A cracked or collapsed drain doesn't fix itself. Left alone, it lets groundwater in, undermines the soil around it and eventually causes subsidence. If you've had a CCTV survey that's flagged a fracture, a displaced joint or a section of pipe that's caved in, you need a straight answer on what happens next.
We repair drains across Salisbury and the surrounding villages every week. Some jobs need a dig. Many don't. Where the pipe's structure is still sound enough to accept a liner, we'll reline it from inside without breaking your garden, your patio or your driveway.
What the repair options actually look like
There are two main routes, and the right one depends on what your drain survey shows.
No-dig relining involves pulling a resin-soaked liner through the damaged section. It cures in place against the inside of the existing pipe, effectively forming a new pipe within the old one. No excavation, no reinstatement costs. Suitable for fractures, cracks, root ingress points and displaced joints, as long as the host pipe still has enough structural integrity to hold the liner.
Excavation and replacement is necessary when a pipe has fully collapsed, is severely deformed or is offset so badly that a liner can't be pulled through. We dig to expose the damaged section, replace it cleanly and reinstate the ground. It's more disruptive, but sometimes it's simply the only option that works properly.
We'll tell you which route fits your drain before any work starts.
When you need a repair, not just a clearance
Blockage clearances deal with what's inside the pipe. Repairs deal with the pipe itself. You probably need a repair if:
- A CCTV survey has identified a specific crack, fracture or collapse
- You're getting recurring blockages in the same section of drain
- There's a persistent damp smell that jetting hasn't fixed
- Roots are getting in repeatedly, suggesting an open joint or crack they can exploit
- You've noticed ground movement or sinkholes forming near a drain run
- A homebuyer's drain survey flagged a defect your solicitor wants resolved
Some of these signs are subtle. A blocked drain in Bishopdown or Bemerton Heath might clear fine with jetting, then block again six weeks later because water and root intrusion are coming through a crack that was never addressed.
Common scenarios across Salisbury
Older clay pipe systems are widespread in areas like St Martin, Milford and the streets around Fisherton Anger. Clay is brittle and doesn't cope well with ground movement or tree root pressure. Fractures along the barrel of the pipe are common, especially where mature trees are nearby.
In Stratford-sub-Castle and along the Avon valley through Laverstock and Netherhampton, the water table sits higher than in many parts of the city. A cracked pipe here doesn't just lose effluent into the ground, it also lets groundwater into the drain, which overloads the system during wet weather. That's a repair job, not a jetting job.
Newer estates in Harnham, Bishopdown and Bemerton Heath tend to have UPVC pipework, which is more flexible but not immune. Poor original installation, ground settlement and rodent damage all cause issues. Pipe joints on UPVC systems can pull apart if the ground shifts, creating an offset that's an easy entry point for roots.
Villages like Downton, Amesbury, Wilton and Tisbury often have older private drainage, sometimes going back decades. When these fail, the landowner is responsible and there's no shared infrastructure to fall back on.
How we approach a repair job
If you've already had a CCTV survey and you have a report, we can work from that. If you haven't, we'll carry out a camera inspection first to locate and assess the defect precisely. There's no point digging or pulling a liner until we know exactly what we're dealing with.
Once we've seen the pipe, we'll give you a clear recommendation and a price agreed before any work starts. No surprises mid-job.
| Situation | Likely approach |
|---|---|
| Crack or fracture, pipe still round | No-dig relining where liner can seat properly |
| Displaced or open joint, roots entering | Relining in most cases, excavation if offset is severe |
| Partial collapse, pipe still passable | Assessment needed; relining possible in some cases |
| Full collapse or severe deformation | Excavation and pipe replacement |
| Multiple defects across a long run | Sectional relining or full-length liner depending on pipe condition |
All remedial work we carry out, whether that's relining, pipe replacement or structural repair, carries a 20-year guarantee. That covers the repair itself.
What to do right now
If you've got a survey report flagging a defect, call us and read the fault description over the phone. We can usually tell you on the call whether relining is likely to be suitable before we've even visited.
If you haven't had a survey yet but you're seeing the signs above, that's where we'd start. A camera inspection gives you a clear picture of what's there and avoids spending money on the wrong fix.
We work across SP1 and SP2, covering Salisbury city centre, the surrounding estates and villages out to Amesbury, Downton and Tisbury. Engineers are available 24/7. There's no call-out fee, and every job is priced individually and agreed with you before work starts.
Call us on 01722 449093.