Family Owned & Operated For 100 Years
Pipe Bursting
Professional Pipe Bursting from licensed plumbers. Upfront pricing. Workmanship guaranteed. Serving the Golden Horseshoe since 1922.
Pipe bursting replaces a failed sewer lateral without excavation. A hydraulic bursting head is pulled through the existing pipe, fracturing it outward while simultaneously drawing a new HDPE pipe into position behind it. The result is a complete pipe replacement with a single continuous joint-free run, with no excavation required through your yard, driveway, or garden. Pipe bursting is the preferred method when the failed lateral passes beneath structures, mature trees, or hardscape where excavation would be prohibitively disruptive or expensive.
How Our Pipe Bursting Service Works
A clear, professional process every visit, every customer.
Camera Inspection
Full-length camera inspection documents the condition of the existing lateral and confirms it is a candidate for pipe bursting.
Access Point Preparation
Small entry and exit pits are excavated at the cleanout and the municipal connection, typically 60cm by 60cm, far smaller than a full lateral excavation.
Pull the Bursting Head
The hydraulic bursting head is pulled through the host pipe by a pulling cable, fracturing the old pipe outward and simultaneously drawing the new HDPE pipe into position.
Connect and Seal
The new pipe is connected at both ends with appropriate fittings, sealed, and the access pits are backfilled and compacted.
Post-Installation Camera
A final camera run verifies the new pipe is correctly seated, joints are sealed, and the lateral is ready for return to service.
Benefits of Professional Pipe Bursting
No Excavation Through Your Property
Mature landscaping, driveways, patios, and garden features remain completely intact. Access is through two small pits at the terminal points of the lateral only.
New HDPE Pipe, Not a Relined Old Pipe
Pipe bursting installs a brand-new HDPE pipe through the old pipe path: a completely new line, not a liner inside a deteriorated host pipe.
Handles Severe Pipe Deterioration
Pipe bursting works in laterals too deteriorated for relining: collapsed sections, severe offsets, and heavily corroded pipe are all candidates.
Minimal Service Disruption
The installation is typically complete in a single day with a brief service outage during the pull, a fraction of the disruption of full excavation.
Full Diameter Maintained or Increased
The new HDPE pipe can match or exceed the original diameter, restoring or improving flow capacity versus a liner that slightly reduces internal diameter.
Camera Inspection Confirms Candidacy
We perform a full camera inspection before recommending pipe bursting to confirm the lateral and access conditions support this method.
Workmanship Guaranteed
All pipe bursting installations are backed by our full workmanship guarantee. If the installation does not perform as specified, we return and resolve it.
100+ Years of Trusted Service
Birnie has been solving sewer lateral problems across the Golden Horseshoe since 1922. Our trenchless capability is built on that foundation.
Signs You Need Pipe Bursting Service
Camera inspection confirms pipe collapse, major offset, or full deterioration
Lateral passes beneath mature trees, a driveway, or structures where excavation is impractical
Full lateral replacement is required and trenchless access is confirmed
Previous trenchless lining is not viable due to pipe condition
Repeated backups after clearing with the lateral beyond effective spot repair
HDPE replacement pipe is preferred over reinstatement in an existing trench
Lateral material is confirmed orangeburg, clay, or severely corroded cast iron
Multiple collapses or near-collapses documented on camera
Root intrusion is through the pipe wall in multiple locations
Why Homeowners Choose Birnie Plumbing & Drains
Over 100 Years in Business
Family-owned for five generations since 1922. That kind of longevity is only possible by consistently doing right by customers.
Licensed and Insured
Every technician is a licensed plumber. Every job is fully insured. Professional-grade work with full accountability on every visit.
Diagnosis Before Recommendation
We identify the actual cause before recommending any repair. You get clear options with honest explanations — not upsells.
Upfront Pricing
We explain the cost clearly before work begins. No hidden charges. No after-the-fact additions. The price you approve is the price you pay.
Workmanship Guaranteed
All labour and materials are covered by our workmanship guarantee. If something we repaired fails, we come back and make it right.
Serving the Golden Horseshoe
From Hamilton and Burlington to Niagara Falls and Brantford, Birnie has served communities across the region for over a century.
When your the Golden Horseshoe sewer lateral is too deteriorated to line, pipe bursting replaces it without excavation. Birnie Plumbing & Drains pulls a bursting head through the existing pipe, fracturing it outward while simultaneously drawing in new HDPE pipe behind it — a completely new sewer lateral installed from two small access points, leaving your yard, driveway, and landscaping intact.
Call 1-877-578-4659 or request service online.
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Ready to Book Your Pipe Bursting Service?
Licensed plumbers. Upfront pricing. Over 100 years of trusted service across the Golden Horseshoe.