Sunken and rutted block paving in Reading: what to expect
Across Reading, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
Planning-sensitive towns and conservation areas are common in the South East, so we check the front-garden rules before quoting.
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Reading?
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 is included?
Sunken block paving is an area that has dropped below the surrounding surface, often as wheel ruts where cars turn, a dip near a manhole or drain, or a hollow where water sits after rain. The blocks themselves are usually fine; the problem is underneath.
- Investigation of the cause (drain, sub-base, laying course, edging)
- Same blocks relaid, re-jointed and compacted
- Sub-base dug out and rebuilt where it has failed
- Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
- New laying course screeded to the correct level and falls
What we look at first in Reading
- Whether the edging has moved or was never set in concrete
- Replacement blocks or hidden blocks to swap in
- What caused the dip or movement: base, laying course, edging or drains
- Condition and thickness of your existing blocks
- Trees, roots and past trenches
How it works
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.
What you can expect from us
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Sunken paving in Reading: questions
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Reading?
Our guide is £320–£1,300 including VAT. Small repairs are often priced from photos.
Do you cover Earley, Wokingham and Crowthorne?
Yes. We cover Reading and the places around it, including Earley, Wokingham and Crowthorne, and the rest of Berkshire.
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.
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 Reading
Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across Berkshire:
- Sunken paving in Earley
- Sunken paving in Wokingham
- Sunken paving in Crowthorne
- Sunken paving in Bracknell
- Sunken paving in Sandhurst
- Sunken paving in Maidenhead
