Lift and re-lay block paving in Christchurch: what to expect
In Christchurch, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
The South West is wetter than the east of England, so falls and drainage are planned before the pattern is chosen.
How much does a lift and re-lay job cost in Christchurch?
For Christchurch, our guide is £35–£80 per m² including VAT, so 30 m² re-laid is likely to be £1,050–£2,400. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Lift and re-lay on a sound base | £35–£80 per m² |
| Small repair (a few blocks or a short trench) | £200–£650 |
| Sunken or rutted patch repaired | £300–£1,200 |
| Lift and re-lay with sub-base rebuilt | £60–£110 per m² |
Guide figures for the South West, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
Lift and re-lay means taking up an existing block paved area, cleaning and stacking the blocks, correcting the bed and the sub-base, and laying the same blocks back down. When the blocks are still sound, it fixes widespread sinking, rocking and uneven joints for less than a new drive, because the blocks themselves are re-used.
- Lifting, cleaning and stacking
- Blocks relaid, new cuts made, edges re-set
- Sub-base repaired or rebuilt where needed
- Survey of the blocks: thickness, damage and whether they are worth re-using
- Jointing sand and compaction
Before we price your lift and re-lay job
- Condition and thickness of your existing blocks
- How much of the area needs lifting to blend the repair
- Whether the edging has moved or was never set in concrete
- Replacement blocks or hidden blocks to swap in
- Whether a drain or gully is leaking under the paving
From enquiry to finished paving
Send the basics
Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.
Survey
We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.
Written quote
An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.
The work
Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.
What you can expect from us
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
One point of contact
You deal with one team from survey to sign-off, with work carried out by paving teams working under S&K.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Lift and re-lay in Christchurch: questions
Why does block paving sink?
Most dips come from a thin or poorly compacted sub-base, too much sand under the blocks, failed edging, or water washing material out from a broken drain.
Can you repair block paving in Christchurch without replacing it?
Usually, yes. We lift the affected blocks, fix the bed or base, and re-lay the same blocks so the repair matches.
Do you cover Bournemouth, Ferndown and Poole?
Yes. We cover Christchurch and the places around it, including Bournemouth, Ferndown and Poole, and the rest of Dorset.
How much does a lift and re-lay job cost in Christchurch?
Our guide is £35–£80 per m² including VAT. Small repairs are often priced from photos.
Lift and re-lay near Christchurch
Nearby towns we cover for lift and re-lay, and lift and re-lay across Dorset:
- Lift and re-lay in Bournemouth
- Lift and re-lay in Ferndown
- Lift and re-lay in Poole
- Lift and re-lay in New Milton
