Sunken and rutted block paving in Portsmouth: what to expect
Portsmouth has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
Planning-sensitive towns and conservation areas are common in the South East, so we check the front-garden rules before quoting.
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Portsmouth?
Guide price in Portsmouth: £320–£1,300 including VAT. These are South East guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Sunken or rutted patch repaired | £320–£1,300 |
| Small repair (a few blocks or a short trench) | £215–£700 |
| Lift and re-lay on a sound base | £40–£85 per m² |
| Lift and re-lay with sub-base rebuilt | £65–£120 per m² |
Guide figures for the South East, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
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.
- Same blocks relaid, re-jointed and compacted
- Sub-base dug out and rebuilt where it has failed
- Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
- New laying course screeded to the correct level and falls
- Investigation of the cause (drain, sub-base, laying course, edging)
What we look at first in Portsmouth
- Whether a drain or gully is leaking under the paving
- Falls, so water does not collect again
- How much of the area needs lifting to blend the repair
- What caused the dip or movement: base, laying course, edging or drains
- Whether the edging has moved or was never set in concrete
What happens next
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.
What you can expect from us
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Sunken paving in Portsmouth: questions
Do you cover Gosport, Fareham and Havant?
Yes. We cover Portsmouth and the places around it, including Gosport, Fareham and Havant, and the rest of Hampshire.
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 Portsmouth?
Our guide is £320–£1,300 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.
Sunken paving near Portsmouth
Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across Hampshire:
- Sunken paving in Gosport
- Sunken paving in Fareham
- Sunken paving in Havant
- Sunken paving in Waterlooville
- Sunken paving in Hythe
- Sunken paving in Southampton
