A good patio gives you somewhere to sit, eat and enjoy the garden for years. We lay patios for homes in Harpenden and across Hertfordshire, including Wheathampstead and St Albans. We work in porcelain, Indian sandstone, York stone and resin bound.
This page explains the materials, so you can see what suits your garden. We'll then come out for a free site survey, measure up and give you a clear written quote. There's no deposit to pay.
Call 01582 932001, or call or WhatsApp 07747 430338, email hello@5stardrivewaysandpatios.co.uk, or get your free quote.
Patio materials
Porcelain
Porcelain is low maintenance and resists stains, so it's a popular choice for busy family gardens. It comes in stone-effect, wood-effect and plain styles, in a range of sizes and colours. It's laid differently from natural stone, so it needs the right method. Read more about porcelain patios.
Indian sandstone and York stone
Natural stone gives a patio real character. Indian sandstone comes in a wide range of colours. You can have a riven finish, which is textured, or a sawn finish, which is smooth. York stone is a natural sandstone too, with soft buff and grey tones. Each slab is natural, so the colours and markings vary from one to the next. That's part of the appeal. Read more about Indian sandstone and York stone patios.
Resin bound patios and paths
Resin bound isn't just for driveways. It makes a smooth, porous patio or garden path that drains well and helps keep weeds down. Read more about resin bound patios and paths.
Steps, raised patios and decking
Not every garden is flat. We build steps and raised patios to deal with changes in level, with retaining walls where they're needed. If you'd like a deck as well, we build decking in timber and composite.
We also repair and repoint existing patios.
Choosing the right material
1. For low upkeep: porcelain or resin bound.
2. For a natural look: Indian sandstone or York stone.
3. For a porous surface: resin bound.
4. For a smooth, modern finish: porcelain or sawn sandstone.
5. For a softer, textured feel: riven sandstone or York stone.
We'll talk it through with you on the survey.
Planning your patio
These are the questions we'll ask on the survey.
1. How will you use it? A table and chairs for family meals needs more room than a bench for your morning coffee.
2. Where does the sun fall? Many people put the patio by the back door. A second seating area at the sunny end of the garden can be just as useful.
3. How does it link to the house and garden? Steps, paths and a matching edge help the patio sit naturally in the garden.
4. What's underneath? Old patios, tree roots and soft ground all change what's needed for a solid base.
5. Do you want it to match the front? A patio can pick up the colours of your driveway or walls, so the whole property ties together.
Bring any photos or ideas you've collected. We'll tell you honestly what will work in your garden.
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 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. Paving a front garden has its own rules, which we explain on our driveways page.
Walls and edges
A patio often looks best with a low wall, planter or step to finish it. We build garden walls to match, including brickwork and pillars.
What affects the cost of a new patio?
We don't publish prices, because every garden is different. These are the main things that affect the cost:
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 or 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.
Book a free site survey and we'll give you a clear written quote, with no obligation.
How we lay a patio
1. Survey and design. We visit, measure up, check the levels and talk about shape, size and material.
2. Written quote. A clear quote with everything set out. No deposit.
3. Digging out. We remove turf, soil or the old patio, and take it away.
4. Sub-base. We lay and compact a proper sub-base, so the patio stays level.
5. Levels and slope. We set the levels so water runs away from the house.
6. Laying. Each slab is laid on a full bed, using the right method for the material.
7. Pointing and sealing. We fill the joints, and we can seal natural stone if you'd like.
8. Clean-up and handover. We clear up and explain how to look after your patio.
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 off spills quickly. Sealing can help it resist stains.
3. Resin bound. Brush and rinse it, so water can still drain through.
Our patio cleaning service can jet wash and reseal a patio when it needs a refresh.
Recent patios
See more in our photo gallery.
Questions about patios
Which patio material is best: porcelain, Indian sandstone or York stone?
Porcelain is the easiest to keep clean. Natural stone gives a softer, more traditional look. We'll help you choose on the survey.
How much does a new patio cost?
It depends on the size, the material, the digging out, levels, drainage and access. We'll give you a free written quote.
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?
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.
Do you build decking too?
Yes, in timber and composite.
Is my patio covered by the 10-year guarantee?
Yes. Our 10-year guarantee covers our driveways, patios and walls. The details are set out with your written quote.
Areas we cover
We lay patios in Harpenden and 23 nearby towns. See our areas page or our Harpenden patios page.
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.