An Overview Of The CIPP Pipe Lining Process

CIPP Pipe Lining in Delaware County: The Process Explained

Cured-in-place pipe lining — CIPP — is the trenchless method used to rehabilitate cracked, root-invaded, or leaking sewer laterals without excavating the pipe. A resin-saturated liner is inserted into the damaged pipe and cured in place using heat, steam, or UV light to form a new structural pipe inside the old one. The result is a smooth, continuous, joint-free interior that eliminates the failure points common to older clay tile and cast-iron pipe.

In Delaware County, CIPP installation is the most common residential sewer repair method we use. The county’s older housing stock — predominantly built before 1970 — has clay tile laterals with aging mortar joints, and those joints are where root intrusion, joint separation, and infiltration occur. A properly installed CIPP liner addresses all three without the disruption of a full excavation.

The CIPP Installation Process, Step by Step

Step 1: Camera Inspection

Before any liner goes in, we run a push-camera through the pipe to assess its condition. The camera establishes pipe diameter, identifies cracks, root intrusion, offset joints, and sections that are collapsed or too severely damaged to accept a liner. Not every pipe is a CIPP candidate — a severely crushed or missing section requires excavation or pipe bursting instead of lining.

Step 2: Hydro-Jetting

The pipe interior must be clean before lining. We use a high-pressure hydro-jet to scour roots, grease, sediment, and debris from the pipe walls. Clean pipe is essential for proper liner contact and adhesion. We confirm cleanliness with a second camera pass before the liner goes in.

Step 3: Liner Preparation

The liner is a felt or fiberglass tube saturated with a thermosetting or UV-curable resin. Liner wall thickness is selected based on pipe diameter, host pipe condition, and the length of the span being repaired. For residential laterals in the 4-to-6-inch range common in Delaware County homes, thickness is determined by the pipe’s existing condition and the structural load requirements of the installation.

Step 4: Liner Installation

The saturated liner is pulled or inverted into position using water pressure or air, which pushes the liner outward against the pipe walls. The liner must maintain full contact with the host pipe throughout — any section that fails to seat correctly will be identified in the post-cure camera inspection.

Step 5: Curing

The resin cures by heat (steam or hot water circulation), ambient temperature, or UV light, depending on liner type and site conditions. Heat curing is common for residential laterals. Curing time varies by resin formulation, liner thickness, and ambient temperature. A properly cured liner is rigid and structural — not flexible — and forms a new pipe within the old one.

Step 6: Final Camera and Lateral Reconnection

After curing we run a final camera to confirm the liner seated correctly through the full run, that branch-line connections entering the main lateral are open, and that the liner is continuous without voids or wrinkles. If a branch connection was sealed over during installation, we use a robotic cutter to reopen it from inside the pipe.

CIPP Liner Standards and Testing

CIPP liner testing refers to the quality verification process that confirms a cured liner meets structural specifications. ASTM F1216 covers pressure-pipe CIPP applications; ASTM F2561 covers cured-in-place rehabilitation of non-pressure drainage conduits — the standard applicable to residential sewer laterals. Liner manufacturers test samples to verify wall thickness, flexural strength, and tensile modulus after curing. A reputable installer should be able to identify the liner product in use and specify which ASTM standard it has been tested against. These are not optional quality details; they determine whether the liner will perform over its expected service life.

How Long Does CIPP Lining Last?

CIPP liners installed to ASTM standards in a properly prepared host pipe are designed for a service life of 50 years. Unlike clay tile, the continuous liner has no joints for root intrusion and no segments that can settle independently. The clay tile itself becomes a passive host; the liner carries the structural function going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CIPP work on clay tile pipe?

Yes — clay tile is the most common CIPP host pipe in Delaware County. The liner bonds to the clay interior and seals the mortar joints against root intrusion and groundwater infiltration. As long as the pipe walls are intact enough to hold the liner in position, clay tile is an excellent candidate for CIPP.

Can CIPP be used for a short section rather than the full lateral?

Yes. Spot lining installs a short liner segment over a specific crack, root entry point, or offset joint when the rest of the lateral is in acceptable condition. Spot liners are sized for the specific defect location and do not run the full length of the pipe.

What is the difference between CIPP and pipe bursting?

CIPP installs a new liner inside the existing pipe without removing the old one. Pipe bursting pulls a new pipe through the old lateral while fracturing the old pipe outward. CIPP is used when the host pipe is structurally intact. Pipe bursting is used when the pipe is too damaged to serve as a CIPP host. Both are trenchless methods; the camera inspection determines which one applies.

Schedule a CIPP Evaluation for Your Delaware County Home

If a sewer camera has shown root intrusion, cracked joints, or infiltration in your lateral, CIPP lining is likely the right repair. Call Advanced Drains & Underground Solutions at 1-855-DONT-DIG (1-855-366-8344) to schedule a camera inspection and lining assessment. We serve all of Delaware County, PA.

Related: Learn more about our CIPP pipe lining services in Delaware County PA.