England · Sunken paving

Sunken and rutted block paving in Dorset

If your drive or patio in Dorset has dips, ruts or broken blocks, we can usually re-use your own blocks so the repair matches.

  • 6 towns listed
  • £300–£1,200 inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Older block paved driveway with a sunken dip and a puddle in the wheel track

How much does a sunken area repair cost in Dorset?

Guide price in Dorset£300–£1,200Including VAT at 20%

Guide price in Dorset: £300–£1,200 including VAT. These are South West guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.

ItemGuide 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.

Towns we cover in Dorset

Choose a town for local prices and details for sunken paving:

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.

Sloping plots are common in the South West, which affects edging, steps and where the water runs.

  • Sub-base dug out and rebuilt where it has failed
  • Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
  • Same blocks relaid, re-jointed and compacted
  • Investigation of the cause (drain, sub-base, laying course, edging)
  • New laying course screeded to the correct level and falls

How we find the cause

  • Condition and thickness of your existing blocks
  • Falls, so water does not collect again
  • What caused the dip or movement: base, laying course, edging or drains
  • How much of the area needs lifting to blend the repair
  • Trees, roots and past trenches

How it works

  1. Tell us about the job

    Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.

  2. We take a look

    A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.

  3. Price in writing

    Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.

  4. Booked and built

    Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.

Sunken paving in Dorset: questions

Do you cover Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth?

Yes. We cover all of Dorset, including Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth.

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 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.

How much does a sunken area repair cost in Dorset?

Our guide is £300–£1,200 including VAT. Small repairs are often priced from photos.

Neighbouring areas

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Answer four quick questions for an instant guide price, then book a free survey to fix it in writing. Repairs and cleaning can often be priced from photos.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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