You noticed it last spring. A paver near the garage door that sits half an inch lower than the rest. Water pools there now. Your heel catches when you get out of the car.
Here is what you need to know: Most interlocking stone repairs in the GTA cost between $500 and $2,500 depending on the damage. Re-leveling sunken pavers runs $8 to $15 per square foot. Full relay (remove, re-compact base, re-install) runs $15 to $25 per square foot. Most jobs take 1 to 3 days.
This guide breaks down exactly what you will pay in Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, and Oakville — and which repairs you can delay versus which need fixing before winter.
Why Interlocking Pavers Fail in the GTA — The Real Cause
Interlocking does not crack like concrete. It shifts, sinks, and spreads. The cause is almost never the pavers themselves. It is what is underneath.
Three reasons your pavers are sinking right now:
- Poor base compaction — The installer did not compact the 3/4-inch crushed stone in lifts. The base settles over 2 to 5 years. Pavers go down with it.
- Missing edge restraint — The perimeter has no concrete haunch or plastic edging. Pavers push outward from vehicle weight. The pattern spreads. Gaps open.
- Washed-out bedding sand — Water flows under the pavers instead of through the joints. Sand washes away. Pavers have nothing holding them up.
Source: Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, “Guide to Paver Maintenance and Repair” (2024)
The freeze-thaw cycle in the GTA makes all three worse. Water freezes, expands, and accelerates the damage every winter.
Interlocking Stone Repair Cost — Complete Breakdown for GTA Homeowners
Here is what you will pay a licensed contractor in Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, or Oakville right now:
| Repair Type | Cost Per Square Foot | Typical Total (100–200 sq ft area) | What The Contractor Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Re-sanding only (joints) | $2–$4 | $200–$600 | Remove old sand, sweep in polymeric sand, mist to activate |
| Re-level sunken pavers (lift and re-sand) | $8–$12 | $800–$1,800 | Pull pavers, add bedding sand, compact, re-install, re-sand |
| Full relay (remove, re-compact base, re-install) | $15–$25 | $1,500–$3,500 | Remove all pavers, excavate, re-compact stone base, re-sand, re-install |
| Paver replacement (cracked or spalled) | $10–$20 per paver + labor | $300–$800 | Source matching pavers, cut out damaged ones, install, re-sand |
| Edge restraint repair | $150–$400 per side | $300–$800 | Remove soil, pour concrete haunch or install plastic edging, backfill |
Example — Typical GTA driveway repair (150 sq ft of sunken pavers near garage):
- Re-level and re-sand: $1,200 to $1,800
- 2 days labor
- No disruption to the rest of the driveway
Source: Landscape Ontario, “2025 Hardscape Repair Pricing Survey”
Umar Khan, Khan Scapes — What I Charge and Why
I have repaired interlocking driveways in Woodbridge, Vaughan, and Toronto where the original installer went out of business or would not answer the phone. Here is what I tell homeowners when they ask for a quote.
“Can you just lift the low pavers and put sand under them?”
Yes. That is a re-level. I charge $8 to $12 per square foot. It fixes sinking. It does not fix the base. If the base is still settling, the pavers will sink again in 3 to 5 years.
“Should I just re-sand the whole driveway instead?”
Re-sanding costs $2 to $4 per square foot. It makes the driveway look new for one season. It does nothing for sinking. If your pavers are level but joints are empty, re-sand. If pavers are sunken, re-level first, then re-sand.
“How do I know if I need a full relay?”
I lift one sunken paver and look at the base underneath. If I see crushed stone that is loose and shifting, I recommend a full relay of that section. If I see solid, compacted stone and just low sand, I re-level.
A full relay costs more upfront. It also lasts 15 to 20 years instead of 3 to 5.
[Not sure which repair you need? Khan Scapes offers free inspections in the GTA. Call (647) 237-6640 or book online.]
What Each Repair Looks Like — Step by Step
Re-Sanding Only (Joints)
- Remove old sand and debris from joints using a pressure washer on low setting or a joint rake
- Sweep polymeric sand across the surface, working it into all joints
- Use a plate compactor to vibrate sand deeper into joints (critical step most DIYers skip)
- Sweep excess sand off the surface
- Mist with water to activate the polymer binder
- Keep dry for 24 hours
Results last 2 to 4 years in GTA winters. Salt breaks down polymeric sand faster. Plan to re-sand every 3 years if you salt heavily.
Re-Level Sunken Pavers
- Mark the sunken area (usually near garage apron or downspout outlets)
- Remove pavers one by one, stacking them in order
- Excavate the bedding sand down to the compacted stone base
- Add new bedding sand (1 inch maximum — too much sand causes more sinking)
- Screed sand flat using straight pipes
- Re-install pavers in original pattern
- Run plate compactor over the repaired area
- Sweep polymeric sand into all joints and compact again
- Mist to activate
Results last 5 to 8 years if the base was originally compacted correctly. If the base was poor, expect sinking again in 2 to 3 years.
Full Relay (Section)
- Remove all pavers in the damaged section (typically 50 to 200 sq ft)
- Excavate existing base down to undisturbed soil
- Install 6 to 8 inches of 3/4-inch crushed stone in 3 to 4 inch lifts
- Compact each lift with a plate compactor (minimum 4 passes per lift)
- Add 1 inch of bedding sand, screed flat
- Re-install pavers
- Compact, sand, compact again, mist
Results last 15 to 20 years — essentially a new installation.
Signs You Cannot Wait Until Next Year
Some repairs are cosmetic. Some will cost you triple if you delay.
Fix before winter (urgent):
- Pavers have dropped more than 1 inch below adjacent pavers — trip hazard, potential injury liability
- Water pools on the driveway for more than 6 hours after rain — freeze-thaw will widen the sunken area over winter
- Edge pavers are tilting outward with no edge restraint — one more freeze could collapse the edge
- Sand is completely gone from joints in a large area (over 50 percent of joints empty) — water is washing out the base directly
Can wait until spring (cosmetic):
- Minor sinking (under 1/2 inch) with no water pooling
- Joints have some sand missing but not completely empty
- A few pavers are slightly uneven but not creating a trip hazard
- Surface is dirty or has minor moss growth (pressure washing fixes this)
The rule: If water sits on your interlocking for more than a day, fix it before winter. That water will freeze, expand, and turn a $500 repair into a $2,500 repair.
Can You DIY Interlocking Repair?
Homeowners ask me this every week. Here is the honest answer.
DIY-friendly (with rented tools):
- Re-sanding joints (rent a plate compactor for $50 to $80 per day)
- Replacing a single cracked paver (if you can find a matching paver)
- Cleaning and sealing
Do not DIY (hire a contractor):
- Re-leveling more than 20 square feet — the sand base must be perfectly flat or you make it worse
- Any repair where you do not know why the pavers sank — you will fix the symptom, not the cause
- Edge restraint installation — requires concrete or heavy-duty plastic that must be pinned into the base
- Full relay of any section — base compaction requires experience and the right equipment
I have seen homeowners pull up three sunken pavers, add sand, put them back, compact, and create a hump that is now higher than the rest of the driveway. Now water pools around that hump. Now the whole section needs a full relay.
If you are handy and the area is under 20 square feet, try it. Anything larger, call a contractor. The money you save on DIY will be lost when you need a full relay two years earlier than necessary.
How to Choose an Interlocking Repair Contractor in the GTA
Not all contractors do repair work. Many only want full new installations. Here is how to find one who will actually show up for a $1,000 repair job.
Ask these three questions before hiring:
- “Do you use a plate compactor on every repair, including re-sanding?” — If they say no or say a hand tamper is fine, hang up. Polymeric sand requires vibration to settle deep into joints.
- “Will you show me the base under the sunken pavers before you quote?” — A good contractor lifts one paver during the estimate. A bad contractor guesses.
- “What is your warranty on re-leveling work?” — One year minimum. Two years is better. If they offer no warranty, they know the repair is temporary.
Red flags to avoid:
- “We can just add sand without removing the pavers” — That does nothing. The sand needs to go under the pavers, not on top of them.
- “Polymeric sand is a scam, we use regular sand” — Regular sand washes out in one season. Walk away.
- No plate compactor visible on their truck — They are not doing the job correctly.
FAQ — Interlocking Stone Repair in the GTA
How long does interlocking repair take?
Re-sanding only: 4 to 6 hours for a standard 400 sq ft driveway (plus 24 hours drying). Re-leveling 100 sq ft: 1 to 2 days. Full relay of a section: 2 to 3 days.
Will the repaired section look different from the rest of the driveway?
For the first 3 to 6 months, yes. The repaired pavers will look cleaner. The rest of the driveway has weathering, moss, or slight fading. After one summer in the sun, the difference disappears. If you replace pavers with new ones, the color mismatch can take 1 to 2 years to fade to match.
Does insurance cover interlocking repair?
Usually no. Standard home insurance does not cover settling, base failure, or wear and tear. It covers sudden damage (a tree falls on the driveway, a car drives over the edge and cracks pavers). Read your policy. Most GTA homeowners pay out of pocket for interlocking repair.
How often should I re-sand my interlocking driveway in the GTA?
Every 2 to 3 years if you use salt. Every 3 to 4 years if you do not. Polymeric sand breaks down from UV and salt. Re-sanding is normal maintenance — not a repair. Budget $200 to $600 every 3 years.
Can I repair interlocking in winter?
Not recommended. Polymeric sand requires temperatures above 4°C to cure. Base materials freeze. Pavers become brittle. Most contractors in Toronto and Vaughan pause repair work from December to March unless it is an emergency (trip hazard). Emergency repairs cost 30 to 50 percent more.
Your Next Step — Get a Repair Quote Before Winter
Interlocking repairs do not get cheaper with time. That sunken paver near your garage will sink another half inch next winter. Water pooling will get worse. The base will wash out more.
Khan Scapes serves Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, Oakville, and all of the GTA. We lift one paver during every estimate so you know exactly what you are paying for. No guessing. No hidden fees.
Call (647) 237-6640 for a free repair assessment. Mention this article and we will waive the $100 trip fee for estimates outside Toronto.
