5 Star Driveways & Patios Specialist Ltd lays driveways and patios and builds garden walls for homes all over St Albans. 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 St Albans
St Albans is a city in Hertfordshire. The council is St Albans City and District Council. The River Ver runs along the western side of the city.
Like most cities, St Albans is made up of lots of smaller areas. We work in all of them, including:
1. The city centre.
2. Fleetville, to the east.
3. Bernards Heath and Marshalswick, to the north-east.
4. Sopwell, to the south.
5. St Stephens, to the south-west.
We also work in the villages around the city. These are all in St Albans district too:
1. Chiswell Green, to the south-west.
2. Park Street and How Wood, to the south.
3. London Colney, to the south-east.
What to think about in St Albans
1. Your ground. Ground can change from one part of the city to the next, and even across one garden. We check how your ground drains on the free visit, before we plan the base or a soakaway.
2. Busy roads. If your drive opens onto a busy road, it's worth thinking about turning space. Then you can drive out forwards and see the pavement clearly.
3. Conservation areas. Much of central St Albans is in conservation areas. So are parts of Sopwell, Park Street and Frogmore, and London Colney. If your home is in one, or is listed, there may be extra rules for walls, gates and front gardens. Check with St Albans City and District Council first. We're happy to help.
Our services in St Albans
1. Driveways. Resin bound, block paving, tarmac and gravel.
2. Patios. Porcelain, or Indian sandstone and York stone, laid to a slight slope to help rain run off.
3. Garden walls. Brickwork, pillars and front walls built to match, plus retaining walls for sloping gardens and raised patios.
4. Drainage. Channel drains, and soakaways where the ground allows.
5. Decking. Timber and composite, raised or at ground level.
What affects the cost
Every St Albans job is priced after a free visit, as no two drives or gardens are the same. These are the things that make the difference:
1. How big the area is.
2. Which surface or stone you pick.
3. How much digging there is, and how much spoil has to go.
4. Whether the ground needs extra drainage.
5. Changes in level, steps or walls.
6. How easy it is to get machinery and materials on site.
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 levels and the ground, and talk through what you'd like.
2. Quote. A written quote setting out the materials, the base and the drainage in plain English.
3. Base. The old surface comes up, the spoil goes away, and a compacted sub-base goes down.
4. Surface. Your new driveway or patio goes down, with edging, drainage and any walls built at the same time.
5. Handover. We clear up, give you aftercare advice and hand over your 10-year guarantee.
Most jobs are completed within a working week, Monday to Friday.
Local jobs
More photos are in our gallery.
Questions from St Albans customers
Is resin bound a good choice for a St Albans driveway?
For many homes, yes. Resin bound is porous. The stones are bound together with small gaps between them, so rain can drain through to the base, instead of running into the road. It gives a smooth, tidy finish.
How do you deal with water pooling on a St Albans drive?
On a new drive, we set the levels so water runs away from the house. Where the ground holds water, we can fit channel drains, or a soakaway where the ground allows. We check the ground on the free visit, so the drainage suits your garden.
Do I need planning permission for a front driveway in St Albans?
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 should I look after block paving in St Albans?
Sweep it often, pull any weeds early and top up the joint sand if it wears down. A gentle clean now and then helps keep the colour fresh.
What does your guarantee cover in St Albans?
Our 10-year guarantee covers the driveways, patios and walls we build. There's no deposit. See our guarantee and insurance page.
Can you build a retaining wall in my St Albans garden?
Yes. We build retaining walls for sloping gardens and raised patios, built to match your home.
Nearby towns we cover
As well as St Albans, we cover Harpenden, How Wood, Bricket Wood, Redbourn and Wheathampstead. See every town on our areas we cover page.
Get your free St Albans quote
Send my free quote request. Or call 01582 932001, or call or WhatsApp 07747 430338.