Concrete Contractor in Alabaster, AL - Driveways and Patios That Drain Right
A&B Hoover Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor pouring driveways, patios, steps, walkways and slabs for homes in Alabaster, AL, with the base dug out, packed and sloped so water runs away from your house.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Alabaster homes and the slopes they sit on
Our calls in Alabaster mostly come from homeowners in established neighborhoods and newer subdivisions, where the houses are mostly brick or siding with an attached garage and a driveway sized for two cars. People ask us for new driveways and back patios, front steps and walkways, and about old slabs that have cracked, sunk at one corner or started holding water. Those are much the same calls we get nearby in Helena.
The ground shapes the job more than the house does. Plenty of lots here slope toward the street or drop off out back, so before I price a driveway or patio I want to see how steep it runs, where the water goes and whether a truck can reach the backyard.
Concrete work we do for Alabaster homes and businesses
Concrete driveway building
Driveways here often climb from the street to the garage, so we dig to firm ground, pack the base and slope the slab to shed water.
See the service Concrete driveway buildingConcrete patio construction
Backyards here often slope, so we set the patio's grade to send water out into the yard instead of back against your house.
See the service Concrete patio constructionStamped concrete services
Plenty of brick houses here pair well with a stamped patio or walkway, pressed with a stone or brick pattern in one pour over the same packed base.
See the service Stamped concrete servicesConcrete sidewalk building
Front walks that have heaved or settled into a trip hazard get torn out and repoured, with control joints cut so any crack lands along a straight line.
See the service Concrete sidewalk buildingGarage floor concrete
Garage floors that have cracked or sunk near the door get torn out and repoured with rebar, steel that holds cracks tight, and a fall toward the door.
See the service Garage floor concreteDecorative concrete
Color, exposed stone and saw-cut patterns can tie a front entry or walkway to the brick and stone fronts common on homes here.
See the service Decorative concreteConcrete retaining walls
Sloped lots here often need a wall to hold back a yard, and we build it with drainage behind so trapped water doesn't push it over.
See the service Concrete retaining wallsConcrete floor installation
Additions, workshops and basements on homes here get an interior slab poured over a packed base, finished smooth and flat enough for flooring or a workbench.
See the service Concrete floor installationConcrete pool decks
Backyard pools here need a deck with a broom finish, a brushed texture for grip on wet feet, sloped so splash water runs away from the pool.
See the service Concrete pool decksConcrete steps construction
Front steps on hilly lots here that have pulled away from the porch get replaced with even step heights and steel tying them to the house.
See the service Concrete steps constructionSlab foundation building
New homes, additions and detached garages here start with a slab poured on dug-out, packed ground, with footings and steel set before the pour.
See the service Slab foundation buildingFoundation installation
If you're building on a sloped lot here, we pour the foundation to suit the grade, from stepped footings to short walls under the house.
See the service Foundation installationConcrete parking lot building
Churches, small offices and shops along Alabaster's busier roads get parking lots poured thick enough for delivery trucks, with joints and drainage planned before the first load.
See the service Concrete parking lot buildingConcrete footings
Decks, porches, carports and room additions need footings, the buried concrete that carries the weight, dug to firm ground rather than set in loose fill.
See the service Concrete footingsFoundation raising
When a slab or foundation has dropped and left cracks in the brick or doors that stick, we look at what's under it before talking about lifting it.
See the service Foundation raisingConcrete cutting
When you need a doorway, a trench for a line or a section of old driveway taken out, we saw-cut clean edges so the new pour ties in.
See the service Concrete cutting
Get a free estimate for your Alabaster concrete job
We get back to you within one business day to set a time, then I come out myself, walk the site with you and write up a free estimate, with no pressure and no obligation.
- estimates@concretehoover.com
- Based in
- Hoover, AL 35216
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
Working in Alabaster: permits, licenses and what sets the price
Building permits in Alabaster are issued by the city's Building Official, so before we put a pour on the calendar, we check with the building office about what your job needs. If a permit is called for, we handle the paperwork and leave room in the plan for inspections, so whether your job needs one is a big part of when we can start. When you're comparing contractors, ask for a current City of Alabaster business license and, on bigger home jobs, state builder certification, and if you'd rather ask the city yourself, Alabaster City Hall is at (205) 664-6800.
We're based in Hoover, and Alabaster is a straight run down I-65, the same trip that takes us to jobs in Pelham. The price here mostly moves with the size of the slab, whether old concrete has to be broken out and hauled off, how much digging and base the ground needs, how close the truck can get and the finish on top. After the pour there's curing, the wait while fresh concrete hardens enough to take weight, and the estimate I write up after seeing your place spells out what's in your number.
Why driveways and slabs settle on Alabaster lots
A lot of the cracked and sunken concrete we see here sits on lots that were graded and filled when the neighborhood went in. Fill dirt can keep settling for years, so a driveway poured on dirt that was only raked level sinks with it, cracks where nobody planned and starts holding water or tipping back toward the garage. We dig down to firm ground and pack the subgrade, which is the layer the slab sits on. We check which way the water runs before we set the forms, and we cut the control joints before the slab has a chance to crack on its own.
Sloped yards add one more piece. Before the city issues a permit for clearing, grading, digging out or filling ground that could wash away, its code calls for an erosion and sediment control plan, so when your job falls under that, it goes into the permit paperwork we handle.
How a concrete job runs when you call us in Alabaster
Here's how it goes from your first call to the final walk-through, with me on the job from the first look to the day we pack up.
Call us or send the form
You call (205) 325-9006 or fill out the form, and we get back to you to set a time for me to come out. Pick a time you can be home, because I'd like to walk the yard with you.
Walk the site together
I look at the ground, the old slab if there is one, and where the water runs, then put together an estimate that spells out what's in it. That way you know what the number covers before you decide anything.
Permit check, then the pour
Once you're ready, we check with the city's building office about your job, handle any permit paperwork and leave room in the schedule for inspections. Then our own crew digs out, packs the base and pours, and I'm there with them.
Walk the finished work together
We walk the finished job with you before we pack up and clean the site. I'll show you where the control joints are and tell you how long to keep off it while it cures.
Questions about concrete contractors in Alabaster
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Alabaster?
The answer comes from the city's building department, and we get it for your address before we schedule anything. City guidance says permits are typically required for structural remodeling, electrical wiring, mechanical and plumbing fixtures, roof line changes and moving walls, and that new floor coverings, painting or minor repairs may not need one. When your job does need a permit, we handle the paperwork and plan around the inspections.
Does a concrete contractor need a business license to work in Alabaster?
Yes, the city requires a City of Alabaster business license from any business with a location in Alabaster or that does service, repair or installation work there. When a state certification or permit is required, the business has to get that first, before the city issues its license. Licenses expire every December 31st and can be renewed through January without a penalty, so it's fair to ask a contractor for the current one.
When does a contractor need a state license for home work in Alabama?
Alabama's home builder licensing law covers work on a house of up to three floors and four units that someone else will use, when the job costs more than $10,000. In Alabaster, permits for accessory structures, renovations and new homes require certification from the state Home Builders Licensure Board, unless the owner is acting as their own contractor. State law also exempts owners improving a one-family or two-family home they'll live in, not sell, as long as they supervise all the work themselves. We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask me about it at the estimate.
How do I find out if my Alabaster home is in a floodplain?
Look up your address on the state's AlabamaFlood tool, which shows FEMA floodplain data by address or county. It matters most for a new house or addition, because in most cases the city wants a structure in Flood Hazard Zone A to have its finished floor at least one foot above base flood elevation, the level the flood maps show. If we're pouring a slab foundation for you, we need that answer before we set the height.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Alabaster?
Your driveway's price comes down to its size, how much old concrete comes out, how much digging and base the ground needs and the finish you choose. A steep driveway or soft fill dirt means more base work, and a stamped or decorative surface costs more than a plain broom finish. If the budget's tight, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because nobody sees the base on day one, but it's what keeps the slab from sinking and cracking later.
How long does a new concrete driveway in Alabaster need to cure before I can drive on it?
Usually about a week before you drive on it, and a day or two before you walk on it. Concrete keeps gaining strength well after it looks dry, so heavy trucks and trailers should wait longer than your car. Before we leave, I'll tell you when it's ready for the way you use it.
Other service areas
Hoover, AL
Plan your Alabaster concrete project with us
We take calls evenings and weekends too, so call (205) 325-9006 or send the form whenever it suits you.