Sewer Pipes - This stinks

[SLacKer]

Had the guy round today to stick a camera down the sewer pipe and there are some tree roots in the pipe which is not good. Now he has quoted me £1400 to cut the roots out (using a special in pipe tool) and reline the pipe.

Now this seems to me to be a bit excessive for less than a days work. As anyone here had experience with this kind of thing? This has only happened today and I have not yet got anyone else in.

The tree is coming out (it isn't a big tree or a particularly nice one) - if I do this will the root die off?

[MonkeyHanger]

Buildings Insurance?

[SLacKer]

Doesn't cover it.............never ever claimed anything and the 1 time it is not covered. Absolute waste of fking money.

[sleep envy]

specialist job so they can charge for it, besides it's far quicker, easier and cheaper than digging them out and replacing them

emergency locksmiths - they really do rape you. £85/hr +VAT

[Roo.]

sleep envy said:

specialist job so they can charge for it, besides it's far quicker, easier and cheaper than digging them out and replacing them

emergency locksmiths - they really do rape you. £85/hr +VAT

I was just about to say, it's not the amount of time it takes it's the expertise.

[SLacKer]

Its a 'his house is nice so screw him charge' made up on the spot. I will find another way.........

[falcemob]

SLacKer said:

The tree is coming out (it isn't a big tree or a particularly nice one) - if I do this will the root die off?

The root will die but it'll still be there and the pipe will still be broken.

[Ganglandboss]

I deal with CCTV surveys all the time. I'd say it's consistant with quotes I get, but I do feel they are all a bit expensive for what they do. Did the surveyor give you DVD footage or stills of the offending root?

[trumpet600]

Do they actually kill the root? And how are they sure?

If it isn't killed properly, whats to stop them breaking through your nice, new and very expensive pipe lining?


Not being cynical, just been shafted by these type of shysters before.

[SLacKer]

I will have a DVD of it in a day or two.

The thing is the guy had the cutter in the van but wanted £350 to just cut the root which would of taken him about 20 minutes. This was on top of £200 for the drain blockage clearance and the survey.

I know the kit costs a lot etc. but with no price list available I just had the impression it was being made up on the fly.

I will get the DVD (good one for the next party, hey lads do u want to see some filth) and get some quotes from others and do some research to see if there are other options.

[Parrot of Doom]

Can't you just remove the tree, and dig the pipe out and replace?

[Autonotiv]

I don't know if thats alot but it does seem a little steep to me.

Shame you are not local to me, i would have dug it out and replaced, for far less than £1400

[SLacKer]

The pipe is about 2 m down so digging is an option.... it is just that it would take less than a day and require very little materials so £1400 for about 6 hours work....I am in the wrong business.

[Autonotiv]

Get some more quotes then.

2m dig would invlove alot of mess and time.