm that the pipe is suitable for relining.
- Cleaning the Pipe: Using high-pressure water jetting, we remove any debris, roots, or blockages inside the pipe.
- Liner Preparation: We soak a felt or fibreglass liner in a two-part epoxy resin and load it into an inversion drum.
- Inversion Process: The liner is then inverted (turned inside-out) into the pipe using air or water pressure.
- Curing: We use hot water, steam, or UV light to cure the resin, forming a solid, smooth new pipe inside the old one.
- Final Inspection: Another CCTV survey confirms the lining is fully cured, sealed, and structurally sound.
This process avoids digging up your property and is ideal for both residential and commercial drainage systems.
Where Can Drain Lining Be Used?
Drain lining can be applied to most underground or above-ground pipework with access points. It’s commonly used in:
- Domestic drains under homes, driveways, and gardens
- Commercial properties like restaurants and office parks
- Industrial sites with heavy use drainage
- Heritage buildings where excavation is not permitted
- Shared or private sewer laterals
Benefits of Using Drain Lining
- No-Dig Technology: No need for excavation – keeps gardens, driveways, and floors intact
- Cost-Effective: Less labour and faster turnaround than traditional repairs
- Durable and Long-Lasting: Resin linings can last over 50 years
- Quick Installation: Most systems are lined and cured within a single day
- Environmentally Friendly: Minimal disruption to soil and landscape
At Alton Facility Services, we’re proud to offer professional drain lining in and across the UK using the latest trenchless repair technology. Whether your system is leaking, cracked, or root-damaged — we’ll get it back to full flow fast, cleanly, and with guaranteed results.
Benefits of Drain Lining vs. Traditional Drain Repairs
When faced with a damaged drainage pipe, property owners in often ask: “Should I dig it up or reline it?” The answer is increasingly leaning toward drain lining — a fast, clean, and long-lasting alternative to traditional excavation. Below, we break down the key benefits of choosing drain lining over traditional drain repair methods.
What Is Traditional Drain Repair?
Traditional repair involves excavating the ground to access and replace the damaged pipe. While it’s sometimes necessary — especially if the pipe has collapsed entirely — it’s invasive, time-consuming, and costly.
Why Choose Drain Lining Instead?
Drain lining (also called CIPP or “no-dig” repair) offers a smarter solution. Here’s why more and more property owners across the South are choosing it:
✔ Minimal Disruption
Forget digging up your garden, patio, driveway, or business premises. Drain lining is installed internally via existing access points, keeping surfaces untouched.
✔ Faster Turnaround
Traditional excavation can take days. With drain lining, most jobs are completed within one day — including preparation, lining, curing, and inspection.
✔ Lower Costs
No diggers, no landscaping repairs, and less labour means lower overall costs. We pass those savings directly on to our customers in .
✔ Long-Lasting Results
Modern resin linings form a seamless new pipe inside the old one, resisting corrosion, root ingress, and fractures for up to 50 years.
✔ Environmentally Friendly
Excavation disrupts the soil, tree roots, and ecosystem. CIPP lining is eco-conscious and far less damaging to your landscape.
When Is Drain Lining Better?
Drain lining is suitable for most non-collapsed pipes, including those with:
- Cracks and fractures
- Joint displacement
- Root ingress
- Leaks and infiltration
- Minor deformities
It’s perfect for domestic properties, commercial sites, and public infrastructure — especially where digging is not desirable or possible.
When to Use Traditional Drain Repair
There are still cases where traditional excavation is required:
- Fully collapsed or misaligned pipes
- No access for inversion equipment
- Heavy obstruction or severe siltation
- Pipe diameter exceeds standard relining limits
We’ll always assess your system first with a CCTV drain survey and recommend the most effective solution.
Alton Facility Services: Drain Lining Experts in
Our fully trained engineers provide professional drain lining services across and the UK. We use advanced resin technology, inversion drums, steam curing, and robotic cutters to deliver industry-leading results — without the mess and stress of digging.
Step-by-Step: Our Drain Lining Process in and the UK
Wondering how drain lining actually works? At Alton Facility Services, we follow a precise, no-dig process to restore your drainage system quickly and cleanly. Here’s a full breakdown of how we carry out trenchless drain lining in and across the UK.
1. Initial Assessment and Free Quote
It all starts with a site visit. Our drainage engineers will inspect your property, discuss the issue, and explain how the drain lining process works. You’ll receive a free, no-obligation quote based on the scope and pipe access.
2. CCTV Drain Survey
Next, we carry out a high-resolution CCTV drain survey to locate the damage, assess pipe condition, and ensure that lining is suitable. We’ll check for cracks, displacement, root ingress, and collapse risk.
3. Drain Cleaning and Preparation
We jet clean the affected pipe using high-pressure water to remove any debris, silt, roots or scale. This ensures a smooth internal surface for optimal liner bonding. If necessary, we use mechanical cutters for stubborn roots or deposits.
4. Measuring and Liner Customisation
We then measure the pipe’s length and diameter precisely. A felt liner is impregnated with epoxy resin or silicate and cut to size. This forms the “new pipe” that will bond to the old one internally.
5. Inversion or Winch Installation
The resin-soaked liner is inserted into the pipe using either air inversion (for long distances) or winch pull-in-place (for shorter sections or localised repairs). It’s then inflated inside the pipe to press firmly against the host pipe wall.
6. Curing the Liner
To harden the resin and lock the liner into place, we use ambient, hot water or steam curing depending on the situation. This typically takes 2–4 hours, after which the liner becomes a solid structural pipe within your old one.
7. Robotic Cutting of Junctions
If your pipe has side connections (e.g. lateral branches), we use a remote-controlled cutter to reopen the access. This step ensures full drainage flow and system functionality is restored after lining.
8. Final CCTV Survey and Handover
Once cured and cut, we perform a final CCTV inspection to confirm the success of the relining. You’ll receive a detailed report and before/after footage for peace of mind and compliance purposes.
Why Our Process Works
- Fast turnaround: Most lining jobs are completed in a single day
- No digging: All work done through access points
- Minimal disruption: Perfect for homes, offices, and sensitive areas
- 25-50 year lifespan: Durable, watertight and structurally sound
- Fully compliant: Meets UK Building Regs and WRC standards
Need Drain Lining in ?
If you're experiencing drainage issues or suspect damaged pipes, don’t wait for a collapse. Let Alton Facility Services handle your repair with precision and care. We’re your local experts in no-dig drain relining.
Emergency Drain Lining Services in and the UK
If your drainage system has collapsed, cracked, or is leaking — don’t wait. At Alton Facility Services, we provide emergency drain lining solutions across and the UK to restore flow fast, prevent further damage, and avoid expensive excavation work.
⏱️ 24/7 Rapid Response
Our team is available 24/7 for emergency callouts. Whether your drain has suddenly collapsed or you're experiencing a sewage backup, our experts will assess the problem quickly and recommend a trenchless lining repair if appropriate.
⚠️ When to Call for Emergency Drain Lining
- Persistent water backing up through toilets or sinks
- Unpleasant odours from drains inside or outside the property
- Visible water pooling or flooding in your garden or driveway
- Sudden sinkholes, dips or subsidence in hardstanding areas
- Structural damage caused by broken underground pipework
If you’re seeing any of these signs in , contact us immediately for expert help.
🛠️ Fast, Non-Invasive Repairs
Unlike traditional excavation, trenchless drain lining allows us to repair the pipe from the inside. We insert a resin-saturated liner and cure it in place, sealing cracks, holes, and joint failures in a matter of hours.
This method is ideal for emergency situations as it’s quick, clean, and minimally disruptive. No need to dig up your driveway, garden, or commercial flooring — we fix the problem underground with minimal surface impact.
✅ Suitable for Residential and Commercial Emergencies
We handle emergency drain lining for all types of properties, including:
- Homes and rental properties
- Shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés
- Schools, universities and colleges
- Offices and industrial buildings
- Care homes and medical centres
- Local authority sites and public buildings
Wherever you’re based in , we’ll send the nearest available engineer to get your drainage system back in full working order — quickly and safely.
🚨 Don’t Delay – Speak to Our Emergency Team
If your system is showing signs of failure or collapse, early action can save you thousands in repairs. Let us inspect the issue and advise whether drain repairs or relining is the best option for your situation.
Drain Lining FAQs for and the UK
❓ What is drain lining?
Drain lining is a no-dig pipe repair technique where a resin-soaked liner is inserted into the existing pipework and cured in place. This creates a new pipe inside the old one, sealing cracks, holes, and joint defects without the need for excavation.
❓ Is drain lining suitable for all types of pipes?
Most domestic and commercial pipes can be lined, including clay, plastic, cast iron, and pitch fibre. We assess your system using a CCTV drain survey before confirming if relining is the best solution for your pipe condition.
❓ How long does drain lining last?
A properly installed liner can last 50 years or more. We use high-performance resin liners that are UV or hot water cured to provide a watertight and durable solution that meets WRc standards.
❓ Is trenchless drain lining cheaper than traditional repairs?
Yes. Since there’s no need for excavation, it’s quicker, cleaner, and more cost-effective. You also save on reinstatement costs — no need to dig up driveways, gardens or floors. It’s a smarter long-term fix for most drainage problems.
❓ Will I need planning permission for drain lining?
No. Since it’s a non-invasive repair carried out on existing drainage infrastructure, drain lining doesn’t require planning permission. It’s a fully compliant repair method under UK building regulations.
❓ How long does a drain lining job take?
Most residential drain lining jobs take just one day. Larger commercial or multi-section systems may take longer depending on length, diameter, and access. We’ll give you a clear time estimate after your initial inspection.
❓ What areas do you cover for drain lining?
We provide drain lining in and across the UK. From our base near Alton, we cover Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex and beyond.
❓ Do you offer warranties or guarantees?
Yes — all drain lining work is backed by our installation guarantee for complete peace of mind. We also provide full CCTV post-lining footage to confirm the success of every job.
❓ How do I get started?
Simple. Call us on 01420 561661 or contact us online. We’ll arrange a survey and explain your options, whether it’s lining, patch repairs, or full drain repair.
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