Sewer Relining + New Sewer Line + Underhouse Sewer Replumbing Quote for $32k, Is It Reasonable?

peter-2025 on 14/02/2024 - 15:25
Last edited 14/02/2024 - 15:44 by 1 other user

I just learned that my old terracotta sewer line semi-collapsed at couple of places.

A part which hasn't collapsed needs 12 metre relining (~$11k) as there is a garage on top of it, then another section needs a replacement - which needs digging at one point almost 2metres deep (it's just above retaining wall) and then there's about 7-8 metres of regular dig + to run the pipe to the house where a new overflow gully will be installed (some concrete also needs to be lifted and small section re-concreted). Lastly, all existing pipes (toilets etc) will need re-plumbing into this new sewer line so they lead under the house (as reusing the existing connections is impractical for the new sewer pipe; 3 pipes which currently lead out of the house will lead back inside) — this second/third part is roughly $9k and $12k, i.e. $32k in total (which includes an 'existing customer discount' as they just replaced a connection to the main sewer for ~$4k).

The block is quite steep with no practical machinery access so everything has to be dug by hand; the company seems professional and the sewer line would remain functional apart from several hours disruptions during the day, which is great.

I didn't quite expect spending $36k on sewer ($4k for today's fix + the new $32k quote), so I wanted to check - does it sound reasonable or am I flushing money down the toilet?

Any feedback is much appreciated. Thank you :bow:

(location: large-ish town in NSW)

Home & Garden

Comments

  • angelkulit025 on 14/02/2024 - 15:27
    +4

    how many companies/tradies have you asked for a quote regarding this massive project?

    • peter-2025 on 14/02/2024 - 16:16

      Just this one so far - only today after a repair of the inspection shaft near the main sewer, they could fully inspect the rest. You're right, it does actually sound quite massive and sounds like i should get more quotes.

    • JIMB0 on 14/02/2024 - 17:23

      I'd say just Metropolitan going by the price.

  • thatonethere on 14/02/2024 - 15:37
    +9

    Yeah id be getting multiple quotes. If you have a friend or relative who is a tradie or looks like one. Get them to meet the quoter.

    I obviously look stupid as i was quoted the other month $5500 (2 plumbers for a day) to replace 10cm of stormwater. I dug it up myself (5min) and fixed it myself a couple of hours include trip to bunnings… sure im not licenced but im not made of money either

  • cashless on 14/02/2024 - 15:39

    I got quoted $25k to re-route and line terracotta sewer pipes a few years back by a "reputable" company.
    Ended up running the pipes in another direction around my house, got a plumber in to dig and reconnect to existing sewer about 2 metres down.
    Finally I got a 30m pressure hose attachment for my Gerni power washer so when the old terracotta pipes do get blocked I can pressure clean them out.
    Total cost $3k

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 14/02/2024 - 15:40
    +4

    no practical machinery access

    dug by hand

    oh boy…

    • Nugs on 14/02/2024 - 17:14

      in granite
      .

  • mskeggs on 14/02/2024 - 16:02
    +4

    Sounds like a sucky job nobody would want to do - which means higher quotes.
    I spent a couple of weekends digging in similar circumstances when I was younger/broker because it saved $5k on the quote and my plumber had no interest in organising labourers or doing it himself.
    If you are prepared to do the grunt work, or organise and supervise some gumtree labour, you can ask what the quote would be if you did so.

    And with the pipe re-lining, if that section is ok, and unlikely to be root impacted as it is under a slab, why not skip the relining until a future date when needed?

    • peter-2025 on 14/02/2024 - 16:08

      Thank you, excellent points

  • Benoffie on 14/02/2024 - 16:02

    You'll need multiple quotes but so far not seeming out of the ordinary for the amount of work.

    New toilet install, with clear access to the underfloor of the house and connection to existing new PVC sewer just set me back $8k (piping run was around 4-5m?)

  • ihbh on 14/02/2024 - 17:13

    The bathroom drains of a investment property used to overflow every year or so, with plumbers clearing the sewerage pipes I think with water jet. Then on a bad third time, a plumber ran a camera through the pipes and found that one of them had collapsed.

    The initial quote to take a few fence palings out, get a small digger in, cut some of the concrete pad that formed the patio, dig the trench, replace the collapsed part of the pipe, refill the trench and put the palings back was ~$10,000. I was fortunate the cut left a functional and aesthetically pleasing patio (but I had to direct this from the plumber's initial attempt on paper - they want to make the quickest cut to save the most time).

    I managed to get another plumber nearby to quote and do it for ~$5k.

    The plumbers will quote for contingencies - the trench will be as deep as my head, I have to dig the trench wide enough so it doesn't collapse in on itself and risk killing myself/my guys…; from the photos he sent of the job, the trench was around hip high, and not very wide.

    We then agreed to replace some other pipes for nominal cost over the phone while the trench was dug and the guy had the audacity to forget the nominal cost we agreed to on the phone and charge me 4x for the extra work. But he did fix it right away when I mentioned it - he was just hoping I forgot our conversation.

    tldr: get at least another quote and use the info from the earlier quote(s) to direct the work a bit for the subsequent quote(s), while supplementing your knowledge bank with info from the subsequent quotes to make a more optimal decision.

  • Nugs on 14/02/2024 - 17:17

    6 months ago we called out a plumbing company to run their water jet to clear recurrent tree roots at entry to septic tank. had a chat about fixing it for good
    quote to dig up and replace 10m of PVC at max depth of 1.8m - $3500
    .

  • GordonD on 14/02/2024 - 17:40

    I have a big tree close to the back of my house, and the sewer runs close to its roots.

    Each time there's been a sewerage draining problem immediately the plumber turns up he tells me that the trees roots have grown into the sewer pipe and are blocking it. The most recent time the plumber tried to pressure me into paying $6000 to reline the sewer pipe. So I can imagine a serious problem under the house would cost a number of times that.

    Each time after they do a bit more investigation they find the blockage is actually somewhere else and is relatively easy to fix.

  • Stewardo on 14/02/2024 - 19:14
    +1

    I’d avoid companies that advertise a lot and have 30+ trucks covered in signage. Best getting plumbing quotes from smaller plumbers. Those bigger companies will throw big numbers at you and will get some takers and if they don’t, they have plenty more work coming in, so they don’t care.

  • AndyC1 on 14/02/2024 - 19:52

    It sounds very reasonable for one company to quote what they have, but where are the two quotes from other companies to compare against?

  • Rako on 14/02/2024 - 22:13

    My plumber friend says relining is never as good as replacing partly because relining doesn't work too well on bends. Instead of digging can the line be rerouted?

    • peter-2025 on 14/02/2024 - 22:45

      Thanks, unfortunately the section which was suggested to be relined is under a garage and there is no other alternative way (not enough space on either side). Having said that, at least this section is actually the only very straight section.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join