Why Coating Your Main Line Pipes Is Not a Good Idea
Pipe Coating Is a Temporary Band-Aid — Not a Real Fix
Coating, also called epoxy lining or pipe relining, is often sold as a “trenchless” alternative to replacing old cast iron pipes. But what many homeowners don’t realize is that coating often causes more problems than it solves — and leaves you with the same failing system under the surface.
At Pipe Dream Plumbing, we specialize in long-lasting cast iron pipe repair — not temporary fixes. Here’s why coating is not the solution you’re being promised.
The Real Problems with Pipe Coating
Preparation Can Worsen the Damage
Before epoxy can be applied, your pipes must be aggressively cleaned using mechanical descaling or hydrojetting. For already weakened cast iron, this process can crack, collapse, or completely destroy your pipes before the coating is even installed.
Coating Only Works in Straight Lines
Most home plumbing systems include multiple branches, turns, and pipe splits. Epoxy can only coat straight sections, which means:
It can’t reach or protect the full system
T-joints, elbows, and split lines — where many failures occur — are left untreated
You’re still vulnerable to leaks, backups, and corrosion
It Doesn’t Restore Structural Strength
Epoxy may seal the inside of the pipe, but it does nothing to rebuild the integrity of deteriorating cast iron. If your pipe is crumbling or flaking, coating just traps the problem inside.
Coating Can Crack, Flake, or Fail Over Time
As pressure builds and temperatures fluctuate, coatings can separate from the pipe wall, leading to more leaks — and now, even harder-to-fix blockages. Once it fails, your options are more limited and more expensive.
High Cost for Low Value
Many companies charge thousands for coating jobs — sometimes more than full pipe replacement — while delivering half the lifespan and none of the structural benefits.
OUR BENEFITS
What You Should Do Instead
At Pipe Dream Plumbing, we offer the most affordable, long-lasting cast iron pipe repair in the industry.
We don’t patch over problems — we eliminate them by:
Replacing deteriorated pipe sections with modern, durable materials
Using techniques that preserve your home and foundation
Giving you a solution that actually restores your system, not hides its failures
Before You Agree to Coating — Talk to Us
We’re not here to scare or upsell you. We’re here to tell the truth, show you what’s really going on with your plumbing, and offer the most cost-effective fix that lasts.