The job
Two neighbouring households in north Leeds replacing a cracked, 40-year-old shared driveway: 120m² at 150mm depth, with a herringbone-scored finish and a fall towards a new ACO drain. Their contractor estimated 18m³ of C30/PAV1 — right at the awkward edge where ready-mix needs three drum loads and tight 90-minute placement windows.
The problem with the ready-mix quotes
- Three separate 6m³ drum deliveries, each with a race against setting time
- A part-load fee looming if the final load came up short
- No flexibility if the measured dig turned out deeper than estimated (it did — by 20mm on one bay)
What we did
- Visit 1 (Tuesday, 7am–9am window): 9.2m³ mixed on-site for the first three bays — the crew placed at their own pace with no drum ticking
- Visit 2 (Thursday): the remaining bays measured out at 9.6m³ — the extra depth was simply mixed on the spot, no panic, no second truck
- Air-entrained PAV1 mix dosed at the point of pour for freeze-thaw resistance
The outcome
- 18.8m³ used, 18.8m³ paid for — the 0.8m³ overrun cost the customer only the concrete itself, not a fresh delivery charge
- Zero waste, zero part-load fees, and both households split an itemised invoice
- Scored finish completed the same afternoon each visit; cars back on the drive in 8 days
Planning a driveway in Leeds?
Read our driveway cost guide, check volumes on the calculator, then get an instant price on the quote page. We cover all of Leeds with same-day and next-day slots — or call 01924 910 129.
FAQs
Can one volumetric truck handle an 18m³ driveway?+
Yes — a volumetric truck carries materials for 8–10m³ per visit, so an 18m³ job is done in two or three planned visits, ideal when a driveway is poured in bays anyway.
How long does a large driveway pour take?+
With good access and three people placing, expect 8–10m³ to be mixed and discharged in 60–90 minutes. This Leeds job was two visits of roughly 90 minutes each.