Under paving, the detection fee is the cheap part. Lifting and reinstating the wrong two square metres is what costs money, and matching older pavers is often impossible.
Pinpointing first is the whole argument for detection here. Method detail at Leak Detection Cape Town.
Tell us the paving type and roughly where the mains run underneath.
Get a Paving Leak QuoteSigns of a Leak Under Paving
- Pavers that have sunk or rocked in one area, as the bedding sand washes out.
- A patch that stays damp in dry weather, or dries far slower than the rest.
- Moss or weed growth concentrated along one line.
- Water appearing at the lowest edge of the paving with no rain.
- A moving meter with everything closed and no wet patch anywhere else.
How It Is Located Without Lifting
Acoustic ground microphones read through brick, cobble and concrete, and a correlator clamped either side of a long run calculates the distance to the break. Where the line is plastic and the pressure low, tracer gas is pushed through the emptied pipe and picked up as it surfaces through the joints.
Paving Leak Prices in Cape Town
| Job | Indicative range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Detection under paving | R1,450 – R3,000 | Call-out plus first hour, nothing lifted. |
| Correlator survey on a long run | R1,800 – R3,800 | Boundary-to-house mains. |
| Tracer gas on a plastic line | R4,750 – R6,000 | Plus gas at R1,400 – R1,800 per bottle. |
| Lifting and setting aside pavers | R450 – R950 per m² | Brick and cobble. |
| Breaking concrete or slasto | R950 – R2,800 | Per opening, depending on thickness. |
| Underground pipe repair | R1,750 – R2,500 | Excludes surface reinstatement. |
| Paving reinstatement | R450 – R1,400 per m² | Matching old paving costs more. |
| Rerouting to avoid the paving | R3,500 – R12,000 | Often cheaper than repeated excavation. |
These are indicative market ranges, not a quotation. They are compiled from published South African leak detection and plumbing pricing to give you a starting point for budgeting. They are not the rate card of any company on this platform.
If the same driveway has been opened twice, price a reroute around it. Running a new line along the edge is frequently cheaper than a third excavation and reinstatement.
Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a leak under a driveway be found without lifting it?
Yes. Acoustic equipment and correlators read through paving and concrete, and typically place the leak within about half a metre. Only that point is opened.
Will my paving look the same afterwards?
Where pavers are lifted carefully and reset, usually yes, though weathering means a patch can show. Matching discontinued pavers is the common difficulty, so keep any spares you have.
Why has my paving sunk in one spot?
Escaping water washes out the bedding sand under the pavers. Subsidence over a known pipe run is a strong sign of a leak rather than a settling problem.
Request a Paving Leak Detection Quote
Describe the job and get quotes back from companies in your area.
Free to use, no obligation. Your request goes to LEADERR APPROVED leak detection companies covering your area, who quote you directly.
Client Reviews
Powered by leaderr
