Concrete Contractor in Irondale, AL - Driveways and Slabs That Go to Plan
Pelham Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Pelham that builds driveways, patios, walks, steps and foundations for homes and small businesses in Irondale, AL, with the owner walking each job and our own crew doing the work.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Concrete work for Irondale homes
Irondale sits just east of Birmingham, and most of our calls there come from homeowners, with some from small business owners around Historic Downtown Irondale and builders putting up new houses. The work runs from one set of front steps to a full driveway, patio or foundation.
A lot of what we replace here is older concrete, and the reason it failed is usually underneath. When we break out a sunken driveway, we often find dirt that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so that's where we start. We dig to firm ground, build up the subgrade, the packed bed the slab rests on, and check where the water runs before a single form goes in.
- A base dug out and packed
- Water steered away from the house
- Joints cut where cracks belong
- A written quote listing what's included
Concrete services we offer in Irondale
Here's the work we do in Irondale, from flatwork like driveways, patios and walks to foundations, footings and repairs.
Concrete driveway building
Most driveway calls here start with an old slab that's cracked or sunk at the street. We break it out, rebuild the base and pour new.
Explore Concrete driveway buildingConcrete patio construction
A patio usually has to work with the slope of the yard, so we pitch it to shed water away from your house before the forms go in.
Explore Concrete patio constructionStamped concrete services
Stamped concrete puts the look of stone or brick on a patio or walk, and it sits on the same packed base as any slab we pour.
Explore Stamped concrete servicesConcrete sidewalk building
Walks heaved by tree roots or sunk at the joints turn into a trip hazard. We replace the bad sections and tie new concrete into what's still sound.
Explore Concrete sidewalk buildingGarage floor concrete
A cracked or stained garage floor in an older house can be broken out and replaced, and a new garage gets a slab thick enough for the cars on it.
Explore Garage floor concreteDecorative concrete
Colored and textured finishes suit the front entries, patios and shop fronts people see first. We settle the color and pattern with you before anything is poured.
Explore Decorative concreteConcrete retaining walls
On sloped lots, a concrete retaining wall holds the yard back from a driveway or patio. We plan the drainage behind it so water doesn't push it out.
Explore Concrete retaining wallsConcrete floor installation
Basements, workshops and small shops need a level floor. We get the base right first, because a floor is only as flat as what's under it.
Explore Concrete floor installationConcrete pool decks
A pool deck has to drain away from the water and give bare feet some grip, so we plan the slope and the finish together.
Explore Concrete pool decksConcrete steps construction
Crumbling front steps are common on older houses. We tear them out and pour new ones with even step heights, so nobody misjudges one coming in.
Explore Concrete steps constructionSlab foundation building
Garages, workshops and additions often sit on a slab foundation. We pour it only after the ground is dug out, packed and checked, because the walls rest on it.
Explore Slab foundation buildingFoundation installation
For an addition or new house, we dig, set the rebar that reinforces the concrete and pour to the plans, helping you line up a surveyor if needed.
Explore Foundation installationConcrete parking lot building
Small businesses in Irondale need lots that stand up to daily traffic. We build a heavier base and slab and plan the drainage so water doesn't sit.
Explore Concrete parking lot buildingConcrete footings
Decks, porches and garden walls stand on footings, concrete pads set below ground to carry the weight. We dig them to firm soil and pour before framing starts.
Explore Concrete footingsFoundation raising
When part of a slab or foundation has settled, we look at why it sank before we lift it, because raising it without fixing the cause won't last.
Explore Foundation raisingConcrete cutting
Need a doorway in a basement wall, a trench for a line, or a damaged section taken out? We saw-cut it so the concrete around it stays sound.
Explore Concrete cutting
Ask for your free estimate
Tell us what you want poured or fixed. We reply within one business day to set a time, and my on-site estimate is free with no obligation.
What Irondale driveways and yards ask for
Most of the concrete we replace in Irondale didn't fail on top. It failed because of what nobody saw on pour day: a soft base, water running the wrong way, or joints cut too late.
Settled slabs on older lots
An old driveway that has sunk usually sat on dirt raked flat, not dug out and packed. We dig to firm ground and pack a new base.
Yards sloping toward the house
Where a yard falls toward the house, a slab can send water against the foundation. We check where the water runs and pitch the slab away from it.
Cracks in the wrong places
Control joints, grooves cut into the slab, give it a planned place to crack. We cut them early, before the concrete cracks somewhere on its own.
Your city isn't listed? Call us
We're based in Pelham and pour driveways, patios and foundations in cities across the Birmingham area. Choose your city from the list to see the work we do there.
If your city isn't on the list, call (205) 651-8545 and ask, because these are the cities with their own page, not the only places we work.
From your call to a finished pour
I keep the estimate simple and in writing, because a concrete job runs in a set order and you should know each step before the truck shows up.
Call or send a message
Call (205) 651-8545 or use the form and tell us about the job. We get back to you to set a time for me to come out.
I walk the job
I come out, look at the slab and the ground with you, check where the water runs and answer your questions on the spot.
Your written quote
You get a written quote that says what's included, from the digging and base to the finish and cleanup, so nothing is left to guess.
Pour and cleanup
Once you say yes, we set the pour date, handle any permit the job needs with the city and keep you posted until the site is cleaned up.
Irondale concrete questions
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Irondale, AL?
The City of Irondale issues building permits for building, altering, repairing or tearing down detached one and two family houses, and whether your driveway or patio falls under that is something we confirm with the city before we start. The city's permit forms also include land disturbance and excavation road cut applications, so we check whether either applies to your job. When a permit is needed, we handle the paperwork and tell you what to expect, and if you'd rather ask yourself, City Hall answers at 205-956-9200, Monday through Thursday, 7 AM to 5 PM.
How do I check that a concrete contractor is licensed to work in Irondale?
Ask for a state license from the Home Builders Licensure Board when the job costs more than $10,000, and for a current City of Irondale business license. The state's home builder law requires that license each year for work on a home of up to three floors and four units once the cost passes $10,000, and it requires a written contract. The city also asks for a current-year Irondale business license with every permit application, so it's fair to ask before you sign. We're fully licensed and insured, and our quote comes in writing.
Which building code applies to my house in Irondale?
Irondale builds to the International Residential Code for detached one and two family houses and townhouses up to three stories. When concrete work on your house, like a slab foundation, footings or an addition, goes through a city permit, that's the code it has to meet, and we plan the job around it from the start.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Irondale?
The price comes down to the size, how much old concrete comes out, how much digging and base the ground needs, and the finish you pick, so I give you a figure only after I've seen the site. A plain broom finish, the light ridges that give tires and shoes grip, costs less than stamped or colored work, and easy access for the truck helps too. If the budget's tight, I'd keep the money in the base and simplify the finish, because a soft base can't be fixed later without tearing the slab out.
How long until I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
You'll be able to walk on new concrete well before you can drive on it, and I give you both dates when we set the pour, because curing, the slow hardening that gives concrete its strength, takes time. A car parked too early can crack a slab that looks finished, so we block the driveway off and tell you where to park in the meantime. The start date itself mostly turns on any permit, the weather the week of the pour and how much base work the ground needs.
How do I keep a new driveway from cracking like the old one?
Build it on a dug-out, packed base, pitch it so water runs off and away from the house, and cut the control joints before the slab cracks on its own. Pour timing matters too, since a slab finished in the midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top, so we plan our pours for earlier in the day. Concrete can still get hairline cracks, but those choices keep them small and in the places we picked.
Talk to Pelham Concrete about your Irondale job
We take calls into the evening and on weekends, so call (205) 651-8545 or send the form when it suits you.