Windfalls – Collapsed Drain Replacement

The Project

Replacing a Drain That Had Collapsed Beyond the Point of Relining.

KD Drainage attended Windfalls where a section of underground drainage had completely collapsed.

Where pipework retains enough structural integrity, trenchless techniques such as drain relining can sometimes be used to repair defects from inside the existing pipe.

In this case, however, the collapse was too severe for relining to provide a suitable repair.

The affected area therefore had to be excavated so the failed section could be removed and replaced with new drainage pipework.

The Challenge

The Existing Drain Had Lost Its Structural Integrity.

A collapsed drain is different from a pipe that simply contains cracks, fractures or isolated defects.

When the pipe itself has failed to the point that the drainage route is no longer structurally intact, there may not be a stable host pipe available for a lining system to follow.

That was the situation at Windfalls, where KD Drainage determined that relining was not an appropriate repair method.

Conventional excavation and replacement was therefore required to properly restore the damaged section.

Our Solution

Excavation and Replacement of the Collapsed Pipe Section.

Once it was established that trenchless relining could not be used, the team excavated the area above the failed drainage.

This provided direct access to the collapsed section so the damaged pipework could be removed.

A new section of drainage pipe was then installed in place of the failed pipe, re-establishing the drainage route through the affected area.

Although excavation is more disruptive than trenchless repair, in situations involving a complete structural collapse it can be the correct and necessary solution.

Relining or Excavation?

The Best Drain Repair Depends on What Is Actually Wrong With the Pipe.

KD Drainage uses trenchless repair techniques where they are suitable, but relining is not the correct answer for every damaged drain.

Cracked or fractured pipework may sometimes be suitable for internal relining or localised structure repair.

Where a drain has completely collapsed, however, there may be no usable pipe structure left to repair internally.

In those situations, excavation and pipework replacement may provide the correct long-term repair.

Collapsed Drain Warning Signs

When a Persistent Drainage Problem May Be More Than a Simple Blockage.

A blockage does not automatically mean a drain has collapsed, but repeated drainage failures can sometimes indicate an underlying structural defect.

Problems such as recurring blockages, poor flow or a drain that cannot be cleared properly may justify further investigation.

A CCTV drain survey can help inspect the condition of underground pipework and identify whether the issue is a blockage, fracture, displacement or more serious collapse.

The survey findings can then be used to determine whether clearance, trenchless repair or excavation and replacement is the most appropriate solution.

Suspect a Collapsed Drain?

Need the Damage Investigated and Repaired?

KD Drainage provides CCTV investigation, trenchless repair and conventional drain replacement across Kent, London and the wider South East.

If a drain has suffered serious structural damage, our team can assess the condition and recommend the repair method that best suits the extent of the failure.