Drain relining is a specialist trade. Not every plumbing company has the equipment, the liner materials, or the trained operators to do it correctly. And unlike a blocked drain that fails obviously and immediately, a poorly installed liner may not show its defects for months or years. Choosing the right contractor from the start is the most important decision in the process.
Quick answer (BLUF)
Check for a valid NSW plumbing contractor licence, ask specifically about the liner system and manufacturer they use, request a post-job CCTV report as a contract condition, and understand what the warranty covers before you sign anything. Three quotes with these elements allows meaningful comparison. The cheapest quote is not automatically the best, but the most expensive is not automatically the most trustworthy either.
Confirm licensing before anything else
All drain relining work in NSW must be carried out by or under the supervision of a licensed plumbing contractor. Licensing is administered by NSW Fair Trading. You can verify a contractor’s licence at fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.
What to look for:
- A current Plumbing Contractor Licence (not just a tradesperson licence)
- Licence class that covers drainage (most full contractor licences include this)
- No conditions or restrictions noted on the licence record
A contractor who cannot provide their licence number or who is vague about their licensing status is not a contractor you should engage.
Ask about their specific liner system
Drain relining is not one product. Different contractors use different liner materials, different resin systems and different installation methods. The quality varies substantially. Ask:
Which liner manufacturer do you use?
Reputable liner manufacturers active in the Australian market include Brawoliner, Perma-Pipe, Nu-Drain and others. A contractor working with a recognised manufacturer’s product system (not a generic import) can point you to the manufacturer’s product certification and warranty documents.
What resin system do you use?
Common options are epoxy resin (most durable, longer cure time) and vinyl ester resin (faster cure, good chemical resistance). For residential sewer and stormwater applications, epoxy is the most common and generally preferred. Ask why they use the resin they do.
What installation method do you use?
Inversion, pull-in-place, or UV cure. Understand the method and why it is appropriate for your job. A UV cure system is faster and can reduce the total job time significantly, but requires specialist UV equipment that not all contractors carry.
Insist on pre- and post-job CCTV reports
A contractor who does not include a pre-lining and post-lining CCTV inspection as standard practice is a contractor to be cautious of. The pre-lining inspection:
- Defines the scope of defects being addressed
- Provides a baseline for the warranty (what was wrong before, what has been fixed)
- Maps the pipe layout and identifies access points
The post-lining inspection:
- Confirms the liner is installed correctly and uniformly
- Confirms all lateral reinstatements are open
- Provides the documentation for the warranty claim if defects arise later
This CCTV documentation should be provided to you in a written report with video footage. If a contractor says “we don’t provide post-job footage” or “you can trust our work,” that is not an acceptable response.
Understand the warranty structure
Drain relining warranties have two components that are often conflated:
Product warranty: The liner manufacturer warrants the material, the liner fabric and resin, for a specified period. Quality products carry 50-year structural warranties. This is a manufacturer warranty, not a contractor warranty.
Workmanship warranty: The contractor warrants their installation work, that the liner was correctly prepared, installed and cured. This is typically 5-25 years depending on the contractor.
When a contractor says “we offer a 50-year warranty,” they mean the product warranty, not that the contractor will be around and responsible for 50 years. Ask what the workmanship warranty period is, what it covers and what the claim process looks like. Get it in writing.
Conditions that can void warranties include: use of chemical drain cleaners after relining (some products), mechanical damage from third parties, or pipe defects outside the relined section that cause flow problems.
Red flags when getting quotes
| Red flag | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Quote given over the phone without a site visit or CCTV inspection | Guesswork, not assessment |
| No post-job CCTV report offered | No accountability for installation quality |
| Vague warranty terms (no written warranty document) | No real warranty exists |
| Unable to provide licence number | Unlicensed or uncertain of status |
| Pushes excavation without offering relining assessment | May not have relining capability |
| Significantly below-market price with no explanation | Cheaper liner materials, unskilled labour |
| Pressure to sign same day | Sales tactic, not confidence |
Questions to ask before signing
Use this list when comparing contractors:
- Can you provide your NSW plumbing contractor licence number?
- Which liner manufacturer’s product do you use?
- Can you provide the product datasheet and manufacturer warranty documentation?
- Do you include pre-lining and post-lining CCTV reports in your quote?
- What is your workmanship warranty period and what does it cover?
- Who specifically will be on-site doing the installation?
- Have you worked on [terracotta / AC cement / this pipe diameter] before?
- What happens if the camera finds something worse than expected on the day?
- Will you provide the CCTV footage files, or just the written report?
- What payment terms do you require?
Getting multiple quotes
For any relining job over $3,000, three quotes is sensible. But quotes are only comparable if they are based on the same information. If one contractor quoted after a CCTV inspection and two others quoted over the phone without site access, the comparison is not meaningful.
Ideally, all three contractors should inspect the pipe before quoting. If a contractor is unwilling to quote without inspecting first, that is actually a green flag, it means they are serious about understanding the job.
FAQs
How do I check if a plumber’s licence is valid in NSW?
Go to service.nsw.gov.au and use the Licence Check tool under Fair Trading. Enter the contractor’s name or licence number. The result will show licence type, expiry date and any conditions or disciplinary actions.
Should I always get three quotes for drain relining?
For jobs over $3,000, $5,000, three quotes are worthwhile. For smaller point repair jobs, two may suffice. The more important criterion is that the quotes are based on actual inspection and comparable scope.
Is there an industry association for drain relining contractors in Australia?
The Master Plumbers Association (MPA) is the main industry association for plumbing contractors in NSW. Membership is voluntary but indicates a commitment to professional standards. Relining-specific certifications from liner manufacturers are another positive indicator, some manufacturers train and accredit installers.
What if the contractor does a bad job, what are my options?
If the workmanship warranty claim is not honoured, you can lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trading, which has the power to investigate licensed contractors. For significant financial disputes, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) handles consumer disputes against licensed contractors.