Pipe lining creates a new pipe inside your existing sewer line, so it needs the old pipe to still be round and mostly intact, and it slightly reduces the inside diameter. Pipe bursting breaks the old pipe apart while pulling a brand-new pipe into its place, so it works on badly damaged pipe and can keep or increase the pipe size, but it needs a pit at each end.
Both methods avoid trenching the whole yard, and both are long-term repairs. The right choice depends mostly on how damaged your pipe is, which only a camera inspection can tell you.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Pipe lining (CIPP) | Pipe bursting | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Resin liner cured inside the old pipe | Old pipe broken outward, new HDPE pulled in |
| Old pipe condition | Round, mostly intact | Can be badly cracked or broken |
| New pipe size | Slightly smaller inside | Same or larger |
| Access | Cleanout and often one small pit | A pit at each end of the run |
| Best for | Roots at joints, cracks, pinholes | Failing, undersized or crumbling pipe |
| Fixes a belly | No | Not reliably |
When Is Lining the Better Choice?
- Clay pipe with roots at many joints but no collapse.
- Cast iron with cracks or pinholes that still has its full bottom.
- Access is limited to a cleanout, with little room for pits.
- Short sections or single joints that a point liner can seal.
When Is Bursting the Better Choice?
- Pipe too cracked, crumbled or deformed to line, such as flattened Orangeburg.
- You want a larger pipe than the old one.
- The run is straight and there is room for a pit at each end.
- No other utilities run too close to the sewer line.
When Is Neither the Answer?
If the camera shows a belly, a fully collapsed section, or the damage is limited to one spot, a traditional dig is usually better. A belly needs re-grading, a collapse needs digging out, and a single bad spot is cheaper as a spot repair.
How Do Costs Compare?
Per foot, the two are often in a similar range, with details depending on length, depth, access and the number of branch connections. The larger savings come from avoided surface restoration compared with a trench. Your quote should be based on camera footage of your specific line.
What About Branch Connections?
Many house sewer lines have side connections, such as a second bathroom line joining the main lateral. With lining, those openings are covered by the liner and then reopened from inside with a small cutting robot. With bursting, each connection usually needs its own small dig to reconnect to the new pipe. A line with several connections can tip the choice toward lining, or toward a traditional dig.
How Long Does Each Take?
Many residential jobs of either type are finished in one to two days. Lining includes cleaning and curing time. Bursting includes digging and closing the two pits.
What Does This Look Like in Pine Bluff?
Clay lines with roots at the joints, common under older, tree-lined streets, are often good lining candidates. Mid-century homes with Orangeburg pipe that has flattened are more often bursting or replacement candidates. The camera makes the call on each line.
See sewer pipe lining, pipe bursting and does trenchless sewer repair really work, or learn how we approach sewer line repair in Pine Bluff.
Call and my crew will camera your line and tell you which method fits, with a price before any work. 24/7.
FAQ
Which lasts longer, lining or bursting?
Both are designed for decades of service. Bursting installs entirely new pipe; lining depends partly on proper preparation of the old pipe.
Does lining reduce flow?
The diameter shrinks slightly, but the smooth, jointless surface usually flows as well or better than rough old pipe.
Can you burst cast iron?
Often, with the right equipment, though cast iron can be tougher to break than clay or Orangeburg.