Cost guide
How much do pipework repairs cost?
Repairing an accessible burst pipe costs £150 to £400. Where the pipe is buried in a wall or under a solid floor the job is £400 to £900, and replacing a lead supply pipe from the boundary is £1,000 to £2,500.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your room.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Accessible burst pipe repair | £150 to £400 |
| Buried or concealed pipe repair | £400 to £900 |
| Thaw and repair a frozen pipe | £150 to £350 |
| Lead supply pipe replacement | £1,000 to £2,500 |
| Repipe a three-bedroom house | £3,000 to £8,000 |
| Pipe lagging, whole loft | £150 to £350 |
Ask your water company before paying for lead pipe replacement. Most replace their side of the boundary at no charge once you replace yours, and several run subsidy schemes for the private section.
What moves the price
- Access. A pipe under a floorboard is an hour; a pipe in a screeded floor is a day.
- Whether the section is patched or the whole leg is replaced.
- Out of hours attendance, which carries the emergency rate.
- Making good afterwards: plaster, floor and decoration are usually a separate trade.
- For lead replacement, the length of the run and whether the drive has to be crossed.
What the money buys: repairing burst and split pipe runs.
Who quotes for it
40 of the 61 plumbers and heating engineers listed on this site take on pipework repairs.
Most of them in one place: Leeds (9), Manchester (9), Liverpool (8), Birmingham (7), Glasgow (7).
Questions about pipework repairs
Should I replace my lead pipes?
Lead supply pipe is a recognised health concern in older properties. Replacing the private section is the owner's cost, but most water companies replace their side free and some subsidise yours, so ask them first.
What does it cost to repipe a house?
£3,000 to £8,000 for a typical three-bedroom house, depending on floor construction and how much is accessible. It is usually done alongside a heating replacement or a full renovation rather than on its own.