# Interlock repair and paver leveling in Markham

URL: https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-repair/  
Updated: 2026-10-13  
By: Hotiv Landscaping, Markham, Ontario. Call or text (437) 684-2535.

**Short answer:** Interlock repair fixes sunken, heaved or broken pavers so your driveway, walkway or patio sits flat and safe again, without a full replacement. We lift the pavers in the problem area, rebuild and compact the base, relay them level, swap out broken ones and refill the joints with polymeric sand. We do this work in Markham, Ontario and nearby.

Most interlock repair is local work. Each paver sits loose on a bed of sand over compacted gravel, so a sunken or broken section can be taken up, fixed and put back without touching the rest. That usually costs far less than tearing everything out.

## What the job includes

- Lifting the sunken, heaved or rocking pavers
- Digging out old bedding sand and checking the base
- Adding and compacting gravel where the base has settled
- Fresh bedding sand, screeded to the right level and slope
- Relaying your pavers in their pattern, replacing broken ones
- Compacting, polymeric sand in the joints and a full cleanup

## Price depends on

- Size of the sunken area
- How deep the base has failed
- Water or roots to deal with first
- How many pavers are broken
- Finding a match for discontinued pavers
- New joint sand on the rest of the surface

## Why does interlock sink, heave or crack?

Interlock sinks because the base or soil under it settles, and the pavers follow it down. The pavers themselves are rarely the problem.

The [maintenance guide from the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association](https://www.cmha.org/resource/pav-tec-006/) (CMHA) puts most dips down to settling underneath, often from a base that wasn't compacted well enough. Here's what we see most on driveways, walkways and patios around Markham:

| What you see | Usual cause | The repair |
|---|---|---|
| A dip that holds water, often in a tire track or under a downspout | Base too thin, poorly compacted or washed out | Lift, rebuild the base, relay |
| Pavers that rock, click or stick up | Frost heave or tree roots under the base | Lift, deal with the cause, relevel |
| Outer rows creeping out, joints opening | Missing or failed edge restraint | Relay the edge, add a new restraint |
| Cracked or broken pavers | Heavy loads over a soft spot, or a dropped weight | Replace the pavers, fix any soft base |
| A walkway sloping toward the house | Settling next to the foundation | Rebuild so water drains away from the wall |

A low spot is more than a looks problem. Water sits there after rain, and in winter it turns to ice.

> **Good to know:** If a downspout empties onto the pavers, extend it or point it away before the repair. A dip fixed without dealing with the water usually comes back, so we'll flag it when we look.

Our guide on [why interlock sinks and how to fix it](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-sunken-interlock/) goes through the causes in more detail.

## How do we repair sunken interlock?

We lift the sunken section, rebuild the base, relay the same pavers and lock the joints. The steps are the same for a small dip or a long driveway edge:

1. We lift the pavers in the problem area and a little beyond, and stack them in order so the pattern goes back the same way.
2. We dig out the old bedding sand and check the base. Where it has settled or washed out, we add crushed gravel and compact it in layers. We don't fill the low spot with sand, because a thick pocket of sand settles more than the rest.
3. We screed fresh bedding sand, about 1 inch (25 mm), matching the height and slope around it so water drains the way it should.
4. The pavers go back in their original pattern, with cracked or chipped ones swapped out.
5. A plate compactor seats the pavers. We sweep [polymeric sand](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/polymeric-sand-installation/) into the dry joints, compact again, clear the surface and wet the joints so they set.

A sinking patch often means the base was thin to begin with. Here's what two industry sources recommend on well-drained soil:

| Surface | CMHA minimum gravel base | Unilock typical gravel base |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway or patio | 4 in (100 mm) | 6–8 in |
| Residential driveway | 6 in (150 mm) | 10–14 in |
| Bedding sand on top | 1 in (25 mm) | 1 in |

The figures come from CMHA's [construction guide](https://www.cmha.org/resource/pav-tec-002/) and [Unilock's planning guide](https://unilock.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Basic-Tech-Guide-update-002.pdf). Our [polymeric sand guide](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/polymeric-sand-guide/) explains how the joint sand works and how long it lasts.

A repaired patch can look cleaner than the surface around it. If the whole area looks tired, pair the repair with [interlock cleaning and sealing](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-cleaning-sealing/) so it all looks even.

## Can you replace just one broken paver?

Yes. A single cracked paver can be lifted out and replaced without disturbing much around it.

A hairline crack that hasn't opened up doesn't affect how the surface holds up, so replacing it is mostly about looks. Broken pieces and loose chunks should go, since they rock and make trip edges.

Matching is the tricky part, because an older driveway may use a paver that's no longer made. Then we find the closest match, or move good pavers from a spot nobody looks at and put the new ones there.

## Should you repair or replace your interlock?

Repair it, in most cases. Replacement starts to make sense when large parts of the surface have sunk at once, when the original base was never built properly, or when you want a different layout anyway.

Our [interlock installation](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-installation/) page explains what a new driveway, walkway or patio involves. The [GTA interlock cost guide](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-cost-gta/) compares repair and replacement on price, and we'll tell you which way we'd go when we see the job.

## Interlock repair around Markham

Many Markham-area driveways, walks and patios have been through a lot of winters. That's when settling, frost heave and worn-out joints tend to show up together.

We work across [Markham](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/markham/) and nearby, including [Richmond Hill](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/richmond-hill/), [Stouffville](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/stouffville/), [Thornhill](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/thornhill/) and [Scarborough](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/scarborough/). To see an interlock patio we cleaned and re-sanded, have a look at our [interlock restoration project](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/projects/interlock-restoration-polymeric-sand/).

The easiest way to start is to [text a few photos](sms:+14376842535?&body=Hi%20Hotiv%2C%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote.%20Here%20are%20some%20photos%20of%20the%20area%3A) of the problem area to [(437) 684-2535](tel:+14376842535) with your street or postal code. We'll come and look, and give you a free quote.

## Signs it's time

- A dip where water sits after rain
- Pavers that rock or click when you step on them
- A trip edge where one paver sits higher than the next
- A section sloping toward the house instead of away from it
- Cracked, chipped or broken pavers
- Gaps opening up along the edges of the driveway or walkway

## Questions about interlock repair & paver leveling

### Can you fix just one sunken spot, or does the whole driveway need redoing?

Usually only the problem area needs work. We take up the pavers around the dip, rebuild the base, relay them and blend the edges into the surface around it. A full redo only makes sense when large parts of the driveway have failed, and we'll tell you which situation you're in when we come to look.

### Can sunken pavers be leveled without lifting them?

Not in a way that lasts. You can't raise a paver from above without disturbing the ones beside it, and packing sand under the edges leaves a soft, uneven bed that drops again. Interlock is built to come apart and go back together, so the proper fix is to lift the section, repair the base with compacted gravel and relay the same pavers on fresh bedding sand.

### Will the repaired area match the rest of my interlock?

We reuse your own pavers wherever they're in good shape, so the pattern and colour stay the same. If some are broken and the original style is no longer made, we look for the closest match. Another option is to borrow pavers from a spot nobody looks at, such as under a planter or along a side path, and put the new ones there instead.

### Why does interlock sink in the first place?

Usually something is wrong underneath: a base that was too thin or not compacted, soil that settled after the house was built, or water running into the joints from a downspout. Ontario winters make small problems bigger, because frost lifts weak spots and the thaw lets them drop lower. Our guide on why interlock sinks goes through the common causes in more detail.

### Do you replace the joint sand after a repair?

Yes. Once the pavers are relaid and compacted we sweep polymeric sand into the joints, compact it in and then wet it so it sets. That locks the repaired section in place and helps keep weeds and ants out. If the joints on the rest of the surface are worn too, we can redo those at the same time.

### When is the best time of year for interlock repair in Ontario?

Any time the ground isn't frozen, which in practice means spring through fall. Spring is when most people notice new dips and heaves after the frost comes out. Polymeric sand has to go onto dry pavers and needs a dry forecast and temperatures above freezing while it sets, so we plan the last step around the weather.

### How much does interlock repair cost?

It depends on the size of the sunken area, how deep the base has failed, whether water or roots need dealing with first, how many pavers are broken and whether the rest of the joints need new sand. A small dip in a walkway is a short job, while a sunken driveway apron is a bigger one. Text a few photos to (437) 684-2535 and we'll visit and give you a free quote.

## Related guides

- [Sunken interlock: why pavers sink and how to fix them](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-sunken-interlock/)
- [What goes under interlock: paver base depth, gravel and bedding sand for GTA driveways and patios](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-base-under-pavers/)
- [Polymeric sand: what it is, when to replace it, and what affects the cost](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/polymeric-sand-guide/)
- [How to stop weeds growing between pavers](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/weeds-between-pavers/)
- [Should you seal your interlock? When and how often in Ontario](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/interlock-sealing-guide/)

## Related services

- [Polymeric sand & weed removal](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/polymeric-sand-installation/)
- [Interlock cleaning & sealing](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-cleaning-sealing/)
- [Interlock installation](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-installation/)
- [Pressure washing](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/pressure-washing/)