A few of my interlock driveway pavers are cracked and sunken — can I just replace those individual ones?

Yes, Individual Paver Replacement Is Possible

One of the biggest advantages of an interlock driveway is that individual pavers can be removed and replaced without disturbing the rest of the surface. If you have a handful of cracked, chipped, or sunken pavers, a targeted repair is almost always the right approach rather than redoing the entire driveway.

How the Repair Process Works

A contractor will use specialized paver extraction tools to carefully lift out the damaged pavers without chipping the surrounding ones. Once removed, they inspect the bedding sand layer underneath. In Ottawa, sunken pavers are usually caused by the bedding sand washing out or compacting unevenly after years of freeze-thaw cycles. The contractor adds fresh bedding sand, levels and compacts it, then sets the new pavers in place. Finally, polymeric sand is swept into the joints and activated with water to lock everything together.

The Colour Matching Challenge

The trickiest part of paver replacement in older driveways is finding a match. Pavers fade and weather over time, so a brand-new paver from the same manufacturer may look noticeably different. Experienced contractors in neighbourhoods like Barrhaven and Orleans — where interlock driveways are very popular — often suggest pulling matching pavers from a less visible area of the driveway (near the garage wall or a garden border) and using the new pavers in that hidden spot instead.

When Sunken Areas Need More Than Paver Swaps

If a larger section has settled, the issue is likely with the compacted gravel base underneath, not just the bedding sand. Ottawa's clay soil, particularly common in Kanata South and Riverside South, shifts significantly with moisture changes. A base repair involves removing all the pavers in the affected zone, excavating and re-compacting the granular base, and reinstalling. This is more involved but still far less expensive than a full driveway replacement.

Cost Expectations

Replacing a few individual pavers with bedding sand repair typically costs $200 to $500 for a small area. If a larger section needs base work, expect $40 to $65 per square metre for the full lift-and-relay process, including new polymeric sand. Most contractors have a minimum service call fee of $250 to $350.

Use Ottawa Driveways to find interlock specialists near you who keep common paver styles in stock and can handle targeted repairs efficiently.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects Ottawa homeowners with qualified professionals:\n

• Homeupgraders


• RenoMotion Inc.


• ALM Construction & Landscaping Inc.


• Geerts Roofing Inc


• Titley Construction