Concrete contractor in Breaux Bridge, LA - driveways and patios on a solid base
B&R Lafayette Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Lafayette, and we pour driveways, patios, steps, walks and slabs for homeowners and small businesses in Breaux Bridge, starting with the ground underneath.
Breaux Bridge as we see it on the job
Breaux Bridge grew up on both banks of Bayou Teche, and you still see that on our jobs here. Older homes sit close to the downtown historic district, and newer houses and businesses spread out toward Exit 109 on Interstate 10. From our base in Lafayette it's a short drive over, and we do the same kind of work in both cities.
That mix means no two estimates here look alike, because tearing an old slab out of a downtown yard is a different job from pouring a first driveway on a newer lot.
Services in Breaux Bridge, LA
Concrete driveway building
Older driveways here have often settled where the base was never packed. We tear out the old slab, dig to firm ground and pack a new base before pouring.
Concrete patio construction
Backyard patios on older lots often sit low and hold water against the house. We set the new patio to fall away from your walls so it drains.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses here often tip or pull away from the porch. We rebuild them on a firm footing, level and square to the door.
Concrete sidewalk building
Front walks here often heave where roots and runoff get underneath. We replace bad sections over a packed base and cut joints to guide any cracks.
Decorative concrete
Older houses near downtown often call for something warmer than plain gray. Our decorative concrete adds color and texture over the same packed base.
Concrete parking lot building
Small businesses here need lots that take steady traffic and shed water. We build them on a heavier base with rebar, the steel that keeps cracks tight.
Permits, licenses and price on a Breaux Bridge job
Permits for a Breaux Bridge address go through the city's Planning, Zoning & Permits office. We check with that office before your job goes on the calendar, because when a permit is needed we file the application and the pour waits until it's approved. Before you hire anyone, it's fair to ask whether they hold the state license or registration your job calls for, which the questions below explain. A company based inside the city limits should also hold the city's occupational license. We're based in Lafayette and are fully licensed and insured, and I'm glad to answer either question when I come out.
The price turns on the size and thickness of the slab, how much digging and base the ground needs, whether old concrete has to be broken out and hauled away, and the finish you choose. That ranges from a plain broom finish, the light brushed texture that keeps a slab from getting slick, to stamped or colored work. The schedule turns on the permit answer, the weather and curing, the days concrete needs to harden before you use it. Your written estimate spells out what's included and what isn't for your job. We see many of the same older yards down the Teche in Saint Martinville, and we work there the same way.
What the ground and older houses here do to concrete
On many of the older lots, walks, patios and driveways were poured on dirt that was raked level instead of dug out and packed. Over the years the slab sank with the dirt and started holding water. When we replace one, we dig down to firm subgrade, the ground the slab rests on, pack a new base in layers, and set the surface so water runs away from your house and off the lot.
If a budget has to give, the base is usually the first thing people want to trim, because nobody sees it once the concrete is down. I'd rather keep the base and go with a plainer finish, since a fancy surface on a poor base still cracks and sinks.
Get a written estimate for your Breaux Bridge concrete job
Send us a few lines about your Breaux Bridge job, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your house. The estimate is free and done on site, and you're under no obligation.
How a Breaux Bridge concrete job runs, from first call to cure
Call or send the form
Tell us what you have in mind and where your house is in Breaux Bridge. We set a time for me to come out.
Walk the spot with me
I look at the old concrete and the ground, ask how you'll use the space and check where the water goes. A photo of the area after a hard rain helps if you have one.
Review your written estimate
You get a written estimate that lists what's included and what isn't, from tear-out to finish. Please ask me about any line before you decide.
We check with the city
Before anything is scheduled, we check with the city's permit office for your address. When a permit is needed, we handle the application, keep you informed and schedule once it's in hand.
Pour, finish and cure
Our crew lead runs the work with our finishers, and I come by to check it and answer your questions. Before we leave, we tell you how long to stay off the slab while it cures.
Concrete questions we hear in Breaux Bridge
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Breaux Bridge, LA?
I give you a figure only after I've seen the spot, because the base work and tear-out on a Breaux Bridge lot can change a driveway's price more than its size does. Two things often add to the cost here. One is breaking out an old slab that sits on soft fill, and the other is a driveway that crosses a front ditch to reach the street. Your written estimate breaks each of those out so you can see where the money goes.
Do I need a permit to pour a driveway or patio in Breaux Bridge?
That depends on the job and the address, so we check with the city before anything is scheduled and take care of the application when one is needed. The city takes building and culvert applications through its online permit applications page, and the culvert side is worth asking about if your new driveway crosses a ditch to the street.
When does a contractor need a Louisiana license for home concrete work?
A Residential license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors is required when building a home, or improving an existing house or duplex of up to three floors, runs over $50,000 in labor and materials. For home improvement jobs over $7,500 and up to $50,000, the board says the work must be bid or done by a home improvement registrant or a licensed contractor. Ask any contractor which one they hold before you sign.
How do I keep a new concrete patio from cracking like the old one?
Start with the ground and the joints, because most bad cracks come from a base that settles or from stress with no planned place to go. We dig out and pack the base, keep water moving away from the slab, and cut control joints soon after the pour. Control joints are shallow grooves that give the concrete a straight line to crack along. New concrete can still show hairline cracks as it shrinks, but done this way they land in the joints instead of across the middle.
How long will I be without my driveway in Breaux Bridge?
You're off it for the tear-out and the pour, and then for the curing time, which I go over for your slab before we start because it shifts with the weather. On hot days we pour early, since a slab finished in the midday heat dries too fast and can end up with a weak, dusty top.
Where do I find the flood map for my property in Breaux Bridge?
FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or NFHL Viewer is the best place to start for official flood hazard information. The local floodplain administrator can tell you which official maps apply to your property, and that's worth knowing before we plan a new slab.
Call about your Breaux Bridge concrete job
We answer from 6 AM to 11 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 9 PM on weekends, so call (337) 216-1997 or send us the form whenever it suits you, and thank you for considering us.