Planning a sunken area repair in Plymouth
Across Plymouth, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
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 Plymouth?
Guide price in Plymouth: £300–£1,200 including VAT. These are South West guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.
| 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 you get with our sunken paving service
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.
- Same blocks relaid, re-jointed and compacted
- 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)
- Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
Before we price your sunken area repair
- Condition and thickness of your existing blocks
- Replacement blocks or hidden blocks to swap in
- Whether a drain or gully is leaking under the paving
- How much of the area needs lifting to blend the repair
- Trees, roots and past trenches
How it works
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
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 Plymouth: questions
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.
Can you repair block paving in Plymouth 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 Paignton, Newton Abbot and St Austell?
Yes. We cover Plymouth and the places around it, including Paignton, Newton Abbot and St Austell, and the rest of Devon.
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.
Sunken paving near Plymouth
Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across Devon:
