· NuFlow Certified · Bolden Pipe Technologies · Trelleborg Family ·
Licensed Master Plumber · Ann Arbor & SE Michigan
How Every Job Begins
We follow a clear, repeatable process, no matter what service you require:
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Inspect & Assess
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Camera inspection of your pipe system. We see exactly what's there before recommending anything.
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Diagnose & Review
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All findings are explained clearly, using video and photo evidence. No assumptions.
3
Explain Options & Recommend
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Walk you through what we found and what your options are. Clearly.
4
Decide & Schedule
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You choose the next step from our professional recommendations, on your timeline.
If you do not need service we will gladly let you know, if you do and you want to move forward, we schedule the work. If not, you leave with the inspection report.
PIPE REHABILITATION Versus Replacement
Cracked, leaking, or deteriorating sewer and drain pipes don't always require excavation. With decades of experience and as a NuFlow trained and certified CIPP contractor, Fathom rehabilitates pipe systems from the inside out: no digging, no demolition, no tenant displacement.
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We specialize in the assessment and rehabilitation of aging drain, waste, vent, and sewer systems across Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and SE Michigan; including cast iron, clay, concrete, and Orangeburg pipe. Every job begins with a camera inspection. You see what's in your pipe before we recommend anything.
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Not every pipe qualifies for rehabilitation. When it does, the result is a permanent fix; backed by NuFlow warranty. When it doesn't, we'll tell you clearly and explain why.
When Pipe Rehabilitation Is the Right Solution
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Repeated sewer backups or slow drains
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Cracked or offset underground piping
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Root intrusion in otherwise stable pipes​
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Aging cast iron, clay, or concrete sewer lines​
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Sewer issues beneath slabs, landscaping, or pavement
When Pipe Replacement
Is the Better Choice
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Pipes have collapsed or severe deformation​
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Sections are missing or no longer continuous​
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Pipe diameter has been compromised beyond limits​
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Improper slope or alignment must be corrected​
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If replacement is required, we’ll tell you clearly—and explain why.
Aging Pipe Systems in SE Michigan — Know What You Have — Orangeburg, CAST Iron, Clay Pipe
Orangeburg Pipe — A compressed wood pulp and pitch material installed widely through the 1970s. It deteriorates from the inside out, deforms under pressure, and eventually collapses. If your home or building was constructed before 1972, there is a real possibility Orangeburg is still in the ground beneath it.
Cast Iron Pipe — Durable when installed, but decades of corrosion, scale buildup, and joint failure take their toll. Cast iron drain and sewer lines are among the most common rehabilitation candidates we assess — especially in multi-unit buildings and older commercial properties.
Vitrified Clay Pipe — Common in sewer lines installed before the 1970s. Clay is brittle, susceptible to root intrusion, and prone to joint separation over time. When the pipe itself is structurally sound, CIPP lining is often the right solution. When it isn't, we'll tell you.
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Fathom specializes in the assessment, rehabilitation, and replacement of all three across Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and SE Michigan. We use CCTV camera inspection to evaluate current condition and determine whether trenchless pipe lining is viable — before recommending anything.
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What CIPP Does Well
Creates a new, joint-free pipe inside the old one
Seals cracks, leaks, and minor offsets
Prevents root intrusion
Minimizes excavation and surface disruption
What CIPP Cannot Do
Fix collapsed or severely misaligned pipes
Correct improper slope or flow direction
Restore pipes that are structurally unsound
CIPP is a rehabilitation tool - not a replacement shortcut.
CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe)
What It Is...and What It Isn’t
experienced. Certified. Trained. Backed by Industry Leaders.
Fathom is a certified installer and authorized contractor within the Trelleborg family of pipe rehabilitation systems, including NuFlow, Bolden Pipe Technologies, and Picotte. These are the same systems used in municipal, commercial, and large-scale residential rehabilitation projects across North America.​You are not getting a generalist plumber attempting a specialty repair. You are getting a trained, certified contractor with verified field experience and manufacturer-backed product warranties.
Fathom is led by Nick Ghosn, a licensed master plumber and NuFlow certified CIPP contractor with field experience across residential, commercial, and multi-unit systems throughout SE Michigan. Every rehabilitation assessment is performed or directly supervised by a licensed professional.
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This is what CIPP pipe lining looks like in the field. Camera inspection first. Liner installed. Cured in place. No excavation.
OUR SOLUTIONS
The Complete Picture — We Handle the Full Scope
Whether your system needs inspection, cleaning, repair, rehabilitation, or full replacement — Fathom assesses the condition and recommends the right solution. Not the most profitable one.
One Clear Next Step
After your camera inspection, you will know:
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Whether your pipe qualifies for CIPP rehabilitation or requires repair/replacement
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The material, condition, and remaining service life of your system
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Whether Orangeburg, cast iron, clay, or other aging materials are present
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What the process involves, how long it takes, and what it costs to proceed
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What happens if you do nothing — and how urgent the situation actually is
This is the only way to know whether rehabilitation is appropriate.
Common Questions
About Pipe Rehabilitation
Q: What is CIPP pipe lining? A: CIPP — Cured-In-Place Pipe — is a trenchless rehabilitation method that creates a new structural pipe lining inside your existing pipe. A resin-saturated liner is inserted and cured in place, sealing cracks, leaks, and offsets without excavation or demolition. The result is a seamless, joint-free pipe within your existing pipe.
Q: Does CIPP pipe lining require digging? A: In most cases, no. CIPP rehabilitation is a trenchless process — access is gained through existing cleanouts or minimal access points. No yard excavation, no driveway demolition, no property disruption in most applications.
Q: How long does CIPP pipe lining last? A: NuFlow certified CIPP liners are rated for 50+ years of service life. Independent testing has shown properly installed CIPP liners to be structurally stronger than the original pipe material.
Q: How do I know if I have Orangeburg pipe? A: If your home or building was constructed between 1945 and 1972 in the Ann Arbor or Washtenaw County area, there is a real possibility Orangeburg pipe is present in your sewer or drain lines. The only way to confirm is a CCTV camera inspection. Orangeburg is a compressed wood pulp and pitch material that deteriorates over time — many properties in SE Michigan still have it in the ground.
Q: What is the difference between pipe rehabilitation and pipe replacement? A: Rehabilitation restores an existing pipe from the inside — no excavation required in most cases, faster, less disruptive, lower total impact to the property. Replacement removes and replaces the pipe entirely — necessary when a pipe has collapsed, is missing sections, or cannot be structurally restored. We assess every system before recommending either. Not every pipe qualifies for rehabilitation, and we will tell you honestly which path is appropriate.
Q: Do you serve Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County? A: Yes. Fathom serves Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Ypsilanti, Brighton, and the surrounding Washtenaw County and SE Michigan area. All inspections and rehabilitation work are performed by licensed professionals based in the region.
Q: What happens during a sewer camera inspection? A: A high-resolution camera is fed through your pipe system via an existing cleanout or access point. We record footage of the interior condition, identify cracks, offsets, root intrusion, material type, and structural issues, and document findings with still images. You receive a clear explanation of what we found and what your options are. No assumptions. No recommendations without evidence.
Q: Is CIPP lining backed by a warranty? A: Yes. NuFlow certified CIPP installations are backed by manufacturer warranty. Warranty terms depend on the specific system and application — we will confirm warranty coverage as part of your inspection and recommendation.
Q: What pipes qualify for CIPP rehabilitation? A: CIPP is appropriate for pipes that are structurally present but cracked, leaking, root-intruded, or deteriorating. It works on cast iron, clay, concrete, PVC, and Orangeburg pipe in most configurations. Pipes that have collapsed, are severely misaligned, or have compromised diameter do not qualify — in those cases we recommend replacement and will tell you clearly why.
Q: What does a pipe rehabilitation assessment cost? A: The camera inspection is the starting point and is priced separately from any rehabilitation work. After inspection, we provide a clear recommendation with pricing before any work begins. You approve everything before we proceed. No surprise invoices.
WHAT IS PIPE LINING?
Breakthroughs in the fields of science and engineering over past decades have resulted in innovative and environmentally-friendly pipe repair technologies. Making it possible for broken pipes to be repaired from the inside, without the need to dig at all.
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Known as trenchless repairs, old pipes (or their remnants) are usually left in place while a new pipe (often made with tough, durable composite resin materials) is simply formed or situated inside or around them. With no need to excavate, dig or destroy, trenchless repair strategies such as cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) relining usually gives clients more cost-effective and convenient solutions for troublesome pipes, and results in significantly fewer negative environmental impacts.
WHAT IS CIPP PIPE LINING?
One of the most popular ways of repairing or rehabilitating pipes without digging is CIPP (cured-in-place) pipe relining. Put simply, advanced composite resin materials are inserted into failing pipes to repair damage, improve flow and extend the life of the pipe. For pipes needing structural strength (i.e. beneath roads or driveways) a liner impregnated with the resins is pulled into place before being cured rock hard. With non-structural pipes (like water pipes in walls or ceilings) the resin is blown into the pipe to cure, forming a new pipe lining that will keep it operating successfully for years.
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These structural and non-structural relining processes are suitable for pipes carrying drinking (potable) water, waste and storm water, chemical (trade) applications and grain, feed or sludge (industrial) applications.
Learn More
THE BENEFITS OF PIPE RELINING
Fix leaks and prevent tree root intrusion
Assist with prevention of blocked drains
Eliminate digging, excavation and destruction
Improve the flow rate of your assets
Prevent lead and other contaminates leaching from the pipe into water
Reduce the risk of potential damage to other services caused by excavation
Provide a structural repair – even to sections where there is no existing pipe
Be used in situations where pipes have junctions, bends and transitions in diameter
Can be used to repair pipes of almost any material (PVC, concrete, clay, copper, steel etc.)
Repair pipes conveying potable water, chemicals, high temperature fluids, compressed air, fire suppressant systems, waste and more
Result in a relined pipe which independent tests have deemed has greater strength than a new pipe
​Usually result in simpler and more cost-effective pipe repair solutions than digging and repairing or replacing the damaged pipes.
PIPE RELINING METHODS
One of the most popular ways of repairing or rehabilitating pipes without digging is CIPP (cured-in-place) pipe relining. Put simply, advanced composite resin materials are inserted into failing pipes to repair damage, improve flow and extend the life of the pipe. For pipes needing structural strength (i.e. beneath roads or driveways) a liner impregnated with the resins is pulled into place before being cured rock hard. With non-structural pipes (like water pipes in walls or ceilings) the resin is blown into the pipe to cure, forming a new pipe lining that will keep it operating successfully for years.
These structural and non-structural relining processes are suitable for pipes carrying drinking (potable) water, waste and storm water, chemical (trade) applications and grain, feed or sludge (industrial) applications.
Our pipe relining methods are tailored to suit each unique repair, and vary depending upon the type of pipe, the climate, other environmental conditions, the operational needs of the client and the built structures or services in the immediate area.
We use CCTV camera equipment to locate the issue, then use high-pressure water jets to clear the pipes and prepare them for relining.
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CIPP, a structural liner melded to the interior pipe wall, effectively creates a seamless "pipe within a pipe"; Epoxy Coating, a mechanically applied barrier coating inside the pipe, effectively creates an impermeable barrier between the metallic pipe and the material flowing through it; and Pipe Bursting, which effectively replacing the existing pipe with a new pipe.
Minimally intrusive, these technologies offer "no dig" approach's to solving and preventing pipe failure problems specifically for Sanitary Sewer and Drain, Waste, Vent, Sewer and Storm (DWV S&S) plumbing as well as other non-pressurized piping systems.
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Pulled in place & Inversion lining
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Brush & Spray coating
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Directional Bore & Pipe Bursting