Frequently Asked Questions About No Dig Pipe Repair
1. Pipe Lining Basics
Trenchless pipe lining — also called no-dig sewer repair, or CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) — creates a brand-new pipe inside your existing one, without digging up your floors or yard.
A resin-saturated liner is inserted into the cleaned-out old pipe and then cured in place until it hardens into a smooth, seamless, jointless new pipe. The old, deteriorated cast iron becomes a protective outer shell. Because nearly all the work happens through existing access points, there’s no trenching across your property.
A properly installed liner is engineered to last 50 years or more.
Our materials carry an independently tested, ASTM-verified 50-year engineered life, and we back that with a 50-year warranty. The cured liner is corrosion-resistant and seamless, so it isn’t vulnerable to the rust and root intrusion that destroy cast iron.
Most trenchless pipe lining projects in Dallas–Fort Worth run about $10,000–$20,000, compared to $40,000–$50,000 for a full dig-and-replace.
Your exact price depends on the length and diameter of the pipe, its condition, and how accessible it is. We charge a standard per-linear-foot rate, verified by the video-recorded distance at the end of the job, and our free camera-based estimate is usually within 5% of the final footage — with no surprise charges once we’re on site. Financing is available for qualified applicants.
Yes — lining typically costs less than half of a full replacement (about $10,000–$20,000 vs. $40,000–$50,000).
Replacement means excavation plus the hidden cost of restoring floors, foundations, driveways, and landscaping. Lining restores the pipe from the inside, so you avoid the demolition and the rebuild entirely — and in North Texas clay soils, you avoid disturbing the ground around your foundation.
For most Dallas homeowners with deteriorating cast iron, yes — you get a 50-year pipe without tearing up your home or yard.
It’s faster (3–5 days instead of weeks), far less disruptive, and roughly half the cost of replacement, and it comes with a transferable 50-year warranty that adds value if you sell. The main exception is a pipe that’s already collapsed or has a true pitch problem — and we’ll tell you upfront if that’s the case.
We can line just the broken section, but we almost always recommend lining the entire pipe.
The whole pipe has aged under the same conditions for the same number of years, so the rest is rarely far behind. Cleaning also removes the hardened calcium scale that’s been propping up the thin remaining cast iron — once that scale is gone, an unlined section with several feet of wet soil above it is at real risk of collapse if it isn’t lined soon after.
2. Do I Need Pipe Lining?
The most common warning signs are slow drains, frequent backups or clogs, foul odors or gurgling pipes, tree-root intrusion, and soggy or sinking patches in the yard.
Other red flags include recurring blockages, sewage backing up into sinks or tubs, and unusually lush grass or cracks forming above the sewer line. A camera inspection is the only way to confirm what’s happening inside the pipe — which is why we offer it free.
If your home was built before the mid-1970s, your drain and sewer lines are very likely cast iron.
Cast iron was the standard for residential drainage for decades before PVC became common — which covers a large share of established Dallas–Fort Worth neighborhoods. The surest way to know is a free camera inspection, which shows the exact material and condition of your lines.
Cast iron drain pipes typically last 50–75 years, then fail from the inside out as wastewater corrodes them.
Corrosion is worst along the bottom of the pipe, where water constantly flows. Over decades the metal thins, cracks form, and the cracks widen into channels until sections are essentially gone. That’s what causes the backups, leaks, and “bellies” people see in older homes.
Yes — lining is one of the best long-term fixes for root intrusion.
The new liner is seamless and jointless, so it seals off the cracks and joints where roots enter. Once it’s cured, there’s no opening for roots to push through, and the smooth interior restores full flow.
3. The Installation Process
Most residential jobs are completed in about 3–5 days, with no excavation.
Compare that to a full replacement, which can take four to eight weeks of digging, demolition, and restoration. You can stay in your home the entire time — we keep your plumbing available except for a single 4-hour window in the middle of the day. (The liner itself cures in about 10 minutes; most of the timeline is cleaning and preparation.)
About 95% of the work is done outside, where the main drain leaves the house.
We usually remove one toilet at a time during cleaning and installation, and reset it with a fresh wax ring. If we’re working on one side of the house, the other side stays usable, so no one has to move out during the process.
No — that’s the whole point of no-dig repair. There’s no trench across your property.
Because we work through the existing point where the main drain exits the house, your lawn, driveway, patio, and landscaping stay intact. In the rare case a section can’t be lined, it can usually be reached through a small hole outside rather than by opening the floor inside.
Yes, we line under-slab pipes, and the process protects your foundation rather than risking it.
Traditional replacement often means excavating or tunneling beneath the slab, which in North Texas’s expansive clay soils can lead to settlement and future foundation problems. Trenchless lining restores those pipes from the inside through existing access — no jackhammering your floors, and no digging that disturbs the ground around your foundation.
We run a video camera through your drain line to show you the exact condition of your pipes before you commit to anything.
The camera reveals cracks, corrosion, blockages, and whether lining is the right solution. You’ll get a clear recommendation and an estimate that’s usually within 5% of the final length — with no obligation.
Where a permit is required, we handle it as part of the job.
As a state-certified plumbing contractor, we pull permits in accordance with your local jurisdiction’s requirements.
Yes — if a pipe has deteriorated too far, collapsed, or has a true pitch problem, replacement is the only option.
We determine this upfront during the free camera inspection and tell you honestly. It’s rare, and even then the pipe can usually be replaced through a small hole outside the house rather than an access hole in your floor.
Often it’s a misdiagnosis — but if there’s a genuine pitch problem or major belly, that does require replacement, and we’ll tell you straight.
Over more than two decades we’ve seen many “bellies” that are actually water sitting in a corroded trough: the bottom of the cast iron rusts through, a channel forms, and water pools there. A camera lens sitting a quarter-inch above the pipe dips into that water and blacks out the screen, which gets misread as a belly. A proper inspection tells the difference.
Very little maintenance is needed — the lined pipe is smooth, seamless, and corrosion-resistant.
Our 50-year warranty even covers free, unlimited service calls and video inspections, and the lining can be cleaned without damage. We do recommend avoiding harsh chemical drain cleaners and being mindful about grease and non-flushable items — the same common-sense habits that protect any drain system.
4. Materials & Technology
Both are no-dig methods; CIPP installs a full structural new pipe inside the old one, while spin cast epoxy applies a protective epoxy coating to the inside walls.
CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) uses a resin-saturated liner that hardens into a seamless, standalone pipe — ideal for larger drain and sewer lines and badly deteriorated cast iron. Spin cast epoxy spins a durable epoxy layer onto the pipe’s interior to seal leaks, stop corrosion, and improve flow — well suited to smaller-diameter and branch lines. During your free inspection we’ll recommend the right method (or combination) for your system.
It’s a polyester fabric tube saturated with a special resin, with an internal balloon that shapes it as it cures.
The balloon contains a woven nylon layer that prevents over-expansion, so the new pipe comes out perfectly round even where the old cast iron is missing. Our UV-cured resin hardens in about 10 minutes once the UV light drum is pulled through the liner.
We use Perma-Liner, the only manufacturer with a patented double-balloon design.
Most systems use a single balloon. With two, if one ever springs a leak the safety balloon supports the liner so the installation doesn’t collapse. No other manufacturer in the world has this design.
About 5% — which is negligible — and the real reduction is even less.
The liner is roughly 3 mm thick; in a 4-inch (126 mm) pipe that’s about 6 mm off the diameter. And because cleaning first removes years of rust scale, the bare cast iron is actually wider than when it was new, so the net reduction is smaller still.
No deteriorated cast iron is left exposed — we extend coverage through the branch connections.
Where the main line meets a branch, we carry the lining through the fitting using our Connection Collar system or an epoxy coating, depending on the situation. That seals the connection and the surrounding cast iron, so there’s no unlined gap left to fail later. You can see the finished connections in your recorded video inspection.
No — the ends are pressed into a smooth, self-tapering ramp, so there’s no edge to catch debris.
The internal balloon inflates to about 25 PSI, like a car tire, flattening the lining’s ends flush against the pipe. You can see the smooth transitions for yourself in the recorded video inspection.
We line cast iron, clay, concrete, Orangeburg, and most other rigid drain and sewer pipe.
The key requirement is that the existing pipe is sound enough to be cleaned and to support the liner. If a line is too far gone for that, we’ll tell you during the inspection — that’s the honest call, not an upsell.
5. Warranty & Guarantee
Our 50-year warranty guarantees your lined pipes won’t back up, can be cleaned without damaging the lining, and includes free, unlimited service calls and video inspections.
It’s also fully transferable to a new homebuyer, and you receive recorded video of your lined pipes for your records. In short, once it’s lined, it’s handled — for the next half-century.
Yes — it transfers to the next owner if you sell your home.
About half our jobs are homes being sold where the buyer wants the plumbing resolved first. After lining, we make a recorded video inspection that’s uploaded online and emailed to you, plus a paid-in-full invoice with the warranty details — so you have documented proof for resale.
Because our material is independently tested to an engineered 50-year life — it’s not a marketing number.
To keep approvals from bodies like IAPMO and the EPA, the material must meet ASTM strength requirements. An independent lab, HTS Materials Testing in Houston, samples it three times a year — saturating and curing the liner, then measuring engineering factors like flexural and elongation modulus — and certifies a minimum 50-year life.
We back the labor for 50 years too. Right after curing, we record a video inspection that clearly shows the liner starts and stops in the right places, branch connections are open, and there are no defects that would affect flow.
6. Pricing & Payment
We’re mid-range among pipe-lining companies and will never be the lowest bidder — and we’re upfront about why.
First, we use the most expensive brand because of its double-balloon safety design. Second, lining is all we do, all day. Companies that do it part-time face a 2+ year learning curve, and inexperienced crews put your property at risk if a liner fails and has to be dug out. We don’t nickel-and-dime on site: our quotes are highly accurate and charged at a standard per-linear-foot rate you can verify by inspection. Compared to a full replacement, we save you 50–60%.
You only pay for the actual footage lined, verified on video at the end.
Our estimates are usually within 5% of the final length. If there’s ever a significant difference, we discuss it with you on the first day before doing anything — there’s no commitment on your side until you approve any change.
No — we never take money before we’ve done the work.
We collect a 50% deposit when we start, and the remaining 50% only when the job is finished and the video recordings are complete. We upload the videos that evening and email them to you the next day, along with your paid-in-full invoice.
Yes — we offer affordable monthly payment options, with 0% APR financing available to qualified applicants.
Through our financing partner, qualified applicants can finance projects from $1,000 to $200,000. Ask about it when you schedule your free estimate.
In many cases, yes — coverage varies by policy, but many Dallas homeowners find their insurance helps.
Because trenchless lining is a cost-effective alternative to full replacement, insurers will sometimes cover CIPP or spin cast epoxy work. Whether yours does depends on the cause of the damage and your specific policy, so always confirm with your insurer before scheduling work.
Make checks payable to Trenchless Pipe Lining LLC.
That’s the corporate entity you’re contracting with.
7. About Our Company
We’ve been lining pipes for more than two decades, and we bring that experience to every job across Dallas–Fort Worth and Austin.
Pipe lining is all we do. We hold an A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau, keep over 1,000 references with names and phone numbers you can call, and have done work for the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, and large commercial clients including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and the Hilton hotel chain.
Yes — we’re a family-owned and operated business, and your local no-dig pipe experts for Dallas–Fort Worth and Austin.
We treat every job with the same care and attention as if it were our own home. Pipe lining is our specialty, not a sideline, and we bring more than 20 years of it to North Texas.
No — every installer is a long-tenured, full-time employee on our payroll.
Nobody who touches your home is a subcontractor. This matters because lining has a steep 2+ year learning curve, and experienced, dedicated crews are what protect your property.
Yes — we offer 24-hour emergency service and return calls within 60 minutes.
Sewer backups don’t wait for business hours. If you have an active backup or an urgent problem, call us and we’ll respond quickly.
Yes — we speak Spanish. Sí, hablamos español.
Our team can walk you through the inspection, estimate, and entire process in Spanish or English.
Yes — we’re a state-certified plumbing contractor, fully licensed and insured.
Our license number (MasterRMP #37838) appears on our estimates, invoices, and vehicles. We carry liability, workers’ comp, and vehicle insurance at high limits, as required for our government work with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.
We serve the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the Austin area.
That includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Irving, Garland, Grand Prairie, McKinney, Frisco, Denton, Richardson, Lewisville, Mesquite, Carrollton, Allen, Flower Mound, North Richland Hills, Bedford, Mansfield, Euless, Keller, Southlake, Wylie, Coppell, Grapevine, and Austin. If you’re not sure whether you’re in our service area, give us a call and we’ll let you know.
Anyone with aging cast iron who wants to avoid tearing up their home — homeowners, business owners, landlords, real estate agents, and house flippers.
It’s ideal for businesses that can’t afford downtime, landlords tired of late-night backup calls, and agents handling older homes in a sale. Seniors and retirees, active military, first responders, and teachers all qualify for discounted rates.
Don’t take our word for it — call our references and watch your own recorded inspection.
We provide a long list of residential and commercial references (with names and phone numbers) along with your electronic quote, including work we’ve done for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, hotels, and restaurants. Many plumbing companies don’t offer lining because the equipment is expensive and the training is extensive — they’d rather sell you a full replacement at double the price.
CIPP is recognized by the EPA, ASTM International, NSF, IAPMO, NASSCO, and NASTT.
In brief: the EPA (environmental and health protection), ASTM International (materials standards), NSF (independent public-health certification), IAPMO (plumbing and mechanical officials), NASSCO (pipeline assessment and rehabilitation standards), and NASTT (the North American Society for Trenchless Technology).
Get a Free Camera Inspection
We’ll show you exactly what’s happening inside your pipes and give you an honest, no-pressure estimate — usually within 5% of the final cost.
Call 469-949-3126 or request your free estimate online. Serving Dallas, Fort Worth & Austin, TX.
