Sunken and rutted block paving in Exeter: the local picture
Exeter has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
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 Exeter?
Most sunken area repair quotes in the South West fall within £300–£1,200 including VAT, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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.
- Sub-base dug out and rebuilt where it has failed
- Investigation of the cause (drain, sub-base, laying course, edging)
- New laying course screeded to the correct level and falls
- Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
- Same blocks relaid, re-jointed and compacted
What we look at first in Exeter
- Trees, roots and past trenches
- Condition and thickness of your existing blocks
- Whether the edging has moved or was never set in concrete
- 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
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Sunken paving in Exeter: 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.
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Exeter?
Our guide is £300–£1,200 including VAT. Small repairs are often priced from photos.
Can you repair block paving in Exeter 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 Exeter
Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across Devon:
- Sunken paving in Exmouth
- Sunken paving in Tiverton
- Sunken paving in Newton Abbot
- Sunken paving in Torquay
- Sunken paving in Paignton
