Sunken and rutted block paving in Belfast: what to expect
Belfast has a big mix of housing, from older terraces near the centre to newer estates further out, so no two drives here start from the same ground.
Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland go through DfI Roads, so we build that timing into the plan for new drives.
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Belfast?
In Northern Ireland, a sunken area repair usually costs £285–£1,150 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 | £285–£1,150 |
| Small repair (a few blocks or a short trench) | £190–£620 |
| Lift and re-lay on a sound base | £35–£75 per m² |
| Lift and re-lay with sub-base rebuilt | £55–£105 per m² |
Guide figures for Northern Ireland, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a sunken area repair involve?
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.
- New laying course screeded to the correct level and falls
- Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
- Investigation of the cause (drain, sub-base, laying course, edging)
- Sub-base dug out and rebuilt where it has failed
- Same blocks relaid, re-jointed and compacted
How we find the cause
- Whether the edging has moved or was never set in concrete
- How much of the area needs lifting to blend the repair
- Replacement blocks or hidden blocks to swap in
- What caused the dip or movement: base, laying course, edging or drains
- Whether a drain or gully is leaking under the paving
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.
How we work
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Sunken paving in Belfast: questions
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Belfast?
Our guide is £285–£1,150 including VAT. Small repairs are often priced from photos.
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.
Can you repair block paving in Belfast 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 Castlereagh, Newtownabbey and Lisburn?
Yes. We cover Belfast and the places around it, including Castlereagh, Newtownabbey and Lisburn, and the rest of County Antrim.
Sunken paving near Belfast
Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across County Antrim:
- Sunken paving in Castlereagh
- Sunken paving in Newtownabbey
- Sunken paving in Lisburn
- Sunken paving in Carrickfergus
- Sunken paving in Ballyclare
- Sunken paving in Antrim
