Sunken and rutted block paving in Barnstaple: what to expect
Homes in Barnstaple include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Sloping plots are common in the South West, which affects edging, steps and where the water runs.
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Barnstaple?
In the South West, a sunken area repair usually costs £300–£1,200 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 | £300–£1,200 |
| Small repair (a few blocks or a short trench) | £200–£650 |
| Lift and re-lay on a sound base | £35–£80 per m² |
| 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?
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
- New laying course screeded to the correct level and falls
- Sub-base dug out and rebuilt where it has failed
- Investigation of the cause (drain, sub-base, laying course, edging)
Before we price your sunken area repair
- What caused the dip or movement: base, laying course, edging or drains
- How much of the area needs lifting to blend the repair
- Falls, so water does not collect again
- Whether a drain or gully is leaking under the paving
- Replacement blocks or hidden blocks to swap in
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.
How we work
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
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.
Sunken paving in Barnstaple: questions
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.
Do you cover Bideford, Tiverton and Exeter?
Yes. We cover Barnstaple and the places around it, including Bideford, Tiverton and Exeter, and the rest of Devon.
Can you repair block paving in Barnstaple 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.
Sunken paving near Barnstaple
Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across Devon:
