By Matthew Baring-Gould, Kingscliff-based drainage plumber. Servicing Tweed Heads for 4 years. 5.0 stars across 173 Google reviews. Licensed NSW 383340C and QLD 15036450. ABN 74 605 392 348.
Blocked sewer at a Gold Coast property. CCTV after the jet pass showed heavy tree root ingress on an earthenware line, cracked from external pressure and roots entering through the crack faces and joints. Everything above the line was concrete, so a dig-and-replace was off the table. Quoted a reline, customer accepted.
What the customer called us for
Owner called us out for a blocked sewer at their Gold Coast home.
What we found when we got there
After the jet pass and camera survey, we found large tree roots through a section of earthenware line. The pipe had cracked under external root pressure and the roots had come in through both the crack faces and the earthenware joints. We cleared the bulk of the root mass with the root ranger head, so the line was flowing again.
Why we did it this way
Roots come back. Clearing them restores flow today but the cracks and joints are still open, so new roots find them within a season or two. The two real options on a cracked earthenware line are dig-and-replace or no-dig reline. On this property the full run was under concrete, so dig-and-replace meant breaking up driveway and paths. No-dig relining installs a new resin-infused liner inside the existing pipe, seals the cracks and joints, and leaves the surface untouched. That is why the customer accepted the quote.
What we did on site
- Extended the hydrojet downstream and cleared the blockage.
- Ran the CCTV camera and mapped the extent of tree root ingress.
- Switched to the root ranger attachment and cut out the bulk of the root mass.
- Confirmed the line was flowing on completion.
- Reviewed dig-versus-reline options with the customer.
- Quoted the reline across the affected run.
- Booked the reline for a follow-up visit.
The result
Line flowing on the day. Reline quoted, accepted, and booked. No concrete breakouts required.
If you have the same issue
If your sewer blocks in the same place and the camera shows roots through earthenware, you have a choice between an annual unblock and a one-off fix. If the line is under concrete, driveway, or paths, a no-dig reline is almost always cheaper than cutting the surface and dig-replacing. Call Matty on 0447 188 394 or request a quote.
Customer names and addresses have been withheld. Individual results vary. Drain Masters Plumbing is licensed in NSW (383340C) and QLD (15036450).
Frequently asked
What is pipe relining?
A resin-infused flexible liner is inserted into the existing pipe through an access point, inflated against the inside wall, and cured in place. The result is a smooth, jointless, root-proof pipe inside the old one. No excavation, no surface damage.
Can you just keep jetting roots out every year?
You can, but each visit costs the same and the roots come straight back. On a cracked earthenware line with concrete above, a one-off reline is usually cheaper over a 5-year horizon than five jet visits.
How long does a reline last?
The resin-infused liners we install are rated for a 50-year service life. The practical answer is that once a line is relined, it should outlast the house.
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