Concrete driveways in Manchester, Pittsburgh
Manchester is Pittsburgh's largest National Register historic district, a long run of Late Victorian houses set close to the street. Most were built before cars, and plenty still have no off-street parking. Where there is concrete, it tends to be a pad at the back of the lot, reached from a rear alley.
Driveways we see in Manchester
- Victorian rowhouses with street parking
- Rear pads off alleys where they exist
- Short aprons at old curbs
- Small yards behind long, narrow houses
Areas we cover in Manchester
We pour and repair concrete driveways across Manchester, including these areas.
- Manchester Historic District
- Beaver Avenue
- Streets below Route 65
- Rear alleys between the blocks
Parking behind a Victorian house
The district takes in 609 buildings on 51.6 acres, and it was listed in 1975. A rear pad is the usual way to add parking without touching the front of the house, so the street view stays as it was. Even so, ask the city whether any review applies before you pour, and before any work at the curb. If your block has an alley behind it, the pad can open straight onto it. If it doesn't, a pad may not be practical, and we'll say so.
Turning in from a narrow alley takes more room than pulling straight in from the street. We often flare the opening a little and keep the back of the pad square, so a car can swing in without riding over the edge. The slab should fall toward the alley and sit a touch below the back door. See new concrete driveways for how the base and joints go in.
Manchester was laid out by the Ohio River in 1832 and stayed part of Allegheny City until 1907. Today Route 65 runs along its river side, and the neighborhood is almost all homes, so a mixer shares quiet, narrow streets with parked cars. We plan pours for weekday mornings, when there's room to set up, and it helps to let the neighbors know when the alley will be busy. If an old rear pad is only cracked or tipped, a repair may be all it needs.
Concrete driveway work in Manchester
These are common driveway jobs in Manchester.
Getting a quote in Manchester
Tell us whether there is an alley behind your house, and how wide it is. Tell us about street parking and how a concrete truck can reach the site, and we will plan the pour around that.
Before we visit, try our concrete driveway cost guide.
Concrete driveway questions from Manchester
What is the minimum driveway width?
Your local zoning code may set one, so ask your city or township. For a single car, most people find 10 feet comfortable. A pad you turn into from a narrow alley needs extra width at the entry.
Is there room for a rear parking pad behind a Manchester house?
On some lots, yes, mostly where a rear alley runs behind the block. Many Manchester houses have small yards and no alley access, and street parking is the only option. We'll tell you which on the visit.
Can you cut a new curb opening for a driveway in Manchester?
We can build the apron once the city has said yes. Ask the city first whether a permit applies, and whether the historic district adds a review. An apron usually runs $1,500 to $4,500.
Will a parking pad change how my Manchester house looks from the street?
A pad at the back of the lot usually can't be seen from the street at all, which is why it's the common choice here. A new front apron does show, so ask the city whether any review applies before you plan one.