Pipetek SL

With the onset of the ‘credit crunch’ in 2008 and the world financial crisis leading to a major worldwide recession, Pipetek SL were pleased to end 2009 on a high note. As a supplier of much needed services such as drain cleaning, water leak detection etc. Pipetek’s format has seen the company weather the financialstorm but not without its peralous moments.

“Like for like sales data has continued to increase despite the lack of residents living along the coast” stated Jim Fraser, Managing Director of Pipetek SL, a reference to the amount of empty properties and lack of long term visitors/owners throughout 2009. “Thanks to our continued involvement with the insurance industry and property administration companies we have increased our fixed contract portfolio thus turning a potentially damaging year into a good one. However, one major client did give us a bit of a scare towards the end of the summer period when a lack of payment created what could have been a potentially disastrous cash-flow problem. Fortunately our strength as a company see us through.”

During 2009 Pipetek SL completed a major tie up with a UK manufacturer of pipe relining materials to become sole supplier across the Iberian Peninsular including Gibraltar and Portugal. Renoline UK has been at the forefront of Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) relining technology for many years and its marriage with Pipetek SL was a natural progression for both parties. “We have always been an installer of Renoline’s products and remain southern Spain’s only  company capable of conducting such operations” remarked Jim Fraser, “Our nearest competitor is in Madrid who focuses it’s operation on industrial and commercial clients. Our operation is focused on the domestic market to offer our clients a cost effective repair and renovation service of their drainage pipework.”

For those not in the know! CIPP relining is a term given to being able to renew/renovate a buried pipe without the need for major excavation. The defective pipe, once surveyed and approved for the relining process, has a liner impregnated with a resin inserted along its length. The liner is then inflated and left to cure in place and ‘Hay Presto’, you are left with a seamless, strong, free flowing pipe capable of withstanding root ingress and much more although the actual process is much more complicated than we have made it sound above.

So what next for 2010? “Continued growth is very much on the agenda for this company with a view to either attracting a major player to buy into us; a well established, professional company with a very good reputation, or becoming a major player within our field of expertise in our own right” states Jim who’s drive and ambition for Pipetek is clearly visible. ” We lack any real competition within the Spanish market and we are already one of Spains largest companies of it’s type. A few expats continue to try to copy our portfolio of services but lack the training, expertise and experience of our service engineers. They see our vehicles throughout the Costa del Sol, Inland areas and now up on the Costa Almeria and clearly think that they can make a fast buck but unfortunatley we more often have to follow behind to pick up the pieces; my filing cabinet is full of clients we have had the pleasure of working with who have fallen foul of such operations.”

Clearly Pipetek SL is a company to follow and should you be unfortunate enough to require any of the services offered by them, you would be unwise to go elsewhere particularly as they remain competitive with their pricing structure. For further information visit the website at www.pipetek.net

In this webisode of the Siesta Show  Jim from Pipe-Tek SL discusses common problems with swimming pools in Spain. For example, how to tell if your pool is losing water from a leak or from evaporation.

Part 1

Part 2

Pipetek has long been one of Spain’s largest expat advertisers with ads, advertorials, editorials and advice pages in virtually every English speaking publication from Cadiz to Almeria. Now, if that was not enough, the directors at Pipetek SL have taken their successful service business to the airwaves of Andalucía.

In the first of what is to be a series of professional radio broadcasts the ‘I’ve got a leak but can’t find it’ ad is being rolled out on Coastline FM covering the Eastern Costa del Sol and the Axarquia. This is to be followed by the Guadalhorce Valley area including the Alhuarin/Coin area on Ace FM.

“This is truly a momentous moment in our companies advertising history”  says Jim Fraser, Managing Director of Pipetek SL. “We look forward to reaching a greater audience and clientele using radio media and get our most important message across that we are here to help even if that advice is free”

Pipetek has risen to be at the forefront of drain care and repair in Spain with its power base currently in Andalucía. Even in the current economic downturn, Pipetek SL has continued to increase its market share offering a quality service far in excess of any similar operators anywhere in Spain. With engineers based throughout Andalucía Pipetek are the largest expat Drain Care & Repair service in Spain and add to that the other services offered including water leak detection, pool leak detection, damp and structural surveying together with Pipetek’s latest major first; becoming the sole supplier and installer of Renoline CIPP relining products, makes Pipetek SL a major player in the services sector.

For more information visit www.pipetek.net

Pipetek SL (www.pipetek.net), the experts when it comes to a blocked drain, leaking pipe or pool leak in Spain, announce their new appointment as the sole supplier of Renoline® drain & pipe relining equipment and products in Spain, and indeed the whole of the Iberian peninsula. Renoline® is one of Europe’s leading pipe relining product manufacturers and this news means that their excellent relining system can now be installed by Pipetek anywhere in Spain, Portugal or Gibraltar.

When you have a damaged pipe or drain, replacing the entire pipe is disruptive, can be costly and not always necessary. The Renoline® CIPP (Cured In Place Pipe) relining system allows a new pipe made from a substance similar to glass reinforced plastic to be molded within the damaged pipe forming a lining, avoiding the need for major excavation. The new pipe fits tightly to the existing one via ‘inversion’: a method that uses air or water pressure. The resulting pipe is superior in strength, quality and durability with much less disruption and mess caused than replacing the entire damaged pipe by major excavation.

Pipetek are experts in pipe relining technology and regularly utilise this method to help repair pipes and drains throughout Spain. The company welcomes the accolade of becoming the certified installer & sole supplier for the Iberian peninsula of Renoline’s respected relining system. Managing Director of Pipetek, Jim Fraser, says: “We look forward to installing the Renoline system as a solution to a plethora of drain and pipe problems, from root ingress causing blockages, leaking low pressure water pipes through to major sewer collapses. Our clients never cease to be amazed by the relining process and its ease of installation compared with the alternative method of disruptive excavations.” 

Pipetek have built up a sterling reputation for solving Spain’s pipe and drain problems. Their services have become so sought after that the demand sees them repairing pipes as far afield as Barcelona and Valencia, as well as drain clearing throughout Andalucía and the Costa Blanca and even helping with the increasing problem of new and existing properties with damp penetration by offering a full survey service.

This new agreement with Renoline® sees Pipetek SL extend their service reach to Portugal. As part of the new partnership, Pipetek SL is looking to recruit and train sales staff and begin marketing the Renoline® relining products for installation with local authorities, developers, communities and individual clients. If you would like to find out more about the relining process visit www.pipetek.net

Pipetek, the experts in drain clearing on the Costa del Sol, have appeared on Eye On Spain’s The Siesta Show to share with viewers tips on spotting and treating damp: an issue that is becoming more and more prevalent in Spanish properties. Jim Fraser, Managing Director of the drainage and water leak detection company (www.pipetek.net), gives this free ‘damp course’ over two shows, in a bid to highlight ways property owners can detect and deal with damp in Spain.

Jim Fraser explains that through Pipetek’s servicing of drains in Andalucia, the company became aware of a burgeoning problem within Spanish properties, particularly newly built properties. Damp on the Costa del Sol may seem incongruous, but in fact two of the three types of damp, penetrating damp and condensation-caused damp (rising damp, while common in the UK, is relatively rare in Spain), are rife and in some cases causing irreparable damage. Towards the end of 2007 and throughout 2008, Pipetek saw a significantly increased number of damp-related call-outs. Now, conducting damp investigations and providing individuals, urbanisation officials and insurance companies with the resulting technical reports is a core part of their service. Jim Fraser is clear that, in their expert opinion and having analysed hundreds of reports’ worth of evidence, the damp in Spain is caused by poor construction techniques abounding in the recent construction boom. Jim is also very clear about the ramifications: he has seen many property “dreams shattered” with “entire properties obliterated” by damp.

These shows are far from doom and gloom, however. Instead, Jim guides us through what to do with regard to our own properties, potentially saving owners thousands of euros. Jim shows us a number of different properties with serious damp problems and talks us through the sources of damp in each.

Penetrating damp caused by defective services in the property is common: one property had a defective foul system with the blockage causing moisture to penetrate into the substructure of the building; while another’s electrical supply had brought water in through the conduits after torrential rain. Jim explained that hidden buried chambers are common underneath newly built properties in Spain, and when they are blocked (often with old building materials left from the construction) they can often lead to damp ingress in ground-floor properties.

In some of these cases the damp was so bad that it rendered the property completely uninhabitable, a sobering thought when faced with the simple – and free – tips that Jim went on to explain could have detected the damp issue before real damage was done. A simple flow test of your drainage system can alert you to potential troubles. Simply flush a toilet and go straight outside to the manhole cover over your property’s drains, lift it (with care) and check that there is water flowing. This may seem simple, but seeing that there is a problem with the flow will allow you to address the issue before damp has had a chance to penetrate.

Condensation is another common cause of damp and is difficult to avoid in the hot and humid conditions of Southern Spain, especially considering that 10kg of moisture is created per person per day in a normal household. Jim has more free and simple advice here: know how to identify this type of damp and treat it with a bleach-based cleaning fluid. Other simple tips include using de-humidifiers and silica gel packs.

Damp on the Costa del Sol seems to be taking hold, but take Pipetek’s ‘damp course’ by watching their appearance on The Siesta Show (www.eyeonspain.com/tv, programmes 39 and 40) and you can help protect your home against this insidious problem. To find out about the full range of services that Pipetek offer, from drain clearing in Andalucia to water leaks on the Costa del Sol, visit www.pipetek.net.

Drain systems naturally deteriorate over time and because drains are hidden from view, often the first indication of damage is a problem materialising in the property. Getting to the bottom of the problem can be a disruptive and costly process if not left to the experts. Pipetek (www.pipetek.net), the leading company specialising in drain clearing on the Costa del Sol and wider Andalucia, use cutting edge CCTV technology to diagnose and solve the problem, saving time, mess and money.

The latest technological equipment, combined with years of professional experience in the field, allows Pipetek to accurately diagnose the source of the problem, whether it is manifested as a leak, a damp patch or wall fractures. CCTV cameras allow for diagnostic surveys to be carried out on pipes between 75mm and 1000mm wide; surveys that provide vital information as to the cause of the problem.

Structural damage to drain systems can be caused by root ingress to the pipe or by natural ground movement causing fractures through which water seeps, sometimes causing the complete collapse of the pipe. Regardless of the underlying issue, Pipetek’s CCTV surveys give unparalleled access to this cause, allowing them to provide the client with both comprehensive analytical reports of the findings, supplied in jargon-free plain English, as well as video footage. Pipetek can then advise on the best course of action. Pipetek also carries out pre-purchase CCTV surveys on properties to ascertain the quality of the drains, saving potential purchasers thousands of euros in some cases.

If you have a blocked drain in Spain, a water leak on the Costa del Sol or a problem with damp in Spain, then contact the experts at the cutting edge of the industry: Pipetek. Visit www.pipetek.net.

Did you know that poor drainage or water leaks are often the underlying causes of damp in properties? Pipetek (www.pipetek.net), the experts to call for a blocked drain in Spain, are also who to call when your property has damp. Their investigative and holistic approach to diagnosing damp includes full examination of all drains, pipes and potential leaks or drainage issues that could well be the root cause.

Pipetek have long been the go-to company when it comes to drain clearing on the Costa del Sol or a water leak in Andalucia, but they are also often called in to assess the increasing problem of properties with damp in Spain. Last year, the company saw a marked increase in the number of call-outs to properties ridden with damp, mainly new-builds which were manifesting problems caused by inadequate drainage factored into the build plan, or shoddy construction in general. Given the proliferation of new builds in recent years, particularly in the coastal areas, these damp problems have been keeping the Pipetek team busy.

Utilising state-of-the-art CCTV surveying equipment and strategic analysis, Pipetek can get to the root cause of the damp. They check the supply of services, any possible root ingress problem and search for underground cavities left by the builders at the time of construction – a potential breeding ground for moisture and subsequent damp. Their years of experience assessing all levels, types and causes of damp in Spain, allows them to expertly advise as to the treatment of the damp and ongoing preventative care of the property. Detailed analytical reports are provided to each client, outlining all methods, findings and recommendations, often with accompanying photographic evidence and CCTV results.

Contact Pipetek to find out more about how their services run from damp on the Costa del Sol to blocked drains in and around Andalucia. Visit www.pipetek.net for a full list of their services.

The last decade has seen a construction boom in Spain largely to cater for the many expats seeking a sun-soaked life on the beautiful costas. Until the recent economic downturn, new developments seemed to appear almost overnight, such was the speed and spread of new-build properties in Spain. Not many of the proud new owners of these properties would have even considered that damp could become an issue in their home; surely not in a brand new construction in one of the warmest and driest climates in Europe? But damp in Spain is becoming a very real and costly problem in many new-builds, as drain and damp experts, Pipetek (www.pipetek.net) have discovered.

Managing Director of Andalucia-based Pipetek SL, Jim Fraser, explains: “The massive building boom in Spain has seen some builders cut corners in their rush to complete developments. This has been a problem in some new-builds for years, but until recently it was poor finishing and attention to detail that would suffer, rather than anything more serious. But we saw a significant increase in call-outs for damp-related issues in new-build properties throughout 2008 and a pattern has begun to emerge of a worrying link between shoddy construction and ongoing damp problems”.

This increasing problem is popping up all along the costas of Andalucia, according to the technical reports from Pipetek. These detailed and unbiased technical reports are provided to each client following a call-out and any work undertaken for any issues relating to pipes or drainage. More and more of these reports are showing findings of damp in properties that would never normally be afflicted. Fraser is certain that in most cases, the culprit is rushed and poor construction. “We assess each client and each issue independently and without presumption. We combine years of experience in  

pipe and drain clearing in Andalucia with state-of-the-art CCTV surveying and camera analysis to come to the root cause of the problem. We have been staggered by the amount of damp on the Costa del Sol and other coasts in Andalucia, most of which are in new-builds.” Pipetek issued 120 technical reports on damp issues in 2008 alone; 70% of which were on newly constructed buildings.

Fraser and other experts agree that the most likely cause is a slap-dash approach to building new developments along the coast as quickly as possible to cater for the huge demand. This greedy and shoddy approach by some construction companies may become a thing of the past now demand has decreased in the downturn, but the legacy of cutting corners is unfortunately going to be felt by many home owners who may start to wonder if they have in fact moved to the Costa del Damp.

Pipetek are experts in everything to do with pipes and drainage, and carry out work in and around Andalucia, whether it’s a blocked drain or a water leak. If you have a problem with damp in Spain, or drains in Andalucia, visit www.pipetek.net for more information.

If your prized swimming pool has sprung a leak then call in the experts to assess the cause and advise on the best course of action. Pipetek’s expertise in pipes and drainage systems means they can help get your pool fixed, full to the brim and watertight. Pipetek (www.pipetek.net) are the ‘go-to’ company for a blocked drain in Spain, however their expertise in all things drainage means that they can help with all manner of property problems, from a leaky swimming pool to a damp problem in Spain.

Not only are the Pipetek team problem-solvers, but they also act on an advisory basis. Their years of experience have seen them bear witness to all manner of swimming pool drainage issues and water leaks in Spain. This enables them to advise on a detailed and specialist level, in the cases of swimming pool leaks: pool construction, design factors, maintenance and repair. Often, swimming pool leaks are in fact due to a number of underlying factors, highlighting the importance of a diagnostic water leak detection service such as that offered by Pipetek. One recent case Pipetek successfully ‘solved’ found that a combination of incorrectly installed light fittings and poor pool construction were behind the badly leaking pool.

Following pressure testing of each individual piped system within the pool water circulation system, the Pipetek team found that the tubes carrying the electrical cables for the light fittings were underneath the water line, causing the lights to have blown and cease functioning, and that water from the pool was entering the electrical system through these poorly installed light fittings. In addition to this, the team found a large amount of structural cracks on the internal pool surface, in some areas the cracks being wide enough to allow water to escape. Finally, the floor of the pool was found to have signs of structural movements which was causing the water cascade feature of the infinity pool design to flow unevenly. All of these findings, presented to the client in a clear analytical report with photographic evidence, resulted in a recommendation that the installers of the pool were contacted and asked to repair the problems which were in part down to poor construction, while Pipetek sealed the electrical cables to assist in this area of water loss.

This is just one example of how Pipetek helps assess water leaks on the Costa del Sol, from swimming pools to leaking bathroom pipes. While they may be the premier company clearing blocked drains in Spain and they may be better known for their work drain clearing on the Costa del Sol, their expert services extend to water leaks throughout Andalucia and even damp problems in Spain. Find out more at www.pipetek.net.

If you have damaged pipework in your drainage system you can save time and disruption by relining the existing, damaged pipe rather than excavating and replacing the whole thing. Until now, pipe relining or repatching was not widely available throughout Spain, but that’s no longer the case thanks to the professionals at Pipetek (www.pipetek.net), the leading company providing drain care and repair throughout Andalucia, as well as leak detection and damp surveys.

The specialist skill of pipe relining allows Pipetek to save their clients considerable upheaval, as a problem pipe relined (where possible) is significantly easier than replacing it. While investigating problems with drains in Spain, Pipetek come across all manner of problems, from root ingress to extreme damp-ridden properties. Whenever the problems are caused by cracked or even collapsed pipes, Pipetek can use their expertise, skill, experience and technological equipment to reline the pipes instead of having to completely replace them, depending on the individual case. In the cases where relining is possible, a new pipe made out of a material similar to glass-reinforced plastic, is placed within the existing pipe. Although flexible at first, the new pipe is then moulded to the damaged pipe by using ‘inversion’: a technique that uses air or water pressure to fit both the damaged and existing pipe together. Once set in place the relined pipe is tough and strong enough to work perfectly without causing problems. The relined pipe is also seamless and therefore leak free and root ingress becomes a thing of the past. Even if the original pipe completely breaks down, the new cured in place pipe (CIPP) remains strong and free flowing; All this without the considerable mess and upheaval of excavating floors, terraces and gardens or digging into walls to replace the damaged pipe in its entirety. 

Pipetek are the only company in southern Spain to offer CIPP Relining Technology and will soon offer the latest concept in patch lining; the ability to repair a small section of pipe that is leaking or allowing root ingress. This service will soon be available to Pipetek customers and will bring a surgeon-like precision to the skill of pipe maintenance and repair.

“We have always offered and conducted such works within the confines of Gibraltar and the UK and our engineers have conducted relining works for clients such as The Ministry of Defence, the Government of Gibraltar, Marks & Spencer’s, Coca-Cola UK and Exxon Mobile” said Jim Fraser, Managing Director of Pipetek SL. “We have now completed a major tie up with one of Europe’s premier suppliers of the relining product, Renoline, and we have been appointed sole supplier of their products for the Iberian Peninsular.

Pipetek SL, together with Renoline Limited in the UK, is soon to commence offering training on the installation of the various relining products. This training will be aimed at providing other drainage companies, plumbers, engineers etc. with the specialized skill required to conduct such an operation. Pipetek has always prided itself on its close relationship with other companies of a similar nature offering help and support when required and are looking forward to forging new ties within the Spanish and Portuguese markets.

The pipe relining process can be applied to any material and any diameter from 75mm and has proven very cost effective on main sewer systems for local authorities and urbanizations. To find out more about pipe relining or any of the other professional services offered by Pipetek visit www.pipetek.net