Trenchless sewer repair and replacement in the Portland metro

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The old way to fix a failing sewer line was to dig a trench the length of the run, which meant a torn-up yard, a wrecked driveway, or a dead lawn in a metro where mature landscaping is half the property value. Trenchless methods change that math. In a city full of old clay laterals under lawns and trees, that's a meaningful difference.

Two trenchless approaches

• Pipe lining (CIPP): a resin-saturated liner is pulled through the existing pipe and cured in place, forming a new pipe inside the old one. Good when the existing line is still structurally usable.
• Pipe bursting: a bursting head is pulled through, breaking the old pipe outward while dragging a new HDPE pipe behind it. Used when the line is too far gone to line, and it can often upsize the pipe.

When it's the right call

Trenchless is a strong fit for lines that are cracked, root-damaged, or offset but still follow their original path, which describes a lot of the clay laterals under Portland's older neighborhoods. It's less suitable when the line has a severe belly, a collapsed section, or a path that needs to change. A camera inspection tells you which situation you're in.

What it costs

Trenchless usually costs more up front than an open trench in a wide-open yard, and less than open trenching once you add back the concrete, irrigation, and landscaping it saves. The pro who calls you back will scope the line and quote it honestly.