When a Drain Has to Be Dug Out
Jet Plumb handles drain excavation Gloucestershire homeowners, landlords and businesses need when a pipe is past saving with lining. We dig out the damaged section, lay new pipework and backfill the ground, using hand tools and, where it is safe, mini diggers.
Excavation is a bigger job than a no-dig repair, so we only recommend it when it is genuinely the right answer. When it is, replacing the failed pipe once usually proves more cost-effective than paying for repeated repairs that never fix the underlying fault.
How We Excavate and Replace Drains
Before any ground is broken, we carry out a thorough CCTV survey. This confirms that excavation is the right solution, locates the damaged length precisely and shows how deep it runs, so the dig is no bigger than it needs to be. You keep a copy of the footage, so you can see the problem for yourself.
We then plan the trench to cause as little disruption as possible, keeping it to the length and depth the repair needs. Much of our digging is done by hand, with mini diggers used where access allows and it is safe to do so. We also think about where spoil will go and how you will get in and out of the property while the trench is open.
Once the damaged pipe is exposed, it is removed and new pipework is laid and connected to the existing drain. We check that water runs through the new section properly before backfilling the trench, and a camera can confirm the finished run where that is useful. If neighbouring sections show signs of wear on the survey, we will point them out so you can decide whether to deal with them at the same time.
- CCTV survey to confirm and locate the damage
- Careful hand digging around buried services
- Mini diggers where access and safety allow
- Removal of collapsed or broken pipe sections
- New pipework laid and connected to the existing drain
- Backfilling and a tidy site when we leave
Collapsed Section Digs
When one length of pipe has caved in, we excavate down to it at the point the camera identified, remove the broken pieces and lay a new section, keeping the trench as short as the damage allows.
Full Run Replacement
Some drains are so cracked, leaky and root-damaged along their length that patching them is pointless. Replacing the whole run with new pipework gives you a fresh, sound drain and breaks the cycle of repeat blockages.
Hand Digging Near Services
Where gas pipes, cables or water mains run close to the drain, we dig by hand. It is slower than a machine, but it lets our engineers expose services carefully and work around them, greatly reducing the risk of a strike.
Mini Digger Excavation
On open ground with good access and no services nearby, a mini digger speeds up deeper or longer trenches. Its compact size lets it reach rear gardens and yards that larger machines cannot get into.
Root-Broken Drain Renewal
Large trees can split pipes apart as their roots thicken. We cut out the roots, dig out the broken pipework and lay new pipe, and can advise on keeping future growth away from the replacement section.
Commercial Site Excavation
Excavating at a shop, factory or yard needs planning around deliveries, staff and customers. We agree working areas and timings in advance, keep the work area safe and keep access routes open wherever the site allows.
Safety Around Buried Services
Gardens, driveways and yards often hide gas pipes, electricity cables and water mains close to a drain. Striking one is dangerous and costly, which is why we never rush an excavation and why the survey must be done by people who know what they are looking at.
Our experienced engineers plan each dig around the services likely to be nearby and work by hand when close to them. If the survey shows a service running right alongside the drain, we adjust the plan rather than take chances.
What to Expect From an Excavation Job
We talk you through the plan before starting: where the trench will go, roughly how long the work should take and how access to your property will be affected. If anything changes once the ground is open, we tell you straight away.
For homeowners, we keep the work area as tidy and safe as we can, which matters when children or pets use the garden. We will discuss the finish of the surface with you as part of the quote.
Commercial and industrial clients can have work phased or scheduled around their operations wherever possible, and contract work is welcome. As with everything we do, excavation work is fully insured and guaranteed.
Signs a Drain May Need Replacing
These problems suggest a pipe may be beyond lining. A survey will confirm it either way, and we will always tell you if a less disruptive repair could work.
- A drain that blocks completely and will not stay clear
- Sinkholes, dips or subsidence along the drain line
- Camera footage showing a collapsed or crushed pipe
- Joints displaced so far that equipment cannot pass
- Severe root damage that has broken the pipe apart
- Sewage surfacing in the garden or seeping into the ground
Arrange a Drain Excavation Quote
Call 01453 827124 to book a survey and a free, no-obligation quote. There is no call-out charge, and we will always tell you whether a no-dig repair could do the job before recommending excavation.
We excavate and replace drains in Stroud and right across Gloucestershire, including Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Newent, Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Water and Chipping Campden. Emergencies such as a collapsed drain backing up into a property can be reported 24/7 on 07966 142960.
Drain Excavation FAQs
Common questions about drain excavation in Gloucestershire.
Excavation is needed when a pipe cannot be repaired from the inside. Typical cases are collapsed sections, joints displaced so badly that a liner cannot pass, pipes broken apart by tree roots and old pipework with so many defects that it needs replacing. A CCTV survey confirms which repair is right.
Lining needs an existing pipe that still holds its shape, because the liner is cured against the old pipe wall. If the pipe has collapsed or is badly deformed, there is nothing sound for the liner to form against. Where lining is possible we will always say so, as it is less disruptive.
We survey before digging and plan the work around any services likely to be nearby. Our engineers dig carefully by hand close to buried pipes and cables, and only use a mini digger where it is safe. Taking that care is a standard part of every excavation we carry out.
Both. A lot of our digging is done by hand, which gives the most control near other services and in tight spaces. Where there is room and it is safe, we use a mini digger to move the work along. The survey and site access decide the best mix for each job.
Excavation does mean opening the ground, but we keep the trench as small as the repair allows and keep the site tidy while we work. Once the new pipe is laid and checked, we backfill the trench. We discuss the finish of the surface with you before the job starts.
When a pipe has failed badly, clearing or patching it again and again rarely solves the problem. Replacing the damaged section is a bigger job up front, but it deals with the cause, and it usually works out more cost-effective than paying for repeated clearances and short-term fixes over the years.
Yes. We carry out drain excavation for shops, restaurants, hotels, offices and industrial sites as well as homes. We plan the work to keep access open and disruption low where we can, and we are happy to discuss phasing larger jobs. Contract work is welcome.
Related Drainage Services
Drain Repairs
Cracked, leaking and collapsed drains diagnosed by CCTV, then repaired by patch lining, full relining or excavation, whichever suits the damage. Fully insured, with all work guaranteed.
CCTV Drain Surveys
A camera inspection that shows blockages, cracks, root ingress and collapses inside your pipes. Every survey is recorded, you get a copy of the footage, and we give clear advice on the next step.
Tree Root Removal
Roots found on camera, cut and jetted out of drains and sewers, then the entry point sealed with lining or a repair so they stay out. No call-out charge and every quote is free.