Hertfordshire · Sunken paving

Sunken and rutted block paving in Hitchin

Before you replace a block drive in Hitchin, ask whether it can be repaired: re-levelling and re-laying often cost far less than new paving.

  • Postcodes SG5, SG4
  • £320–£1,250 inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Older block paved driveway with a sunken dip and a puddle in the wheel track

Sunken and rutted block paving in Hitchin: the local picture

In Hitchin, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.

Clay soils are common in parts of the East of England, so drainage and sub-base depth get extra attention.

How much does a sunken area repair cost in Hitchin?

Guide price in Hitchin£320–£1,250Including VAT at 20%

Guide price in Hitchin: £320–£1,250 including VAT. These are East of England guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.

ItemGuide price inc VAT
Sunken or rutted patch repaired£320–£1,250
Small repair (a few blocks or a short trench)£210–£680
Lift and re-lay on a sound base£35–£85 per m²
Lift and re-lay with sub-base rebuilt£65–£115 per m²

Guide figures for the East of England, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.

What does a sunken area repair involve?

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.

  • Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
  • 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)

Before we price your sunken area repair

  • 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 a drain or gully is leaking under the paving
  • Whether the edging has moved or was never set in concrete

From enquiry to finished paving

  1. Send the basics

    Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.

  2. Survey

    We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.

  3. Written quote

    An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.

  4. The work

    Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.

How we work

Itemised quotes

Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.

The dig and sub-base in writing

Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.

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.

Sunken paving in Hitchin: questions

Can you repair block paving in Hitchin 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.

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 Hitchin?

Our guide is £320–£1,250 including VAT. Small repairs are often priced from photos.

Sunken paving near Hitchin

Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across Hertfordshire:

Other block paving services in Hitchin

Or see all block paving services in Hitchin.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Want a number before a visit? Try the guide price tool, then book a survey to fix it.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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