Keeping your plumbing in good working order is essential to a functioning and healthy home.
It’s also a necessary home improvement that can sometimes come out of the blue.
Whether your house has suffered damage, your pipes have come to the end of their lifespan, or you’re planning a renovation and need a plumbing system that will cope with the installation of extra bathrooms and toilets, replacing pipes can be a messy and expensive job.
This article looks at the average cost of new pipes in Australia and if there are any alternatives to a complete replacement.
Factors That Influence the Cost of Pipe Replacement
Many factors will influence the cost of replacing pipes in your home, including the scope of work and the type of material you choose for your new plumbing.
1. How Much of Your Plumbing System Needs Replacing
If you are only replacing one section of your piping network, the cost will obviously be much lower than having your entire plumbing system replaced.
However, replacing the pipes throughout an entire home can cost as much as $15,000–$20,000 and can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. This is because replacing a sewer drain, for example, requires excavation. Because your yard will have to be dug up, you’ll also need to factor in extra expenses for landscaping, replacing driveways, etc.
While this may seem like a major investment, it is sometimes cheaper to replumb your entire home at once rather than having to call out a plumber multiple times to fix repeated problems. Once your pipes begin to leak and fail, it’s a sure sign that the entire plumbing system has reached the end of its lifespan.
By comparison, pipe relining is a more cost-effective solution. A pipe relining job can be as much as 30% less than a traditional pipe replacement. Pipe relining is also quicker and means that you don’t have to factor in the extra cost of landscaping your yard or laying a new driveway.
2. Labour Costs with Your Plumbing Company
To replace pipes, some plumbers will charge hourly fees. Others may give you an estimate for the entire job, depending on the size of the project.
Pricing will also depend on your location and the plumber’s level of experience. Because of this, you should seek quotes from more than one contractor.
Generally speaking, pipe relining costs approximately $2000–$3000 for a sectional repair. For a larger installation, it costs between $500 and $800 per linear metre. However, at The Relining Company, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with an accurate quote.
If you’d like more information on the best alternative to pipe replacement, contact The Relining Company for a free pipe relining consultation.
3. Type of Pipe Materials You Choose
Many of Sydney’s older homes have clay pipes. Although they can last up to 100 years, their rubber seals deteriorate, and they are prone to cracking with ground movement, so they are no longer recommended for use.
Cast iron and galvanised steel pipes are also commonly seen in older homes. They are more expensive to install and rarely used nowadays because they are prone to corrosion and better alternatives exist.
Copper and PVC pipe are the two most commonly used materials in Australian homes today. Cooper pipes are typically used in interiors, while PVC is the preferred choice outside in sewer lines and stormwater drains.
Pipe relining restores the integrity and functionality of pipes made of all of the above materials. Best of all, our work comes with a 35-year warranty.
As well as the materials themselves, other factors such as accessibility can influence the cost of pipe replacement.
You can learn more about the factors involved in pipe replacement and relining in our article ‘What You Need to Know About the Costs of Pipe Relining’.
The Extra Costs of Pipe Replacement to Budget For
When you have pipes dug up and replaced, it’s not just the plumbing service you need to budget for. You’ll also need to set aside funds for:
- Re-landscaping areas that have been excavated to remove old pipes and replace them with new ones.
- Reinstating infrastructure such as driveways and, in some cases, home foundations and pools.
- Builder or carpenter to repair walls, ceilings, and flooring within your home.
- The cost of accommodation for the period your home is without plumbing.
- The cost of permits to dig up and replace pipes.
- New fittings and valves.
The Better Solution to a Pipe Replacement Project
No one likes the idea of having a whole lot of holes dug in their yard or not being able to live in their home while their plumbing pipes are replaced.
The alternative to pipe removal is durable, long-lasting pipe repairs with trenchless pipe relining.
Pipe relining is when a textile liner is installed within your existing pipes to repair or rehabilitate them.
Epoxy resin is then applied to create a new pipe wall that we here at The Relining Company guarantee will last for at least 35 years.
There are numerous advantages to pipe relining over traditional pipe replacement methods, including:
It costs a fraction of the price of pipe replacement, especially when you factor in the extra costs (see above).
We provide interest-free finance options to help with the cost of pipe relining.
It’s not messy as there is no digging involved.
Any length of pipe can be relined. The Relining Company takes on projects both big and small.
It’s much faster than pipe replacement. In most cases, liner installations take less than a day, so you can go back to using your bathroom straight away.
It can save you on the maintenance costs of constant blockages and protect your renovation from the unnecessary expense of water damage.
It’s a way to safeguard your property and plumbing system from pipe cracks and leaks, intrusive tree roots, and water damage within your home.
The Relining Company uses state-of-the-art technology from Germany to ensure pipes work efficiently for many years to come. Our workmanship is guaranteed for 35 years.
Restore your water pressure to normal and make drainage problems a thing of the past.
Pipe relining ensures you are no longer exposed to health risks with wastewater contaminating the soil in your yard.
Our liners bend to shape, up to 90°, so they are the ideal solution for a difficult junction or bend. Our method also has the advantage of getting to areas a traditional plumbing contractor can’t, such as under a tiled bathroom or kitchen.
Pipe relining suits any pipe type and material. From sewer pipes and wastewater drains to internal services, we reline pipes from 40 to 450 mm in diameter.
We perform a CCTV inspection upon completion so you can have peace of mind knowing the process has been successful.
Save Time, Money, and Your Pipes with Pipe Relining
If old age is causing problems with your plumbing and you need to replace pipes, consider pipe relining instead of the outdated method of pipe replacement.
The Relining Company has the expertise and equipment that traditional plumbing contractors can’t offer.
Save time and money and rehabilitate your pipes with pipe relining by calling us on 0488 885 166 today.
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