How Does Cipp Pipe Lining Work

How Does CIPP Pipe Lining Work?

A step-by-step look at how trenchless pipe lining repairs a damaged sewer line without digging up your yard.

Free camera inspection with any drain line cleaning
Free estimate on every job
Licensed in GA & SC

MaxLiner Certified InstallerCertified on the MaxLiner CIPP system used for our trenchless pipe lining.Insured & BondedGeneral liability and workers’ compensation in force, with license and permit bonds on file in Richmond and Columbia County.120+ Trenchless JobsTrenchless repairs completed across the CSRA, residential and commercial.

The Process

What to Know Before You Agree to CIPP Lining

If a plumber has told you that you need "CIPP pipe lining" for a damaged sewer line, it's fair to want to know what that actually involves before you agree to it. CIPP stands for cured-in-place pipe — a trenchless repair method that rebuilds a damaged pipe from the inside instead of digging it up. Here's how the process works, what it costs, and how to tell whether it's the right fix for your pipe.

The Basics

What Is CIPP (Cured-in-Place Pipe) Lining?

CIPP lining creates a new pipe inside your old one. A flexible liner made of felt or fiberglass material is saturated with resin, inserted into the damaged pipe through an existing access point, then expanded against the pipe walls and cured until it hardens into a smooth, jointless replacement. Because the new liner takes the shape of your existing pipe, most CIPP jobs don't require trenching across your yard, driveway, or foundation the way traditional excavation repair does.

The Detail

The CIPP Process, Step by Step

01Camera inspectionA sewer camera is run through the line to locate cracks, root intrusion, offset joints, or corrosion, and to confirm the pipe has enough structural integrity to be lined rather than excavated.
02Cleaning and prepThe pipe interior is cleaned — typically with hydro jetting or pipe descaling — to remove scale, roots, and debris so the liner can bond properly against the pipe wall.
03Liner saturation and insertionA liner is measured to the exact length and diameter of the damaged section, saturated with resin, and inserted through the access point (usually a cleanout, so no trenching is needed).
04Inflation and cureThe liner is inflated against the interior pipe wall and left to cure until it hardens into a rigid, jointless replacement pipe.
05Final camera inspectionA second camera pass confirms the liner has cured correctly and flow is fully restored before the job is signed off.

In Practice

What Pipe Materials and Sizes Can Be Lined?

TDS Trenchless installs CIPP liners in 4-inch and 6-inch pipe — the sizes most common in residential sewer laterals and many light commercial lines. CIPP can generally be used on clay, cast iron, and PVC host pipes as long as the existing pipe hasn't fully collapsed or shifted out of alignment. That's why a camera inspection always comes first: it tells us whether your pipe is a lining candidate or whether a section needs to be excavated instead.

Pricing

How Much Does CIPP Pipe Lining Cost?

Every CIPP job starts with a free estimate, and a firm quote is provided before any work begins — the exact price within these ranges depends on pipe length, access difficulty, and how much cleaning the pipe needs before the liner goes in. If a permit is required for your job, that runs $150 per permit. Work scheduled outside standard hours carries a $125 flat surcharge. TDS Trenchless also offers financing through Regions Bank: 12 months same-as-cash with no monthly payments and no interest.

Pipe Size	Price Range	Unit
4-inch pipe	$75 – $200	per linear foot
6-inch pipe	$100 – $300	per linear foot

4-inch pipe

Price Range: $75 – $200
Unit: per linear foot

6-inch pipe

Price Range: $100 – $300
Unit: per linear foot

Worth Knowing

How Long Does a CIPP Liner Last?

TDS Trenchless backs every CIPP pipe repair with a 10-year workmanship warranty — matched by the 10 years on epoxy pipe coating, and well ahead of the 1 year on traditional excavation repairs. How long the liner itself lasts beyond that depends on the liner material and installation conditions. Ask your technician about the manufacturer specifications for the specific liner material used on your job.

Side by Side

CIPP Lining vs. Traditional Excavation

Not every damaged pipe is a good candidate for lining. Here's a general comparison to help you understand which approach fits your situation:

A camera inspection is the deciding factor for either method — it's the only reliable way to know which repair your pipe actually needs.

For a fuller side-by-side breakdown, see our guide on Trenchless Sewer Repair vs. Excavation: Which Is Right for You?

CIPP Lining	Traditional Excavation
CIPP lining works from the inside of an existing pipe and typically avoids trenching.	Excavation repair digs down to replace a section of pipe directly.
CIPP is best suited to pipes with cracks, root intrusion, or corrosion where the original pipe still holds its shape.	A fully collapsed or badly offset pipe usually needs excavation.
CIPP lining is priced by the linear foot ($75–$200 for 4-inch, $100–$300 for 6-inch).	Excavation repair is priced separately starting at $60/ft for sewer line and starting at $15/ft for water line.
CIPP carries a 10-year workmanship warranty.	Excavation repairs carry a 1-year workmanship warranty.

CIPP lining works from the inside of an existing pipe and typically avoids trenching.

Traditional Excavation: Excavation repair digs down to replace a section of pipe directly.

CIPP is best suited to pipes with cracks, root intrusion, or corrosion where the original pipe still holds its shape.

Traditional Excavation: A fully collapsed or badly offset pipe usually needs excavation.

CIPP lining is priced by the linear foot ($75–$200 for 4-inch, $100–$300 for 6-inch).

Traditional Excavation: Excavation repair is priced separately starting at $60/ft for sewer line and starting at $15/ft for water line.

CIPP carries a 10-year workmanship warranty.

Traditional Excavation: Excavation repairs carry a 1-year workmanship warranty.

The Story

Who Performs the Work

CIPP installations at TDS Trenchless are led by Kevin Coleman, a MaxLiner Certified Installer and Georgia Master Plumber (Cert. #MP209430), backed by a 6-person field crew and more than 120 completed trenchless jobs. The company is insured for general liability and workers' compensation, carries commercial auto coverage, and is bonded through Auto-Owners Insurance Company for work performed in the City of Augusta / Richmond County.

The Specifics

Is CIPP Lining Right for Your Pipe?

The only way to know for certain is a camera inspection — which is free when bundled with any drain line cleaning, or starting at $250 standalone. From there, you'll get a straightforward answer: line it, coat it, descale it, or excavate it, along with a firm price before any work starts. TDS Trenchless provides free estimates on every service and serves Augusta GA, North Augusta SC, Evans GA, Martinez GA, Grovetown GA, and Aiken SC within a 60-mile radius of our Augusta base for trenchless work.

Go Deeper

Wondering If CIPP Lining Will Work on Your Pipe?

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.

Get a Free Estimate

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does CIPP pipe lining take to complete?

It varies from job to job — the exact time depends on the length of pipe being lined, how many access points are needed, and the liner's cure time. Every job starts with a camera inspection so we can give you a specific timeframe before work begins.

Will I need to dig up my yard for CIPP lining?

In most cases, no. CIPP lining is a trenchless method — the liner is inserted through existing access points (such as a cleanout) and cured in place inside your old pipe, so your landscaping, driveway, and foundation are generally left undisturbed. That's the main advantage over traditional excavation repair.

How long does a CIPP liner last?

TDS Trenchless backs every CIPP pipe repair with a 10-year workmanship warranty. Service life beyond that depends on the liner material — ask your technician for manufacturer specifications on the liner material used for your job.

Can CIPP lining fix a completely collapsed pipe?

Not on its own. CIPP lining works by curing a resin-saturated liner against the inside wall of your existing pipe, so the original pipe needs enough structural integrity to hold that shape. A fully collapsed or severely offset section usually needs excavation repair instead — our camera inspection tells us which approach fits your pipe.

What pipe sizes can be lined with CIPP?

TDS Trenchless installs CIPP liners in 4-inch and 6-inch pipe, the sizes most common in residential and light commercial sewer lines. Pricing runs $75–$200 per linear foot for 4-inch pipe and $100–$300 per linear foot for 6-inch pipe, with an exact quote provided after a camera inspection.

Ready When You Are

Ready to find out if your pipe is a good candidate for CIPP lining? TDS Trenchless serves Augusta, North Augusta, Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, and Aiken with a free estimate on every job — call (706) 535-5757 or schedule online, and a quote is always provided before any work begins.

Every job starts with a free estimate. Licensed in Georgia and South Carolina.

Get Free Camera Inspection Call (706) 535-5757

Free estimate on every job
Licensed in GA & SC
10-year workmanship warranty on CIPP