Your Driveway Isn’t Cosmetic. It’s a Structural Asset.
When we take on a driveway job, we don’t treat it like a side project with a cement mixer and some guesswork. We treat it like a load-bearing structure that has to stand up to everything the West Midlands throws at it—rain cycles, clay movement, freeze-thaw cracking, and the constant pressure from vehicles. At PL driveway installers, we build slabs to last, from sub-base to surface. Every finish is intentional. Every pour is mapped to drainage. Every joint is measured and cut—not just eyeballed.
In Birmingham, a poorly poured driveway is more than an eyesore—it’s a liability. We’ve seen dozens of botched installations across Edgbaston, Harborne, Selly Oak, and Quinton. That’s why we’ve built a process based on local soil data, weather patterns, and concrete tolerances—not guesswork.
Services We Offer — Built Around Site Realities, Not Templates
Every slab we install is poured for its site. No prefab assumptions. No cheap mix ratios. Just site-tested solutions made for Birmingham’s terrain and climate.
Concrete Driveway Installation
We install domestic driveways using 4000–4500 psi ready-mix concrete. We recommend a depth of 100mm for passenger vehicles and up to 150mm for heavier-use areas. We grade each slab with a 1:60 fall to manage surface water, particularly important in areas like Moseley and Hall Green with poor runoff channels.
- Steel mesh reinforcement (A142 or A193 grade)
- Properly compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
- Vapour barriers used where soil movement is common
- Power float finish or tamped depending on end use
Driveway Replacement
Tired of cracks, settlement, and uneven drainage? We carry out full excavation, haul-away, and slab replacement.
- 150mm slab depth for areas with vehicle stress (such as multi-car households)
- All expansion and control joints cut post-set (no rushed broom joints)
- Rebar cages or fibre reinforcement available for added tensile strength
- Acid wash or light etching available to remove laitance before sealing
Pattern-Imprinted Concrete
We’ve installed over 230 patterned driveways across Birmingham since 2021. Popular styles include Ashlar Slate and London Cobble.
- Surface hardeners added during pour for colour and abrasion resistance
- Sealed post-cure with solvent-based sealer
- Anti-slip grit additive available for sloped driveways (e.g. Rednal hillsides)
- Control joint layout designed to maintain pattern alignment
Exposed Aggregate Finish
Perfect for driveways in heritage-style homes in Kings Heath or Stirchley. We broadcast decorative aggregate (flint, granite, or marble chips) over a high-strength slab, then surface wash.
- Surface retarder used to delay top layer cure
- Finished using pressure wash and brushing to expose aggregate
- Sealed with non-yellowing polyurethane resin
Drainage-Integrated Driveways
If you’re in Bordesley Green, where standing water is a nightmare, we install slab-integrated drainage.
- French drains with geotextile wrap
- Linear channel drains along garage aprons
- Slope-matched thresholds to eliminate backflow
Driveway Extensions and Widening
Need space for a second car? We match your existing concrete in texture and colour, extend using key joint tie-ins, and finish to spec.
- Dowelling into existing slab
- Staggered joints to reduce reflective cracking
- Proper compaction and sub-base tie-in
Why Choose Us
We’ve worked on over 500 driveways across Birmingham. From small access pours in Sparkhill to heavy-duty multi-vehicle slabs in Sutton Coldfield, we know the quirks of this city’s topography and building control standards. We work by schedule, not guesswork. We show up with proper kit—laser levels, screed rails, form pins, and proper float tools. Not all crews understand slump tolerance or the difference between a structural and decorative pour. We do. And we quote accordingly—fairly, accurately, and without surprises.
Technical FAQs
What strength concrete do you use for driveways?
We use a minimum 4000 psi (C32/40 in UK terms) ready-mix with slump controlled between 75–100mm depending on finish type.
How do you handle expansion joints?
We cut control joints within 12 hours of pour using a concrete saw. Expansion joints are placed at transitions and large slabs over 4m² using compressible joint filler.
Do you use rebar or mesh reinforcement?
We typically use A142 mesh. For high-load areas or if soil shows high clay content, we can spec A193 mesh or Y12 rebar gridwork.
How thick is the sub-base?
Standard builds have 150mm of MOT Type 1, compacted with a vibrating plate or roller to achieve at least 95% Proctor density.
Can you match my existing driveway?
Yes. We use surface hardeners and release agents to match texture and colour. We also use tie-in dowels to prevent joint movement or visible cracking.
What We Build Is Yours—But We Pour Like It's Ours
We don’t rush slabs. We don’t leave a site without signing off on drainage flow, slab cure condition, and surface integrity. When we pour in Birmingham, we pour it right. We’d rather turn down a job than slap a slab that won’t last.
Want your driveway poured by someone who knows their slump from their screed? Fill in the form. We’ll show up with a laser level, not a sales pitch.
Quotes turned around in 24–48 hours. Local jobs often scheduled within the fortnight.
