Pitch Fibre Re-Rounding
Saving Old Pipes Without Digging
If your home was built between the 1950s and 1970s, there is a good chance your drainage pipes are made of Pitch Fibre.
Unlike modern plastic or clay pipes, Pitch Fibre was essentially made from wood cellulose soaked in coal tar (think of it as reinforced papier-mâché). While it was cheap and easy to install at the time, it has a major flaw: it has a limited lifespan.
Over time, these pipes soften, blister, and squash under the weight of the ground. This stops your drains from flowing and, if left untreated, leads to total collapse.
The good news? We can often save these pipes without digging them up.
In simple terms: We use specialist tools to restore the squashed pipe back into its original round shape, then line it to make it strong again.
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The Warning Signs
Pitch fibre fails in specific ways. You might need this service if you are experiencing:
- Frequent Blockages: Caused by “blisters” bubbling up inside the pipe.
- Slow Draining: Because the pipe has squashed into an oval shape, restricting flow.
- No Flow at All: Bore has been reduced so much or collapsed completely that waste cannot escape.
Can My Pipe Be Saved? (The Golden Rule)
We pride ourselves on honest advice. Not every Pitch Fibre pipe can be rescued. We use a simple rule of thumb:
“If our camera can pass through it, we can usually save it.”
If the pipe is only partially squashed or blistered, Re-Rounding is the perfect solution. However, if the pipe has completely collapsed (flattened shut), we will likely need to excavate to replace it.
Gallery
How We Do It: The Re-Rounding Process
We use a combination of brute force and clever engineering to restore your drains.
1. The CCTV Inspection – We send a camera down to assess the damage. We check how badly the pipe is deformed and confirm it is safe to proceed.
2. Milling (Removing the Lumps) – If the inside of the pipe is covered in blisters or peeling layers, we use a mechanical “flail” or milling machine. This acts like a sander, shaving back the internal lumps to open up the airway.
3. Re-Rounding (Reshaping) – We winch a specialist “re-rounding head” through the pipe. Imagine forcing a solid cone through a squashed tube—it physically pushes the pipe walls back out, restoring the original round shape.
4. Lining (The Structural Fix) This step is vital – You cannot just re-round a pipe and leave it, or it will eventually squash again. We install a structural Drain Liner inside the newly rounded pipe. This cures (hardens) to create a rigid, rock-hard pipe within a pipe.
5. The Final Check – We send the camera back down to prove the pipe is round, smooth, and watertight.
What We Need From You
To do this job properly, we usually need access to both ends of the pipe run (e.g., a manhole at the top and a manhole at the bottom). This allows us to winch the heavy equipment through the system safely.
If you only have one access point, don’t worry—let us know, and we can assess if we can use a single-ended milling technique instead.
The Benefits to You
- Save Your Garden: We restore the pipe underground, so your driveway, patio, and flowerbeds remain untouched.
- Save Money: It is significantly cheaper than excavating and replacing the whole system.
- Long-Term Fix: The resin liner we install is incredibly strong, giving the pipe a new lease of life for decades.
- Improved Flow: Removing the blisters and oval shape restores the flow rate, stopping those annoying weekly blockages.
Don’t let old pipes cause a collapse. Ask ASL if Re-Rounding can save your drainage.
Re-rounding combined with lining is one of the most reliable solutions for ageing pitch fibre systems.
Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
“I called at 08:10 hours to report a blocked drain. A little while later, Darren rang to tell me he’d arrive in half an hour. He arrived on time and resolved the problem quickly and without fuss. He was polite and friendly throughout. Within two hours of reporting the blockage, all was well. Thank you.” Customer, Surrey
“I unreservedly recommend ASL. All the glowing reviews of ASL are true. They had to lift paving slabs to fix my drains, and I was concerned there might be unavoidable damage. I should not have worried. Liam and Richard did a superb job. Thanks, ASL” Customer, Surrey
“Darren arrived very promptly and got to work quickly. He did an excellent job and explained what he was doing. We would have no hesitation in recommending ASL Services.” Customer, Surrey
“Very efficient to book them to sort out a sewer drain blockage, and the cost was exactly what they quoted. Called before they arrived with a clear ETA. Got on with the job and sorted it out within the hour. Darren was excellent – very courteous and helpful, did more than we expected to help sort the problem out and was a font of knowledge on all things sewer-related. Given the subject matter (eeew) the whole experience with ASL was an absolute pleasure.” Customer, Surrey
“ASL recently carried out a drain repair at our house. They responded quickly to the call for help, came out and soon diagnosed the problem – tree roots blocking the drain. The remedial work on site was carried out by Lester and George – they worked hard and were very thorough. This is a long-established company that seems to know what they are doing.” Customer, Surrey
Areas we cover
Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, West Sussex and South West London
The ASL Limited HQ is in Guildford, but our operating area is the whole of Surrey and parts of Berkshire, Hampshire, West Sussex and South West London.
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Contact Us
Get in touch today
You can call us on 0800 181 684, email info@asllimited.co.uk or use the form below:
