A paver that has settled below its neighbors creates an uneven walking surface and may collect water. Mark or restrict access to the affected area until it can be repaired safely. Adding joint sand on top does not restore the support under a sunken unit.

First determine whether the defect is an isolated loose unit or part of a larger depression. Repeated settlement, washout, major movement or a suspected underground leak needs investigation before relaying the surface.

Map the defect and water path

Photograph the area and note where water goes during ordinary rain, observed from a safe position. Compare the surface with nearby steps, drains and the house. Do not create a new slope toward the building merely to make one paver level with its immediate neighbor.

Observation Repair question
One unit rocks Is bedding missing or uneven beneath it?
Several units form a depression Has the base or ground settled?
Edge units spread apart Is the edge restraint intact?
Sand washes out repeatedly Where is concentrated water entering or leaving?

Identify the pavement type. A permeable paving system can use a different joint and base arrangement from conventional sand-set pavers; copying a generic sand repair can impair its function.

Relay only after correcting the support

For an appropriate localized repair, units can be lifted, the underlying problem corrected and sound pavers reinstalled in their original pattern. Keep a photograph of the pattern and avoid damaging adjacent edges during lifting. Use safe handling practices for heavy units.

The repair needs the specified base, bedding, joints and compaction for the system. Do not build a deep loose mound of bedding sand to compensate for failed base material. A cracked unit may need replacement rather than reuse.

Check the finished area as a whole

Confirm the repaired units are stable and do not create a new raised edge at the boundary. Check drainage and edge restraint after relevant weather. If settlement returns, investigate the underlying cause instead of repeating the same top-up.

Where the path serves an accessible route, steps or a public-facing area, applicable requirements may impose additional constraints. Obtain a qualified assessment when the repair affects levels, drainage or structural support beyond a small local defect.

If the uneven area leads to steps with a loose handhold, address the railing defect as a separate safety issue.

Source

CMHA’s interlocking concrete pavement maintenance guide , checked September 19, 2026. Its repair framework does not replace a site-specific base or drainage design.