EMERGENCY — BURST MAIN
Café back trading by lunch after a burst main flooded the kitchen.
01 — PROJECT OVERVIEW
A busy Surry Hills café called at 6:04am with water sheeting across the kitchen from a wall cavity. The owner faced losing an entire weekend of trade — plus the fit-out itself — if the water couldn't be stopped and the kitchen certified safe to reopen.
02 — THE CHALLENGE
The burst was a corroded copper riser buried behind a tiled splashback shared with the neighbouring tenancy. The water authority main couldn't be isolated without cutting supply to four other businesses, and the café had bookings from 11:30am.
03 — OUR APPROACH
1Truck on site at 6:42am; internal isolation valve located and the flow stopped within minutes of arrival.
2Thermal imaging traced the failed riser precisely, so only two tiles needed removing rather than the whole splashback.
3The corroded section was cut out and replaced in press-fit copper, pressure-tested to 1500 kPa.
4Floors sanitised, the food-prep area inspected, and photos documented for the insurance claim.
04 — THE OUTCOME
✓Reopened at 11:15am — fifteen minutes ahead of the first booking.
✓Certified, pressure-tested repair with an insurer-ready photo report.
✓Follow-up quote issued for the remaining original pipework before it fails the same way.