Concrete Contractor in Hoover, AL - Driveways and Patios That Drain Right and Stay Put
A&B Hoover Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Hoover, AL. We dig out, pack and pour driveways, patios, steps, sidewalks and slabs across Hoover, with the base and drainage done right before any concrete goes down.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Hoover homes and the concrete around them
I learned this trade one pour at a time on somebody else's crew, then opened this business here in Hoover in 2020, so most of the driveways and patios I look at are in neighborhoods close to home. It's mostly houses here. Some are older homes with a driveway that's been patched a few times. Others are in newer subdivisions where the builder's slab is starting to settle. Shops and offices sit along the busier roads.
We work in Birmingham and many of the cities around it too, but Hoover is home. A lot of lots here sit on a slope, so water is always headed somewhere, and the base and the fall of a new slab decide whether it heads away from your house or under it.
Concrete work we do around Hoover
Concrete driveway building
When a Hoover driveway has sunk at the apron or cracked all over, we tear it out, pack a real base under it and pour a new slab.
See the service Concrete driveway buildingConcrete patio construction
On a sloped backyard, a patio has to shed water away from your house, so we set that fall before the pour and give you a flat place to sit.
See the service Concrete patio constructionStamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or walk the look of stone or brick in a single pour, which suits a lot of the brick and stone houses here.
See the service Stamped concrete servicesConcrete sidewalk building
When the walk to your front door has heaved or tilted, we pour a new one with control joints cut in so any crack runs along a line we chose.
See the service Concrete sidewalk buildingGarage floor concrete
Pitted, cracked garage floors in older Hoover homes can be broken out and repoured, sloped so water runs out the door instead of pooling under the car.
See the service Garage floor concreteDecorative concrete
We do colored, exposed-aggregate and patterned finishes for entries and outdoor rooms, for when you want the concrete to match the house instead of looking like a sidewalk.
See the service Decorative concreteConcrete retaining walls
Sloped yards here often need a retaining wall to hold back a bank or level a spot for a patio, and we build it with drainage behind it.
See the service Concrete retaining wallsConcrete floor installation
For basements, workshops and additions, we pour interior floors on a packed base so they stay flat and level under whatever you put on them.
See the service Concrete floor installationConcrete pool decks
A pool deck takes splashing, bare feet and constant wet, so we give it a slip-resistant finish and slope it away from the pool and the house.
See the service Concrete pool decksConcrete steps construction
On Hoover lots that sit above the street, steps carry you from the drive to the door, and we pour them with even risers on a solid base.
See the service Concrete steps constructionSlab foundation building
For a new garage, addition or house, we pour the slab it sits on, with the ground packed and graded so water runs away from it.
See the service Slab foundation buildingFoundation installation
We dig and pour foundations for additions and new builds on Hoover's hillside lots, where the walls and footings have to step down with the grade.
See the service Foundation installationConcrete parking lot building
For shops, churches and offices along Hoover's busier roads, we build concrete parking lots with a heavy base and drainage planned so water leaves the lot.
See the service Concrete parking lot buildingConcrete footings
Decks, porches, carports and garden walls all need concrete footings dug below the soft topsoil, so whatever you build on them doesn't lean or settle.
See the service Concrete footingsFoundation raising
When a slab or part of a house has settled, we find out why first, then raise it back toward level and fix the cause.
See the service Foundation raisingConcrete cutting
We saw-cut concrete for a clean edge when only part of a driveway needs replacing, and we cut openings for doors, drains or a new walkway.
See the service Concrete cutting
Get a free estimate for your Hoover concrete job
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free, done at your place, and comes with no obligation.
- estimates@concretehoover.com
- Based in
- Hoover, AL 35216
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
Permits, inspections and pricing for Hoover concrete work
Building permits here come from the City of Hoover's Building Inspections Department, and the city wants a building permit in place before any construction work starts. Before we schedule anything, we check with the department about what your address and your job need. When a permit is called for, we handle the paperwork and leave room in the plan for the inspections, which is usually what sets the start date. We're fully licensed and insured, and business licenses in Hoover are handled by the city's Revenue Division.
Steep drives and tight backyards are common here, and they change the job, because a concrete truck that can't reach the forms means pumping or wheelbarrows. What moves the price is mostly what's under and around the slab. That means how much old concrete comes out, how much digging and packing the base takes, how steep the lot is, how easy access is, and the finish you pick, and your estimate spells out each one. We do the same work in Vestavia Hills and Pelham.
Why Hoover driveways and patios crack and sink
Most of the cracked and sunken concrete we get called about here comes down to the subgrade, the dirt and stone the slab actually sits on. On a lot of jobs the base was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the slab settles right along with the dirt. That's why we spend the time and money underneath first. If a budget has to give somewhere, I'd rather you go with a plain broom finish, the light texture that keeps your feet from slipping, than skimp on a base nobody sees on day one.
The other thing is the hills. Water off a sloped yard or a roof runs straight at the low side of a slab, and a patio that falls toward the house sends it right against your foundation, so I check where the water runs before we set a single form.
How a concrete job runs when you call us in Hoover
Here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end, with the permit step built in where it falls.
Call or send the form
Call (205) 325-9006 or send the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time for me to come see the job. It helps if you're home for the visit so we can walk it together.
I walk the site with you
I look at the ground, where the water runs and what's under the old slab, then put together an estimate that spells out what's in it. Nothing gets decided on the spot, and you can take your time with the numbers.
We sort permits and pour
Once you're ready, we handle any permit with the building office, leave room for the inspections and set the pour date. Our own crew does the work, and I'm on the job with them.
Walk the finished work together
Before we pack up, we walk the new concrete with you and tell you when you can walk on it and when you can drive on it while it cures. Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Questions about concrete work in Hoover, AL
Who do I call in Hoover with a question about a residential permit?
The city sends residential permit questions to its Inspection Services Department, at permits@hooveralabama.gov or 205-444-7522. If we're doing your job, you won't need to make that call, because I check what your job needs before we put it on the calendar.
Do I need a street-cut permit if my new driveway ties into the curb in Hoover?
You do if the work cuts, digs up, removes or replaces a city street, alley, curb or sidewalk, because Hoover requires a street-cut permit for that. It comes up most when a driveway apron meets the curb, so I look at where your drive meets the street on the estimate visit.
How much does a permit add to the cost of a concrete job in Hoover?
When a permit is needed for work on an existing home, the city's fee is $9.00 for every $1,000 of the job's construction value plus $51.00, with a $60 minimum, and the State of Alabama adds a $20.00 flat fee to every residential permit. Skipping the permit doesn't save anything, since work done without one is charged double permit fees on a first offense and triple after that.
What is the best way to keep a new concrete driveway from cracking?
A packed base, steel in the slab and control joints cut on time do most of the work. Concrete shrinks as it dries, so rebar, the steel bars inside the slab, holds any crack tight, and joints cut early give it a straight line to follow instead of wandering across the middle. We also pour early in the day when we can, because a slab that sets up too fast in the afternoon heat can end up with a weak, dusty top.
How long does new concrete need before I can drive on it?
Longer than before you can walk on it, because concrete keeps curing and gaining strength for days after the pour, and a car is a lot more weight than your feet. I give you both dates for your slab before we pour, and when you can't be without parking, we can split the driveway into two pours.
How do I know if my old Hoover driveway can be repaired or needs replacing?
If the cracks are narrow and the slab is still level, a repair can buy you time, but if sections have sunk or tilted, the base underneath has given out and replacing is usually the honest answer. Sometimes only one section is bad, and we can saw it out and pour it back. I'll tell you which one I see when I come out.
Other service areas
Hoover, AL
Tell us about your Hoover concrete job
Call (205) 325-9006 or use the form to tell us what you're planning, and I'll show up already knowing what to look at on your lot.