Do You Have Pitch Fibre Drains? | Pitch Fibre Specialists

Here’s How to Check

If you own a property in Bournemouth, Andover, Bath, Wimborne, Ferndown, Bridport, Corfe Mullen, or Corfe Castle, there’s a chance your underground drainage system could be hiding a bit of a time bomb: pitch fibre drains.

Not sure what that even means? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. Most homeowners have never heard of pitch fibre, let alone know whether it’s lurking beneath their home. But if your property was built between the 1950s and early 1970s, it might be time to take a closer look.

What Are Pitch Fibre Drains, Anyway?

Pitch fibre drains were a popular choice in post-war Britain. They were cheap, lightweight, and easy to install — made by compressing wood pulp and impregnating it with tar (a.k.a. pitch). Sounds a bit odd now, doesn’t it? But back then, it was seen as a revolutionary material.

Unfortunately, what seemed like a clever shortcut in the 60s hasn’t stood the test of time. These drains are now notorious for collapsing, blistering, and deforming, especially under pressure from modern appliances and tree roots.

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Why Should You Care?

Here’s the thing: pitch fibre drains don’t tend to fail overnight. They slowly deteriorate, often without you even knowing. That is, until you’ve got backed-up toilets, soggy patches in the garden, or worse — a nasty surprise during a property survey.

If you’re living in one of the older areas across Dorset, Wiltshire, or Somerset — places like Bath or Bournemouth, for instance — and you haven’t had your drains inspected in a while, now’s a good time to check if you’ve got pitch fibre underground.

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Your property’s age

Was your home built between the 1950s and 1970s? That’s the prime era for pitch fibre installations. Homes from that period were often fitted with these drains during construction.

Frequent blockages

Do your drains seem to block up a little too often? Pitch fibre pipes tend to deform over time, leading to poor flow and frequent clogs — even if you’re careful about what goes down the sink.

Slow drainage

If water is draining slowly — from sinks, toilets, or baths — it could mean there’s a partial collapse or warping in the pipe. Pitch fibre has a nasty habit of ‘squashing’ under pressure.

Tree roots

Got a lot of trees nearby? Pitch fibre drains are notorious for letting roots in, especially when they start to soften. If you’ve had issues with root ingress before, this could be a red flag.

So, What Should You Do Next?

Honestly — don’t start digging up your back garden or Googling pipe diagrams. The most straightforward and stress-free way to check is to book a professional CCTV drain survey.

A pitch fibre specialist will pop a camera down your drain system and take a good look. It’s quick, non-invasive, and gives you a crystal-clear answer: pitch fibre or not?

If they find it, they’ll also let you know the condition it’s in and whether it needs any work.

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Can Pitch Fibre Drains Be Repaired?

Yes — and it’s not always as disruptive as you might think.

If the pipes haven’t collapsed completely, pitch fibre relining can be a great solution. It involves inserting a resin liner inside the existing pipe — no digging, no fuss, and a much stronger, longer-lasting result.

If the pitch fibre has completely had it, a sectional repair or full replacement might be recommended. Either way, a good drainage specialist will walk you through your options and help you make the most cost-effective choice.

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Call Pitch Fibre Specialists Today

Whether you’re in Ferndown, Wimborne, Bridport, or tucked away in Corfe Castle, we work with homeowners all over the South West to inspect and repair pitch fibre drains.

So if you’ve got a sneaky suspicion your pipes might be made of old-school pitch fibre — or if you’re just curious — it’s better to check now than wait for a big, expensive mess later.

Need help? Questions? Want to book a CCTV drain survey?
Call Pitch Fibre Specialists now and speak to a real human (no call centre robots here). We’ll help you figure out what’s going on underground — and if your pitch fibre drains need some TLC, we’ll sort it.

Don’t wait for a full-blown blockage. Give us a ring today.