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Drain Unblocker London
Professional drainage engineers attending a blocked drain in London

Drain Excavation in London

Full drain excavation and replacement for severely damaged pipes in London properties.

  • All 32 London boroughs covered
  • Drain unblocking, jetting and repairs
  • Specialists in Victorian clay drainage
  • CCTV drain surveys and reports
32 Boroughs covered
CCTV Drain surveys
Jetting High-pressure drain cleaning

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Drain Excavation across London

Relining does not suit every drain. A collapsed pipe, severe displacement or poor access may rule it out. In those cases, we dig up and replace the damaged drain at your London property.

Excavation is the definitive fix for badly damaged pipes. The new section lasts as long as the new pipe material. Digging also lets us upgrade the pipe, improve the fall and add inspection chambers in better places. Relining cannot do these things.

We plan the dig route with care to keep disruption low. We restore every surface to match the original finish. We also work within planning and highway rules.

Digging needs site protection and control of dust and noise. Good planning helps you and your neighbours know what to expect, including any temporary access limits. Digging in a public highway needs a Section 50 street works licence, and notice periods can add weeks. We handle that paperwork and book the work to fit the permit window. Each job ends with surface repair and a CCTV survey of the new pipe.

We keep you informed throughout. Before work starts, we explain the plan, the access we need and the likely disruption. While the dig is open, we show you what we find. Because every site differs, we adjust the plan if the ground surprises us.

Signs you need drain excavation help

  • ✓ CCTV survey has found pipe collapse with bore reduced to under 30mm
  • ✓ Pipe is severely displaced and cannot accommodate a liner
  • ✓ Significant tree root damage requiring root removal and full replacement
  • ✓ Subsidence evidence associated with drain collapse beneath the property
  • ✓ Drain has failed repeatedly despite relining attempts

Our process

  1. 1. CCTV survey to confirm collapse location and length
  2. 2. Traffic management / road closure applied for if public highway affected
  3. 3. Excavation to drain depth
  4. 4. Collapsed section removed and replaced with new vitrified clay or uPVC pipe
  5. 5. New pipe tested by camera and flow test
  6. 6. Excavation backfilled and surface reinstated to original standard
  7. 7. As-built survey provided on completion

Pricing guide

Prices vary because every job differs. Excavation costs vary a lot. Depth, location and surface finish all matter. A garden or driveway costs differently from a highway dig that needs road closures and permits. Request a quote online, and we confirm the price with you before any work starts.

Drain Excavation — frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission to excavate a drain in London?

For work inside your own property, you do not normally need planning permission to dig a drain. Digging on a public pavement or road needs a Section 50 street works licence from the local authority. In conservation areas, permitted development rights may be tighter for surface repair work.

Nearby locations

Drain Excavation in London Drain Excavation in Hackney Drain Excavation in Islington Drain Excavation in Camden Drain Excavation in Southwark Drain Excavation in Tower Hamlets Drain Excavation in Lambeth Drain Excavation in Wandsworth Drain Excavation in Hammersmith Drain Excavation in Kensington Drain Excavation in Westminster Drain Excavation in Lewisham Drain Excavation in Greenwich Drain Excavation in Bromley Drain Excavation in Croydon Drain Excavation in Barnet Drain Excavation in Enfield Drain Excavation in Haringey Drain Excavation in Ealing Drain Excavation in Brent Drain Excavation in Canary Wharf Drain Excavation in Fulham Drain Excavation in Central London Drain Excavation in Kingston upon Thames Drain Excavation in Edgware Drain Excavation in Battersea Drain Excavation in Catford Drain Excavation in Beckenham Drain Excavation in Sidcup Drain Excavation in Chislehurst

While you plan the work, read our guide Pipe Relining vs Drain Excavation: Right for Your London Home?. It covers what to check before you ask for a quote.

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