GARDEN STRUCTURES & OUTDOOR FEATURES
From pergolas and outdoor kitchens to garden buildings, lighting and irrigation, HDL coordinates practical outdoor features as part of complete landscaping projects across Hertfordshire.
We consider the structure, groundwork, access, services and surrounding finishes together so everything feels properly integrated with the garden.
A structure or feature should make the space more useful, not simply fill it.
That might mean creating shade, adding somewhere to cook, improving privacy, introducing storage or making the garden easier to use throughout the year.
Because HDL designs, builds and plants complete gardens, these elements can be planned alongside paving, levels, drainage and planting from the outset.
Garden structures and outdoor features rely on more than the visible finish.
We consider access, levels, bases, drainage, power and water before installation, so the practical requirements are resolved before the surrounding garden is completed.
Where a specialist structure or kitchen is required, HDL can coordinate suitable suppliers and installers while managing the groundwork, paving, planting and surrounding landscaping.
This keeps the project joined up and avoids different elements being planned in isolation.
A garden feature should feel as though it belongs in the space around it.
Because HDL is also responsible for the wider landscaping, we can consider how the structure meets paving, planting and surrounding areas rather than treating installation as the end of the job.
The result is a more joined-up garden, with fewer decisions left for the homeowner to coordinate between different trades.
Garden structures live outside all year, so the quality of the installation matters. Bases, fixings, drainage and material choices all affect how well the finished structure performs over time.
We make sure the structure is properly supported, securely installed and neatly finished where it meets paving, planting and the rest of the garden.
The aim is something that feels solid and considered from day one, and continues to work as part of the garden for years to come.
FROM IDEA TO INSTALLATION
A good garden feature should feel like part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Step 1
We start with what the feature needs to add to the garden, whether that is shade, storage, cooking, privacy, lighting or easier maintenance.
Step 2
We review access, levels, drainage, services, light and the relationship with the rest of the garden.
Step 3
Bases, fixings, power, water, drainage and surrounding finishes are coordinated before installation begins.
Step 4
The structure or feature is installed and finished so it connects cleanly with the surrounding paving, planting and landscaping.
Real gardens across Hertfordshire and beyond
See how we have incorporated garden rooms, pergolas and other structures into finished gardens, with position, proportions and materials considered as part of the wider space.
Natural Stone Terrace with Brick Detailing & Curved Garden Screen
A natural-stone terrace detailed with brick runners, low retaining walls and a curved hardwood screen, designed to sit naturally within an established Ardley garden.
View project : Stone Terrace & Brick Detail
Contemporary Garden Transformation with Pergola & Porcelain Terrace
An existing deck and lawn reworked into a structured contemporary garden with porcelain terrace, timber pergola and pleached-tree backdrop.
View project : From Deck to Structured Garden
Contemporary Entertaining Garden in Hitchin
A sheltered pergola terrace, open lawn and considered screening create a contemporary Hitchin garden designed for everyday use and entertaining.
View project : Canopy & ClearingGarden Structure Client Testimonials
A well-planned garden structure should feel like a natural part of the space. From pergolas and garden buildings to outdoor kitchens, spa areas and other features, we consider how each element sits alongside the paving, planting and wider garden.
Questions
Practical answers about garden structures, outdoor features, garden buildings, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, spa areas, water features, play spaces, irrigation and lighting.
Still have questions? Call our team on 01462 658 442 or click the button below:
Yes. We can coordinate selected garden rooms, summer houses, studios, log cabins and storage buildings as part of a wider landscaping project, including the base, access, services and surrounding paving or planting.
Where a specialist manufactured building is required, we can coordinate the relevant supplier or installer alongside the landscaping works.
Yes, where they form part of a wider garden project.
We can plan the kitchen area alongside paving, seating, lighting, drainage and services, and coordinate specialist products or installers where required. This helps ensure the kitchen works with the wider layout rather than being treated as a standalone feature.
That depends on the structure, its weight, intended use and the ground conditions.
A suitable base, stable levels, drainage and access all need to be considered before installation. For larger structures, power, water or other services may also need to be planned before surrounding paving and landscaping are completed.
Many domestic outbuildings can fall within permitted development rights, but this depends on factors including size, height, position, use and the individual property.
For example, outbuildings within two metres of a boundary are subject to a 2.5m overall height limit under permitted development rules. Other restrictions can apply to listed buildings, designated land and properties where permitted development rights have been removed.
We recommend checking the specific property and proposed structure before work begins. Read more here.
Yes, if it is designed and specified for that purpose.
Insulation, glazing, roofing, ventilation, heating and the overall construction all affect year-round comfort. A lightweight summer house and an insulated garden office therefore require very different specifications.
Yes.
Both are best planned before paving and planting are complete. This allows cable routes, pipework, controls and access points to be installed cleanly within the wider landscaping rather than added afterwards.
Yes, subject to the site and access.
We assess the available space, levels, drainage, existing paving and surrounding planting before deciding how the structure should be positioned and supported.
Yes.
Where a project includes a specialist garden building, outdoor kitchen or other manufactured feature, HDL can coordinate the supplier or installer while managing the groundwork, services and landscaping around it.
