TRENCHLESS
Tunneling for plumbing repairs in Roswell
Tunneling for plumbing repairs in Roswell and North Metro Atlanta. When a pipe fails under the slab, one way to reach it is from outside: dig down at the foundation and tunnel beneath the house to the pipe. The floors stay. It is still excavation, with a plan for soil, foundation and backfill. Tell us where the leak is. Call 770-597-4141.
Signs you need tunneling for plumbing repairs
- A slab leak under a floor you do not want to open.
- The pipe runs under a finished kitchen, tile or hardwood.
- A reroute would mean opening more walls than a tunnel would.
- You were quoted tunneling and want to know if it is the right call.
How we diagnose it
- 1Confirm the leak and its spotTunneling is an access method, not a diagnosis. The leak gets located and marked first, so the tunnel goes to the pipe and not past it.
- 2Check what is in the waySoil, the foundation, footings, other utilities, and how far in the pipe sits. Those decide whether a tunnel is practical or a reroute is the better answer.
- 3Plan the dig and the fillWhere the entry pit goes, how far the tunnel runs, how the soil is handled, and what gets backfilled and restored. All of it priced before we dig.
Your likely options
- Method
Tunnel from outside
What it doesAn entry pit at the foundation and a tunnel under the slab to the pipe. The repair happens below, the floor above is never touched.
When it applies- finished floors over a reachable pipe near an outside wall.
- Method
Direct access through the slab
What it doesCut the floor at the marked spot and repair the pipe from above. Less digging, but the flooring in that spot comes up.
When it applies- a leak under a floor you are willing to open.
- Method
Reroute above the slab
What it doesLeave the failed pipe where it is and run a new line through the house instead. No tunnel, no slab cut, some wall or ceiling work.
When it applies- a pipe deep under the house, or a run that keeps failing.
What it costs
A visit to look at the problem. We tell you on the phone, before we schedule, whether that visit has a charge and what it is.
- Tunnel length from the entry pit to the pipe.
- Soil, depth and what the foundation needs around the opening.
- Backfill and outside restoration; flooring and foundation work are separate.
A written scope and price for the repair, before we start. No work beyond that scope without your OK.
Is a tunnel the right way in?
Tell us where the leak is and what floor sits over it. We compare tunnel, slab cut and reroute, and price the one that fits.
Tunneling for plumbing repairs questions
Is tunneling the same as trenchless?
No. Trenchless replaces or lines a pipe through access pits without a trench. Tunneling is digging, just from outside instead of through your floor. The names get mixed up; the jobs are different.
Will the yard and the house be untouched?
Inside, nothing is opened. The yard does not: there is an entry pit, a pile of soil and backfill afterwards. We tell you what gets restored and what does not.
Can every slab leak be reached by tunnel?
No. A pipe deep under the middle of the house, bad soil or a footing in the way can rule it out. Then a slab cut or a reroute is the answer.
Do you charge to come out and look?
We tell you on the phone, before we schedule, whether the visit has a charge and what it is.
How soon can you come?
Call and we tell you straight; it depends on the day. For an active leak or backup, call rather than sending the form.
