Cracked, corroded, or root-intruded pipe that's still structurally round and intact — usually a CIPP lining candidate.
Cipp Vs Traditional Pipe Replacement
CIPP Pipe Lining vs. Traditional Pipe Replacement
A side-by-side look at cost, disruption, and warranty coverage to help you choose the right repair method for your pipe.
- Free camera inspection with any drain line cleaning
- Free estimate on every job
- Licensed in GA & SC
GA Plumbing License MP209430Kevin J. Coleman holds a Georgia Master Plumber (Non-Restricted) license. The number is published so you can verify it.15 Years Trenchless-SpecificTrenchless-specific service in the Augusta area since 2011.120+ Trenchless JobsTrenchless repairs completed across the CSRA, residential and commercial.
The Process
Two Ways to Fix a Failing Sewer Line
When a sewer or water line fails, there are two fundamentally different ways to fix it: cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining, a trenchless method installed through existing access points, or traditional excavation, which digs up and replaces the pipe outright. Neither method is automatically the right answer — the best choice depends on the pipe's condition, where it runs, and what you're trying to protect on the surface above it. This guide breaks down how each method works, what it typically costs, and how to think through the decision before you get a quote.
Credentials
How CIPP Pipe Lining Works
CIPP pipe lining works by inserting a resin-saturated felt tube into the existing damaged pipe, usually through a cleanout or small access point, and curing it in place until it hardens into a new pipe-within-a-pipe. Because the liner follows the existing route, there's typically no need to dig a trench across your yard, driveway, or foundation to reach the pipe. TDS Trenchless installs CIPP liners as a MaxLiner Certified Installer (Kevin Coleman holds the MaxLiner USA CIPP Installation Certification).
Traditional excavation repair takes the opposite approach: the damaged section of pipe is exposed by digging a trench, the old pipe is cut out and removed, a new length of pipe is installed, and the trench is backfilled. It's a proven method that's been used for decades, and in some cases — a pipe that's collapsed, crushed, or badly misaligned — it's still the only method that actually solves the problem. The tradeoff is that excavation disturbs whatever is on the surface above the pipe: lawn, landscaping, a driveway, or a walkway.
Signs to Watch
How the Pricing Compares
Every project is different, and the only way to know your actual number is a free, no-obligation estimate — a formal quote is required before any work begins. As a starting point, here's how the confirmed pricing for each method compares. Note that the excavation figures below are the per-foot repair cost; they don't include restoring landscaping, hardscaping, or paving that the dig disturbs, so it's worth asking about that scope specifically when you get your estimate.
What's Covered
How the Warranties Compare
Warranty length is one of the clearest signals of how much confidence a contractor has in a repair method, and it's worth comparing directly. TDS Trenchless backs CIPP pipe repairs with a 10-year workmanship warranty, epoxy pipe coating with a 10-year workmanship warranty, and traditional excavation repairs with a 1-year workmanship warranty. Beyond the workmanship warranty period, the expected service life of the pipe material itself — how many years a cured liner or a new section of replacement pipe should physically last — depends on the liner material, the replacement pipe, and site conditions. Ask for the manufacturer-rated figures directly when you get your estimate.
The Detail
Which Method Fits Your Pipe
Collapsed, crushed, badly offset, or severely bellied pipe
Typically needs traditional excavation, since a liner can't correct a pipe that's lost its shape.
Pipe running under a driveway, mature trees, or landscaping you want to keep intact — CIPP avoids the dig entirely.
Pipe near the surface with easy trench access and little at stake above it — excavation can be a straightforward, lower-per-foot option.
Older clay or cast-iron pipe common in Augusta's established neighborhoods — a sewer camera inspection first will show which condition you're actually dealing with before either method is quoted.
Straight Answers
Why Augusta's Older Lines Often Suit Lining
A lot of the housing stock in and around Augusta, GA predates modern PVC plumbing, which means clay and cast-iron sewer lines that are more prone to root intrusion, corrosion, and joint separation over time. TDS Trenchless, a division of The Drain Surgeon Inc., has served the Augusta area since 2005 and has offered trenchless-specific service since 2011 — 15 years focused specifically on CIPP lining and related no-dig repair methods, with 120+ trenchless jobs completed. That experience is what informs an honest recommendation: some pipes are genuinely better candidates for lining, and some genuinely need to come out of the ground. A camera inspection is the fastest way to find out which situation you're in.
Pricing
Free Estimates, Camera Inspections, and Financing
Every service, including both CIPP lining and excavation repair, starts with a free estimate, and a formal quote is required before work begins — so there's no obligation to find out which method applies to your pipe. If a camera inspection is needed to assess the pipe's condition, it's bundled free with any drain line cleaning (starting at $250 standalone otherwise). For larger repairs, TDS Trenchless offers financing through Regions Bank: 12-month same-as-cash with no monthly payments and no interest for qualified customers, on either CIPP lining or excavation work. See financing options for details.
Go Deeper
Get a Free Estimate
Start with a camera inspection — free with any drain line cleaning — so the quote you get is based on what is actually in your pipe.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CIPP pipe lining cheaper than traditional pipe replacement?
It depends on the pipe. CIPP pipe lining runs $75–$200/ft for 4-inch pipe and $100–$300/ft for 6-inch pipe, while excavation repair starts at $60/ft for a sewer line and starting at $15/ft for a water line. On a straight per-foot basis, excavation is often the lower number — but that figure doesn't include restoring any landscaping, driveway, or paving the trench disturbs, which CIPP largely avoids. A free estimate is the only way to compare true total cost for your specific pipe.
How long does a CIPP pipe liner last?
TDS Trenchless backs CIPP pipe repairs with a 10-year workmanship warranty. The manufacturer-rated service life of the liner material itself beyond that warranty period depends on the specific liner used — ask for this figure directly when you request your estimate.
Will I need a permit for CIPP lining or excavation repair?
Permit requirements depend on the scope of work and local jurisdiction. When a permit is required, the fee is $150 per permit pulled. Your estimate will specify whether your project needs one.
How disruptive is each method to my yard or driveway?
CIPP pipe lining is installed through existing access points, so digging is typically limited to a small area rather than a full trench. Traditional excavation requires digging up the ground above the pipe's full run, which can mean removing and later restoring lawn, landscaping, or paving.
Can I finance CIPP pipe lining or excavation repair?
Yes. TDS Trenchless offers financing through Regions Bank — 12-month same-as-cash with no monthly payments and no interest for qualified customers — available for either CIPP pipe lining or traditional excavation repair.
Ready When You Are
Not sure which method is right for your pipe? Get a free estimate from TDS Trenchless — call (706) 535-5757 or schedule online, and we'll help you compare CIPP lining and excavation for your specific situation.
Every job starts with a free estimate. Licensed in Georgia and South Carolina.
- Free estimate on every job
- Licensed in GA & SC
- 10-year workmanship warranty on CIPP