Sunken and rutted block paving in Earley: what to expect
In Earley, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Chalk, clay and sandy ground all occur across the South East, so the dig and sub-base depth are set on the survey rather than assumed.
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Earley?
In the South East, a sunken area repair usually costs £320–£1,300 including VAT. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Sunken or rutted patch repaired | £320–£1,300 |
| Small repair (a few blocks or a short trench) | £215–£700 |
| Lift and re-lay on a sound base | £40–£85 per m² |
| Lift and re-lay with sub-base rebuilt | £65–£120 per m² |
Guide figures for the South East, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our sunken paving service
Common causes are a sub-base that was too thin or not compacted, a laying course that was too thick, water washing sand out through a broken drain, or a trench that was never properly filled. Re-levelling means lifting the blocks in and around the dip, finding and fixing the cause, rebuilding and compacting the layers, and relaying the same blocks so they match.
- Same blocks relaid, re-jointed and compacted
- Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
- Sub-base dug out and rebuilt where it has failed
- New laying course screeded to the correct level and falls
- Investigation of the cause (drain, sub-base, laying course, edging)
What we look at first in Earley
- Condition and thickness of your existing blocks
- What caused the dip or movement: base, laying course, edging or drains
- Falls, so water does not collect again
- Replacement blocks or hidden blocks to swap in
- How much of the area needs lifting to blend the repair
From enquiry to finished paving
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Sunken paving in Earley: questions
Can you repair block paving in Earley 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.
Can you send someone just to look?
For larger or unclear problems we visit; for small repairs, clear photos with a tape measure in shot are often enough to price it.
Do you cover Reading, Wokingham and Crowthorne?
Yes. We cover Earley and the places around it, including Reading, Wokingham and Crowthorne, and the rest of Berkshire.
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.
Sunken paving near Earley
Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across Berkshire:
- Sunken paving in Reading
- Sunken paving in Wokingham
- Sunken paving in Crowthorne
- Sunken paving in Bracknell
- Sunken paving in Sandhurst
- Sunken paving in Maidenhead
