Both rebuild a damaged pipe from the inside with no trench. CIPP lining pulls or inverts a resin-soaked felt tube into the pipe and cures it into a new pipe-within-a-pipe; epoxy brush coating applies structural epoxy directly to the cleaned pipe wall, so it follows bends, branches and changes in diameter. Brush coating suits building drains and laterals with fittings and turns; CIPP suits longer, straighter runs. Either way, the pipe has to be cleaned and still round, and a camera decides which applies.
How does CIPP lining work?
Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) uses a flexible felt or fiberglass tube saturated with resin. The tube is inverted or pulled into the cleaned host pipe, inflated against the wall, and cured with hot water, steam or UV light until it hardens into a seamless new pipe inside the old one. Inversion-installed CIPP is covered by the industry standard ASTM F1216. It is widely used on municipal mains and long residential laterals.
How does epoxy brush coating work?
Brush coating skips the tube. After the line is hydro jetted back to bare wall, milled if hardened scale or an old liner is in the way, and dried, a structural epoxy is applied across the interior surface in layers. The coating bonds to the host pipe and seals cracks, pinholes, corrosion and open joints. Because there is no tube to fold or bunch, it follows bends, wyes and changes in pipe size. This is the method we use; the details are on our trenchless sewer repair page.
Epoxy brush coating vs. CIPP: how do they compare?
| Epoxy brush coating | CIPP lining | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is applied | Epoxy coated directly onto the cleaned pipe wall | Resin-soaked tube inverted or pulled in, then cured |
| Bends and fittings | Follows bends, wyes and diameter changes | Best on straighter runs; tight bends can wrinkle the liner |
| Branch connections | Stay open; nothing to reinstate | Must be cut back open after curing |
| Lost pipe diameter | Minimal; a thin coating | The liner wall's thickness |
| Typical use | Building drains, cast iron under slabs, laterals with turns | Long laterals and municipal mains |
| Access | Existing cleanouts | Cleanouts or access pits |
| Pipe must be | Cleaned, dry, still round | Cleaned, still round |
Which one does your pipe need?
Start with what is inside the house. Cast iron drains under a slab, with several fittings and changes in direction, are where brush coating shines, because a tube liner struggles to make those turns and every branch has to be reopened afterward. A long, straight clay lateral from the house to the street is a classic CIPP job, though brush coating can handle it too. What neither method can do is fix a pipe that has collapsed, separated, or sags in a belly that holds standing water; those sections need excavation and replacement, as we cover in trenchless repair vs. excavation.
Why does the cleaning step matter so much?
Neither lining bonds to grease, scale or roots. A pipe that is only partly cleaned traps debris behind the lining and leaves weak spots. That is why every lining job we do starts with hydro jetting to bare pipe, milling anything water will not move, and a camera pass to confirm the wall is ready. It ends with a second camera pass so you see the finished pipe before you pay.
We line pipes with epoxy brush coating because so much of the damage we see around Parker and Denver is in the hard places: corroded cast iron under basement slabs and laterals with turns that a tube liner fights. If your line is a long straight run where CIPP is the better fit, we will tell you that too. The camera makes the call, not the method we happen to own.
What should you do next?
If you have been quoted for lining or excavation and want a second look, call (303) 476-3160 or get your free quote. We will review the footage with you and explain which repair your pipe actually needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is epoxy brush coating the same as pipe lining?
It is a form of trenchless pipe lining, but it works differently from the more familiar CIPP tube liner. Instead of inserting a resin-soaked tube, structural epoxy is applied directly to the cleaned pipe wall. That lets it follow bends and fittings and keeps branch connections open without reinstatement.
Which lasts longer, epoxy coating or CIPP?
Both are designed as long-term repairs when installed on a properly cleaned, structurally sound pipe. How long either lasts depends far more on preparation and installation quality than on the method. Ask any contractor what cleaning they do first and whether they verify the finished pipe on camera.
Can cast iron pipe under a slab be lined?
Yes, if it is corroded or cracked but still holds its shape. The pipe is jetted and milled back to bare metal, then coated. Lining avoids breaking up the basement floor. If a section has collapsed or broken apart, that section has to be replaced.
Do I need to leave the house during pipe lining?
Usually not, but you will not be able to use the drains being lined until the coating or liner cures. Most residential lining jobs are done within a day; your contractor should tell you exactly which fixtures are out of service and for how long.