Pre-1910: Victorian and Edwardian
Older homes often have clay pipes with many joints, because builders used short lengths. Drains may be shared with neighbours. Some have combined drains that carry both waste and rainwater.
These pipes can crack or slip over time. Roots enter at the joints, since the joints can open. A camera survey is a good idea for homes of this age.
1910–1945: Edwardian and inter-war
Homes from this period also use clay pipes, although layouts vary. Layouts vary, and drains may run under extensions that were added later. Records can be missing.
Joint faults and roots are common here. Because the pipes are old, check their condition before you buy or build.
1945–1960: Post-war reconstruction
Post-war housing was built quickly. Builders used new materials as well as clay. Pitch fibre appeared in some homes in the post-war decades.
Our guide to pitch fibre pipes explains what to look for. A survey shows what your home has.
1960–1980: Post-war suburban expansion
Many suburban estates went up in these years, so pipe types vary. Pipes may be clay, pitch fibre or early plastic. Drains often run at the back of houses.
Quality varied by builder. For that reason, drain faults can differ from one street to the next. A survey gives the facts.
1980–2000: Thatcher-era and 90s builds
Homes from these decades usually have plastic or clay pipes in better order, since standards had improved. Standards had improved. Even so, poor workmanship can still cause faults.
Check for dips in pipes and joints that leak. Because the pipes are younger, problems are often local and easy to fix.
Post-2000: Modern builds
Modern homes usually have plastic pipes and separate drains for waste and rainwater, because that is now the standard. Many have sustainable drainage features. Faults tend to come from construction mistakes.
Check the drains when you move in. Debris from building work may still be there. Our guide for new build buyers has more.
Using this guide
Use this guide as a starting point, not a rule, because every property is different. Every property is different, and later work may have changed the drains. A camera survey shows what you have.
Keep a record of any work you do. That helps the next owner, and it helps you if you need to make a claim.
Related guides and local help
If you want to know more, read Victorian and Edwardian Drainage: Common Problems to Expect. You can also read Pitch Fibre Pipes: What They Are and What to Do About Them and When to Replace Drain Pipes: Signs, Lifespan and What to Do, because they cover closely related problems.
These guides help too: Drainage Guide for New Build Buyers: What to Check First, Boiler Pressure: Normal Range, Low Fixes and High Pressure, Why You Need a Drain Survey When Buying a House in the UK, Boiler Service: What Happens, How Often and Why It Matters and CCTV Drain Survey for Commercial Property: What to Expect. Each one explains a related topic in plain English.
Need help near you? Read our CCTV drain survey page first, or see CCTV Survey in Alford and CCTV Survey in Alfreton. You can also see Blocked Drains in Builth Wells, since every service page has a free quote form. We pass each request to a local drainage engineer.
