Local, Checkatrade-verified drainage specialists in Shirley (B90). We offer drain unblocking from £100 and comprehensive drain repairs with no call-out fee. 20-30 minutes response from our Solihull office. We know this area inside out.
Typical response: 20-30 minutes
from our Solihull office
The housing stock in Shirley is heavily defined by the massive expansion of 1930s semi-detached properties. These homes were built with solid salt-glazed clay drainage systems that have lasted remarkably well. However, after almost a century in the ground, the mortar joints between these pipes often fail. Once a joint opens, tree roots from mature gardens find their way inside, creating severe blockages. When we handle drain unblocking in Shirley, root ingress is usually the first thing we look for.
Another common issue across B90 relates to property extensions. Many homes in Shirley had bathrooms added or layouts changed during the 1960s and 1970s. During this period, pitch-fibre was a popular pipe material. It is notorious for blistering and collapsing under pressure. If you have blocked drains in Shirley that keep recurring despite being cleared, a deteriorating pitch-fibre pipe is a likely culprit.
Because our office is based just down the road at Blythe Valley Park, we offer strong response times for Shirley residents. We are local engineers covering drainage throughout the West Midlands and Warwickshire, meaning we do not charge a call-out fee and we always agree a fixed price before starting work.
The Stratford Road is Shirley's main artery, running through a dense stretch of restaurants, takeaways, and commercial premises. Kitchens along the A34 produce significant quantities of cooking fat and grease, which cools and hardens inside drainage pipes during the colder months. If you operate a food business in Shirley and your external gully or kitchen drain is running slowly, high-pressure jetting is almost always the fastest solution. We attend to commercial premises in Shirley at short notice and carry commercial-grade equipment on every van. Residents on the southern edge of Shirley may also find our pages on blocked drain services in Dickens Heath and drain unblocking in Solihull town centre useful for context on the wider area.
Our Drainage Work
A selection of drainage jobs from across our service area.
Your Local Drainage Team in Shirley
Sitting right on the border of Birmingham and Solihull, Shirley is an area we work in daily, providing fast and reliable Shirley drainage services to homes along the Stratford Road and surrounding residential estates.
Why Drains Block in Shirley
Shirley sits on Heavy clay
geology, managed by Severn Trent Water. The
area's dominant property types, 1930s semi-detached, modern apartments, extended properties, each
present different drainage challenges.
Common Issues
Root ingress in older salt-glazed clay pipes.
Deformed or collapsed pitch-fibre pipes from 1960s extensions.
Fat and grease build-up in shared drainage runs.
Local Details
Postcodes
B90
Soil Type
Heavy clay
Common Pipe Materials
Salt-glazed clay pipes, Pitch-fibre
Response Time
20-30 minutes from our Solihull office
Water Authority
Severn Trent Water
Our Services in Shirley
As a trusted, family-run business, we provide a full range of drainage solutions across the area. Whether you need an urgent emergency response, routine unblocking, or professional high-pressure water jetting to clear stubborn scale, we are ready to help. We also specialise in blocked toilets, detailed camera surveys for home buyers, and long-lasting drain repairs.
Drain Unblocking
Fast, effective clearing of blocked drains using manual rodding or high-pressure water jetting. From £100, no call-out fee.
Answers from our local engineers who work across Shirley every day.
How fast can you unblock a drain in Shirley?
We are based just minutes away in Solihull, so we can usually reach Shirley properties within 20 to 30 minutes for emergency call-outs.
Do you charge a call-out fee for blocked drains in Shirley?
No. We provide a fixed quote on site before any work begins, with absolutely zero call-out fees.
What pipe materials will my 1930s Shirley home have?
Most 1930s properties in Shirley were built with salt-glazed clay drainage. Some will also have pitch-fibre sections added during 1960s extensions. A CCTV survey confirms exactly what materials you have and where each section runs.
Can you repair a drain in Shirley without digging up the garden?
In the vast majority of cases, yes. Where a pipe is cracked or fractured, we use no-dig patch lining to seal the damage from inside. Where the blockage is a simple build-up, high-pressure jetting clears it without any excavation at all.
My drain in Shirley smells even when it is not fully blocked. What is causing this?
A persistent smell without a full blockage usually points to a partial build-up of fat and grease in the pipe, a dry gulley trap, or a slight sag in the drainage run that retains water. A CCTV survey quickly identifies which of these is responsible.
Do you carry out drain repairs in Shirley as well as unblocking?
Yes. We carry out CCTV surveys, high-pressure jetting, patch lining, and full pipe replacement where needed. If we unblock your drain and notice a structural problem on camera, we will quote for the repair in the same visit.
What does a CCTV drain survey cost in Shirley?
CCTV drain surveys start from £250 and include a full HD written report. For properties with recurring blockages or drainage issues ahead of a property purchase, this is usually the most cost-effective first step.
Can you help if a shared drain is backing up into multiple Shirley properties?
Yes. Shared drains are common in Shirley's semi-detached streets. We can survey the full shared run, confirm the exact location of the blockage, and identify whether it falls within a private boundary or under Severn Trent Water's responsibility.
What does a CCTV drain survey actually cost? We break down real prices for domestic look-and-see surveys, full homebuyer reports, and commercial inspections across the West Midlands.
Water pooling around your outside drain? Before you call a drainage company, check these five things. We cover the most common causes, what you can fix yourself, and when to call a professional.
Drain survey found damage? We compare drain relining and excavation side by side, covering cost, disruption, time on site, and which method suits your situation.