5 Star Driveways & Patios Specialist Ltd lays driveways and patios and builds garden walls for homes all over How Wood. We'll come out for a free site survey and give you a clear, written quote. Call 01582 932001, or call or WhatsApp 07747 430338.
About How Wood
How Wood is a village in Hertfordshire, between St Albans and Watford. It's in St Stephen parish, and the council is St Albans City and District Council. The village sits right next to Park Street, and Bricket Wood and Chiswell Green are close by.
How Wood is mostly homes, so most of our work here is front drives, back garden patios and garden walls. We work all over the village.
We also work in the nearby villages of Park Street, Chiswell Green and Bricket Wood.
What to think about in How Wood
1. Your ground. Ground can change from one garden to the next. Clay drains slowly and can hold water. We check how your ground drains before deciding how rainwater will get away.
2. Trees. If you have trees close to the drive or patio, roots can lift a surface over time. We plan the base and edges around them.
3. Listed homes and conservation areas. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, there may be extra rules. We'll help you check with St Albans City and District Council.
Our services in How Wood
1. Driveways. Resin bound, block paving, tarmac and gravel.
2. Patios. Porcelain, or Indian sandstone and York stone.
3. Garden walls. Brickwork, pillars and front walls built to match, plus retaining walls.
4. Drainage. Channel drains, and soakaways where the ground allows.
5. Decking. Timber and composite decks for the back garden.
What affects the cost
Each How Wood job is priced after a free visit. These are the things that make the difference:
1. The size of the drive or patio.
2. The material and finish you choose.
3. How much digging there is, and how much spoil has to go.
4. How much drainage is needed.
5. Levels, steps or walls.
6. How easy the access is.
We put the quote in writing, and we never ask for a deposit.
How we do the job
1. Survey. A free visit to measure up, look at the ground and the levels, and hear your plans.
2. Quote. A written quote with the materials, base and drainage, in plain English.
3. Base. We take up the old surface, remove the spoil and lay a compacted sub-base.
4. Surface. Your new driveway or patio goes down, with edging, drainage and any walls built in.
5. Handover. We leave a tidy site, give you aftercare tips and hand over your 10-year guarantee.
Most jobs are completed within a working week, Monday to Friday.
Local jobs
See more in our gallery.
How Wood questions
How does resin bound let rain through on a How Wood driveway?
Resin bound is porous. The resin holds the stones together but leaves small gaps. Rain can drain through into the base, rather than pooling or running into the road.
Why does water collect on some How Wood drives?
Puddles usually come from a drive that doesn't slope enough, a weak base, or ground below that drains slowly. On a new drive, we plan the levels, the base and, where needed, a channel drain or soakaway.
Do I need planning permission for a front driveway in How Wood?
You don't normally need permission if the new surface lets water soak through, or drains to a lawn or border. Covering more than 5 square metres with a solid surface that drains nowhere else usually does. Flats, listed homes and conservation areas may have extra rules, so check with St Albans City and District Council.
How do I look after a deck in How Wood?
Sweep it, keep it clear of leaves and wash it now and then. Composite needs little more than a wash. Timber decks benefit from a treatment every so often.
What's covered by your guarantee in How Wood?
Our 10-year guarantee covers the driveways, patios and walls we build. There's no deposit. See our guarantee and insurance page.
Do you work in Park Street too?
Yes. We also work in Park Street, Chiswell Green and Bricket Wood.
Nearby towns we cover
We also cover Bricket Wood, St Albans, Radlett and Shenley. See every town on our areas we cover page.
Get your free How Wood quote
Send my free quote request. Or call 01582 932001, or call or WhatsApp 07747 430338.