Drainlayers Christchurch

Start with the job you need done

A new connection, an old pipe needing replacement and an unexpected blockage call for different work. Tell us whether you are building, altering a property or dealing with a fault. Our drain repairs guide explains how investigation and repair choices fit together.

We carry out new pipe installations, pump-chamber and septic-tank installations, repairs and residential relays. If water is backing up now, start with our Christchurch drain unblocking service so we can understand the immediate problem.

A useful project brief

• Give the property address and describe what you want the drainage to serve.
• Share available drainage plans, drawings and any previous inspection findings.
• Identify entrances, narrow access, paved areas, gardens and places that must remain usable.
• Tell us about other building work and the order in which trades are expected on site.
• Describe any existing smells, slow drainage or recurring blockages separately from the new work.

A photo of the work area is useful. Keep observations at ground level and leave covers, excavation and buried services to the people doing the work.

Understand the existing drains

Where the route or condition of an existing pipe is uncertain, investigation helps establish what the job involves. We use CCTV and pipeline robotic cameras with GPS location for drainage investigations. The findings can help separate a local repair from a larger replacement.

Ask which information is needed before a scope can be agreed. Plans show an arrangement; observations on site help confirm how it relates to the work being proposed.

Include access and reinstatement

Drainage work is more than the pipe itself. Access, excavation, removal of disturbed material and putting the area back should be discussed together. We undertake reinstatement of concrete, hot mix, pavers and gardens with our drainage relays.

For an existing damaged line, compare pipe relining and replacement before assuming that one method will suit every section. Ask us to identify the work area and the finish included in your quote.

Agree the next step

Before work starts, clarify the proposed route, responsibilities for any required approvals, how other services will be identified and what happens if the exposed conditions differ from the initial information. Keep drawings and the agreed scope together so everyone is working from the same brief.

For an on-site wastewater project, our septic installation cost guide sets out the wider items to discuss beyond the tank.