Commercial Epoxy Liner Repairs Pros and Cons

Epoxy pipe lining is a popular alternative to replacing old pipes. The epoxy coats the old sewer pipe, creating a new pipe with minimal digging and inconvenience. In theory, commercial epoxy liner repairs make sense. In practice, there are many things to keep in mind about the advantages and disadvantages. Here are some things to know.

How Are Commercial Epoxy Liner Repairs Made?

To apply commercial epoxy, a coatings contractor inspects the pipe with a CCTV to determine what is going on. Next, the pipe is cleaned out, so the pipe’s original diameter is restored, and the surface is clean for the epoxy to have something to adhere to. The liner is then applied to the pipe. A bladder is fed into the pipe with the epoxy. When the bladder is inflated, it pushes the epoxy up against the pipe. The bladder is left in the pipe for about 24 hours for the epoxy to cure, then removed. The contractor checks that everything works correctly.

Is Epoxy the Best Option?

Using epoxy for sewer repair can work well if it is done right.

Advantages of Epoxy Linings

• Cost-effective – less labor and supplies are involved, so the costs are much less than replacing pipes.
• Eco-friendly – epoxy lining maintains the current piping, so there is no waste to remove to landfills. The material is also manufactured without emissions.
• Quick – repairs can often be completed in just two to three days, instead of weeks that it might take to dig up the pipes and replace them.
• Durable – epoxy pipe lining can last for decades, up to 50 years.

Disadvantages of Epoxy

• Pipes must not be collapsed or back-pitched. Epoxy cannot be applied to pipes in every situation.
• Although the epoxy lining process is fairly quick, it still needs time to cure.
• Some pipe material is not a good candidate for epoxy lining. Pipes also need to be bigger than 2-inches in diameter.
• Epoxy is designed to be permanent.

Bay Area Commercial Epoxy Liner Repairs

Find solutions to repairs for a commercial water tank or sewer lines when you work with a contractor that specializes in water tank repairs. Epoxy lining might be the right answer, but there may be other solutions that give you more options.