Same broken pipe, two very different weeks. Here's the honest comparison — including the cases where the shovel still wins.
| Trenchless | Traditional excavation | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground opened | Two small pits | Trench along the full pipe path |
| Driveways / patios / trees | Stay | Anything above the pipe goes |
| Timeline | 1–2 days | 3–10 days including restoration |
| Repair cost | $60 – $250 per foot | $50 – $250 per foot |
| Restoration cost | Minimal | $2,000 – $10,000+ commonly |
| Result | New pipe / 50-yr liner | New pipe |
Almost every failure mode of an intact-but-leaking line: cracks, failed joints, root intrusion, corrosion, minor offsets. If the damage runs under a driveway, mature landscaping, hardscape, or the slab itself, the case is overwhelming — the full cost comparison shows why.
A specialist who offers both will tell you which one your camera footage calls for. A contractor who only owns an excavator will recommend an excavator.
Tell us about your line problem and we'll connect you to one of our qualified trenchless service providers for your area.
Yes — and it IS replacing the pipe. Bursting installs a literal new pipe; lining creates a new structural pipe inside the old one with a 50-year design life. The difference is what happens to your property above the pipe, not the quality of what's underneath.
Fully collapsed lines with no path for a liner or bursting head, lines with severe slope (pitch) problems that must be re-graded, very shallow pipes, and some tangled utility situations. A camera inspection identifies these honestly.
Trenchless requires specialized equipment and training that general plumbing companies often don't carry. That's why a trenchless-specialist quote is worth getting before you approve any dig.
Almost all of it. Typical jobs need two access pits of a few square feet each — often at existing cleanouts. Compare that to a trench 2–4 feet wide running the entire length of the line.
Trenchless sewer repair typically runs $60–$250 per foot, with most residential jobs landing between $4,000 and $15,000.
Read the guide →CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) lining costs $80–$250 per foot in 2026 — most homes pay $4,000–$15,000 for a fully relined lateral that's warrantied for decades.
Read the guide →Pipe bursting replaces your line entirely; CIPP lining builds a new pipe inside the old one.
Read the guide →