Excavation means digging down to the damaged pipe and replacing that section. It suits pipes that have collapsed or lost their shape. A liner cannot fit in those, so a dig is the sound repair. A camera survey shows where to dig, which keeps the trench short.
Camera footage shows the depth and place of the fault. The engineer marks the area and checks for other services, since a short trench costs less. Ask for the plan before work starts.
A digger or hand tools open the trench. Meanwhile, near buildings the work is slower and more careful. Ask how the engineer will keep a deep trench safe.
The damaged pipe comes out and new pipe goes in at the right fall. Meanwhile, joints link it to the old pipe at each end. A camera run can check the finished join.
The engineer fills the trench in layers so the ground does not sink. Ask what surface repair the quote covers. Check the finish before you pay in full.
Excavation costs more than relining because of the digging and the surface repair. MyJobQuote's repair guide gives £250 to £650 per metre for excavation, and £1,000 to £3,000 for a fully collapsed pipe that needs partial or full replacement. Each figure comes from that one guide. These are typical UK ranges, not York quotes, since prices vary by site. Ask for a written quote that covers the surface repair.
A dig does open the ground. A survey helps to keep the trench short, since it shows where to dig. Ask what the quote covers for putting the surface back.
For a fully collapsed pipe, a dig is usually the only sound repair. A pipe that is only partly damaged may still take a liner. Ask for both quotes and compare.
Some drain work may need approval. Ask the engineer, and check with the sewerage company if the pipe serves more than one home or runs close to a public sewer. Approved Document H sets the national rules for drainage in the Building Regulations.
It varies with the site, since the slope and the age of the home differ. A survey and a trace of the pipe show the true depth. Deeper pipes cost more to reach, so ask for the depth in the quote.
It depends on who owns the pipe, since shared pipes differ. Yorkshire Water says it looks after shared drains that flow into a public sewer if the homes were built before 2011. Check with the water company before you pay for work on a shared pipe.