Why is my Vancouver paver driveway sinking near the garage?

Your paver driveway is most likely sinking near the garage due to inadequate base preparation in that specific area, poor drainage causing base saturation, or settlement of backfill soil around the garage foundation. This is one of the most common interlock problems in Metro Vancouver, especially during the wet season from October through March.

Base Preparation Issues

The area immediately adjacent to your garage experiences the heaviest vehicle loads as cars turn into the garage, brake, and accelerate. If the contractor skimped on base depth in this critical zone — using 6-8 inches instead of the required 10-12 inches for driveways — the base cannot support these concentrated loads. In Metro Vancouver's wet climate, inadequate base depth becomes even more problematic because saturated base material loses its load-bearing capacity. The base should extend at least 2 feet beyond the garage opening at full depth to distribute loads properly.

Drainage and Water Issues

Metro Vancouver receives over 1,200mm of annual rainfall, and the area near your garage is particularly vulnerable to water problems. Roof runoff from your garage, combined with water running off your driveway surface, often concentrates near the garage entrance. If there's no proper drainage system — perforated drain pipe at the low point connecting to the storm drain or a dry well — this water saturates the base material beneath your pavers. Saturated base material cannot support vehicle loads and will compress and settle under traffic. Check if water pools in this area after heavy rain, which is a clear sign of drainage failure.

Foundation Settlement

If your garage is relatively new (built within the last 5-10 years), the backfill soil around the foundation may still be settling. Contractors often don't compact backfill soil properly around new foundations, and this loose soil continues to settle for years. As the soil settles, it creates a void beneath your driveway base, causing the pavers above to sink. This is especially common in Surrey, Richmond, and Delta where clay-heavy soils are prevalent and hold moisture longer.

Clay Soil Complications

Much of Metro Vancouver sits on clay-heavy soil that swells when wet and shrinks when it dries (though Vancouver rarely gets truly dry). Clay soil also has poor drainage characteristics. If your contractor didn't install geotextile fabric between the clay subgrade and the gravel base, clay particles migrate upward over time and contaminate the base material, destroying its drainage capacity and structural integrity. The area near your garage gets the most water exposure, so clay contamination shows up there first.

Immediate Assessment Steps

Walk around the sunken area and check for these warning signs: standing water after rain, soft or spongy pavers when you step on them, gaps opening between pavers, or pavers that rock when walked on. Look at your garage roof gutters — are they dumping water directly onto the driveway without proper drainage? Check if the sinking follows a pattern that matches water flow from your roof or driveway slope.

Professional Repair Requirements

This is not a DIY repair. Properly fixing a sinking driveway section requires excavating the affected area, assessing and correcting the base (likely adding depth and improving compaction), installing proper drainage if missing, and potentially addressing foundation backfill settlement. A professional repair typically costs $2,000-$6,000 depending on the size of the affected area and whether drainage improvements are needed. The pavers themselves can usually be reused if they're not cracked.

Prevention for the Future

Once repaired, ensure your garage gutters direct water away from the driveway through proper downspouts and extensions. Consider having the contractor install a strip drain or channel drain across the garage entrance to intercept water before it reaches the main driveway area. In Metro Vancouver's wet climate, managing water is always the key to long-term interlock performance.

Need help finding an interlock contractor experienced with driveway repairs? Vancouver Interlock can match you with professionals who understand Metro Vancouver's unique drainage challenges and soil conditions.