Trenchless sewer repair
Trenchless methods replace or reline a sewer lateral along its existing path, using small access pits at each end instead of a trench the length of your property. Where it works, it saves the driveway, the patio and the mature planting — which on a Vancouver lot is often a larger cost than the pipe.
It doesn't work everywhere, and we'd rather tell you that up front than sell it and discover the problem halfway through.
The two methods
Pipe bursting. A bursting head is pulled through the old pipe, fracturing it outward while simultaneously pulling new HDPE pipe in behind. You end up with an entirely new pipe, usually the same diameter or larger. This is the more thorough option.
Cured-in-place lining (CIPP). A resin-saturated liner is inserted into the existing pipe and cured in place, forming a new jointless pipe within the old one. It slightly reduces the internal diameter but eliminates the joints — which is where roots get in.
When trenchless works
The existing line still follows a continuous path · No complete collapse blocking the route · Access pits can be placed at both ends · No severe offsets or extreme bellies · Pipe diameter and material are suitable
When it doesn't
Fully collapsed sections with no path to follow · Severe bellies, because trenchless replaces along the existing grade and reproduces the sag · Major offsets · Where the line needs rerouting entirely · Where access pits can't be placed
The belly point matters and is often glossed over: if your pipe sags and holds water, trenchless gives you a brand-new pipe with the same sag. It'll block again. Only excavation and re-grading fixes that, and we'll say so.
What it costs
Trenchless $8,000–$20,000 depending on length, depth and access. Often comparable to open-trench on the pipe itself — the saving is in what you *don't* have to restore afterward.
