Block paving repair
Sunken, rutted or loose block paving lifted, the base put right underneath and the blocks relaid and locked back together.
Common block paving problems
Block paving is built to be repaired. Because each block is separate and held in place by the edging and the sand in the joints, an area can be lifted and relaid without breaking out the whole drive. Common block paving problems include dips where car wheels sit, a sunken patch over a drain or old trench, blocks that rock or have worked loose, broken or cracked blocks, edging that has moved, and water pooling instead of draining away.
Each of these has a cause underneath, and a lasting repair deals with the cause rather than just the blocks you can see.
How a repair is done
We lift the blocks in the affected area and set them aside to reuse where they are sound. The sand bed is removed so we can see the sub-base. If the base has sunk or was never deep enough, it is dug out, topped up with fresh material and compacted in layers. A new screeded sand bed goes on top at the right level and fall.
The original blocks are relaid in their pattern, with any broken ones replaced. We then cut in edges, compact the area with a plate compactor and brush kiln-dried sand into the joints so the blocks lock together again. Where edging has failed, it is reset on concrete so the paving cannot spread.
Drainage and repeat sinking
Water is behind a lot of block paving failures. If run-off is washing out the sand bed, or a drain or soakaway underneath has failed, an area will keep sinking however well it is relaid. During a repair we check the falls and channel drains and look at whether water is reaching the base. Our driveway drainage guide explains the main options.
Matching blocks
Reusing the original blocks gives the best match. Where blocks are broken, we look for the same range; even a matching block can look brighter at first because the old ones have weathered. A larger repair, or one combined with an extension of the drive, sometimes makes more sense than a small patch, and we will tell you if we think so. For a full replacement, see our block paving driveways page.
Keeping the joints topped up with kiln-dried sand, clearing weeds and moss before they open the joints, and dealing with leaking gutters or downpipes that run onto the paving all help a repaired area stay level for longer. Our block paving maintenance guide has more on looking after a drive between repairs.
Block paving repair questions
- Can sunken block paving be repaired?
- Yes. The blocks are lifted, the sub-base is dug out and rebuilt, a new sand bed is laid and the original blocks are relaid and compacted. This fixes the cause rather than just levelling the surface.
- How long does a block paving repair take?
- A small sunken patch is a short job; a larger area with a failed base or drainage work takes longer. Weather and access also play a part. We give a timescale with your free estimate.
- What affects the cost of block paving repair?
- The size of the area, how deep the base problem goes, whether drainage or edging needs work, and whether replacement blocks are needed.
- Will the repair match the rest of the drive?
- Reusing the original blocks gives the closest match. Replacement blocks from the same range can look a little brighter at first and tone down as they weather.
Related: block paving driveways · driveway drainage · block paving maintenance · patios, garden walls and driveways.