We lay new garden patios for homes all over Harpenden, including Southdown, Batford, West Common and Kinsbourne Green. We also work in nearby Wheathampstead. Choose from porcelain, Indian sandstone, York stone or resin bound. We'll help you choose, lay it on a proper base and finish it neatly.
Over 25 years' experience
10-year guarantee on driveways, patios and walls
No deposit
Free site survey and written quote
Fully insured, with insurance certificates available on request
Call 01582 932001, or call or WhatsApp 07747 430338, email hello@5stardrivewaysandpatios.co.uk, or get your free quote.
Patios we lay in Harpenden
Low maintenance and stain resistant, in stone-effect, wood-effect and plain styles. A popular choice for busy family gardens.
Indian sandstone and York stone patios
Natural stone with real character. Indian sandstone comes in a wide range of colours, in riven or sawn finishes. York stone has soft, traditional tones. Every slab is a little different.
Smooth and porous, so rainwater drains straight through. Ideal for paths and patios that need to drain well.
Steps and raised patios
For sloping gardens, we build steps and raised or tiered patios, held by retaining walls.
If you'd like a deck as well as, or instead of, a patio, we build decking in timber and composite.
Choosing your patio
On the free visit, we'll talk through a few things, to make sure your new patio works for the way you live.
1. How you'll use it. Family meals, a barbecue or a quiet corner for a bench all need different amounts of space.
2. Where the sun falls. Next to the back door is the obvious spot. A second seating area at the sunny end of the garden can get more use.
3. The levels. A sloping garden may need steps, a raised patio or a retaining wall.
4. The look. Porcelain for clean lines and easy care, natural stone for character, or resin bound for a smooth, porous finish.
5. How it connects. Matching paths and steps and garden walls help the patio sit naturally in the garden.
Porcelain, natural stone or resin bound?
If you're torn between materials, this quick comparison may help.
1. Porcelain is the easiest to keep clean, and the slabs are made to match for an even colour. It needs a different laying method from natural stone.
2. Indian sandstone gives you the widest choice of colours. Choose a riven finish for texture, or sawn for a crisp, modern look.
3. York stone has soft, traditional tones that weather gracefully. People often choose it to match existing York stone paths or walls.
4. Resin bound is smooth and porous. It's a good choice for paths, and for areas that need to drain well.
Front and back together
If you're also thinking about a new driveway, it often makes sense to do both at once. We can match colours and materials so the front and back of the house tie together, and plan the drainage for both. See our Harpenden driveways page for the options.
Garden and retaining walls
Not every garden is flat. A retaining wall holds back the ground, so you can have a level patio. A low garden wall can frame the space, or double as extra seating. We build walls to match your patio, including brickwork and pillars.
Drainage and levels
A patio must slope gently away from the house, so rainwater runs off rather than pooling or heading towards the walls. We set the levels carefully when we lay the base. Where the water has nowhere to go, we add drainage, such as a channel drain along the edge. Resin bound patios are porous, so water drains through them.
Most back garden patios at or near ground level don't need planning permission. A patio built up on a big bank or terrace might. Listed homes need consent for big works, and flats have different rules.
What affects the cost of a patio in Harpenden?
We don't publish prices, because every garden is different. These are the things that make the difference:
1. Size. The area of the patio.
2. Material. Porcelain, Indian sandstone, York stone or resin bound.
3. Digging out. Removing turf, soil or an old patio, and taking it away.
4. Levels. Steps, raised areas and retaining walls on a sloping garden.
5. Drainage. Any drains needed to get water away.
6. Access. How easily materials can reach the back garden.
7. Finishing. Pointing, sealing, edging and walls.
We'll measure up for free and give you a clear written quote, with no obligation.
How we lay your patio
1. Free visit and design. We measure up, check the levels and talk about shape, size and material.
2. Clear written quote. Everything is set out in writing. There's no deposit to pay.
3. Dig out. We remove turf, soil or the old patio, and take it away.
4. Lay a proper sub-base. We lay and compact it, so your patio stays level.
5. Set the levels. The patio slopes gently away from the house, so water runs off.
6. Lay the slabs. We lay each slab using the right method for the material.
7. Point and seal. We fill the joints, and we can seal natural stone if you'd like.
8. Clean up and hand over. We leave the garden tidy and explain the aftercare. Your patio comes with our 10-year guarantee.
Looking after your patio
1. Porcelain. Brush and rinse it. Most marks come off with warm, soapy water.
2. Indian sandstone and York stone. Sweep regularly and clean up spills quickly. Sealing can help it resist stains.
3. Resin bound. Brush and rinse it, so water can still drain through.
4. Decking. Sweep off leaves. Timber decks benefit from a treatment every so often, while composite needs little more than a wash.
Our patio cleaning service can jet wash and reseal a patio when it needs a refresh.
Our promise
Our 10-year guarantee covers our driveways, patios and walls, and we never ask for a deposit. We have over 25 years' experience. We're fully insured, and insurance certificates are available on request.
Photos
See more in our photo gallery.
Questions we get asked in Harpenden
How much does a new patio cost in Harpenden?
It depends on the size, the material, the digging out, levels, drainage and access. We'll measure up for free and give you a clear written quote.
Which patio material is best for a Harpenden garden?
It depends on how you'll use it and how much upkeep you want. Porcelain is the easiest to care for. Natural stone has more character. We'll help you choose.
How long does a patio take to lay?
Most jobs are completed within a working week, Monday to Friday.
Do I need planning permission for a patio in Harpenden?
Usually not, for a back garden patio at ground level. See the notes above for when it can be different.
How do you stop water pooling on a patio?
We lay it with a gentle slope away from the house, and add drainage where it's needed.
Can you build steps or a raised patio on a sloping garden?
Yes. We build steps, raised patios and retaining walls.
Do you build timber or composite decking too?
Yes, we build both.
Is my patio guaranteed, and do you ask for a deposit?
Our 10-year guarantee covers our driveways, patios and walls, and we never ask for a deposit. The details are set out with your written quote.
Areas we cover around Harpenden
Abbots Langley, Berkhamsted, Borehamwood, Bricket Wood, Bushey, Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Dunstable, Edgware, Harpenden, Harrow, Hemel Hempstead, How Wood, Kings Langley, Northwood, Pinner, Radlett, Redbourn, Rickmansworth, Shenley, St Albans, Stanmore, Watford, Wheathampstead.
Get your free quote
Tell us a little about the job and we'll arrange a free site survey and a clear written quote. There's no deposit to pay and no obligation.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 01582 932001, or call or WhatsApp 07747 430338. You're welcome to send photos of your driveway or garden on WhatsApp first.