Concrete contractor in Opelousas, LA - driveways, patios and slabs on a solid base
B&R Lafayette Concrete Construction is a Lafayette-based concrete contractor. We pour driveways, patios, steps and slabs for homes and small businesses in Opelousas, starting with the ground under each one.
How Opelousas houses shape our concrete work
Opelousas sits north of us, up past Carencro, and it's an older city where houses from many decades share the same streets. Near the middle of town we see older homes with front steps, narrow walks and driveways that have been patched more than once. Farther out there are ranch houses and newer builds with long driveways and room for a back patio, and small business owners along the main roads call us about walks and parking areas.
That mix sets the job. On older lots it's usually a tear-out and rebuild, and on newer ones it's more often a patio added on or a driveway widened, where tying the new concrete to the old matters as much as the pour.
Services in Opelousas, LA
Concrete driveway building
Many older driveways here have sunk or split over soft, unpacked ground. We tear out the old slab, rebuild the base and pour a new one.
Concrete patio construction
Many older patios here hold rainwater against the house. We set the slope of a new patio so rain runs away from your walls.
Concrete pool decks
Pool decks here stay wet, and bare feet need grip. We build concrete pool decks with a textured finish and a slope that carries water off.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older Opelousas houses often pull away from the porch as the ground shifts. We remove them, set footings and form new steps with even step heights.
Slab foundation building
Additions and new homes on the edges of town start with a slab. We pack and grade the ground first, then set the steel and pour.
Foundation raising
Some older houses here have settled unevenly, leaving doors that stick and floors that slope. We raise and level the foundation and check what made it drop.
What working in Opelousas involves, from permits to price
Permits in Opelousas go through the City of Opelousas Code Enforcement Office, and where a permit is needed it has to be in hand before work starts, so we check with that office for your address before anything goes on the calendar. For permitted work, the city wants the contractor to be licensed by the state or by the city, with insurance and an occupational license on file, and those are fair things to ask anyone you're considering. We're fully licensed and insured, and when a permit is needed we take care of the application and keep you informed.
We do the same work in Lafayette and down in New Iberia, and the older slabs and heavy rain we meet there look a lot like what we find here. The price of a job turns on its size, how much old concrete comes out, how much work the ground needs and the finish you choose, while the schedule turns on the permit check, the weather and the curing time, the wait while new concrete hardens before you can use it. Your written estimate lists what's included and what isn't, so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
Why older slabs here settle, and what the heat does on pour day
Many of the slabs we're called to in Opelousas were poured years ago on a subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so they've dropped and cracked as the dirt underneath settled. The signs are a driveway that holds water after rain, a patio that tilts toward the house or a walk with one edge higher than the other. We don't pour over that kind of concrete. We take it out, look at why it moved and build the new base for the way you'll use the slab, with more strength where a truck will park.
Summer heat and sudden storms matter on pour day. Concrete finished in the midday sun dries on top ahead of the rest and can turn weak and dusty later, so in hot months we start early and keep the new slab damp while it cures, and when heavy rain is coming we'd rather move the pour than rush it.
Get a free written estimate for your Opelousas project
We reply to every call and message within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your place in Opelousas. The estimate is free, done on site, and comes with no obligation to go ahead. Thank you for reaching out.
How it works when you call us about a job in Opelousas
Call or send the form
Call (337) 216-1997 or send the form, and we set a time for me to come out to your house in Opelousas. It helps to have a rough idea of where you want the concrete and what you'll use it for.
I look at the spot
I walk the area with you, ask how you'll use it and look at where the water runs when it rains, because that decides the slope. If there's old concrete, I look at how it settled and why.
You get a written estimate
The estimate lists what's included and what isn't, so you can compare it fairly with any other bid. Please take your time with it and call me with questions.
We check the permit first
Before anything is scheduled, we check with the Code Enforcement Office for your address and handle the application if a permit is needed. That office takes applications weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed from noon to 1 p.m., so we plan around its hours.
Our crew builds and finishes
On the work days our crew lead runs the job with our finishers, from digging out and packing the base to pouring, finishing and cleaning up. I come by to check the work and answer any questions you have.
Concrete questions from Opelousas homeowners
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Opelousas?
The city's permit list doesn't name driveways or patios, so we ask the Code Enforcement Office about your address before anything is scheduled rather than guess. The list names new construction, electrical service changes in additions or renovations, and buildings moved onto a property, and the fee depends on the work being done. The city's permits and licenses page has the current details.
What license does a concrete contractor need to work in Opelousas?
For work that needs a city permit, a contractor in Opelousas has to be licensed by the state or hold the city's own contractor license. To get the city license, a contractor files a certificate of insurance showing $100,000 in coverage along with general liability and workers' compensation, plus a current occupational license, so asking for proof of license and insurance is a fair question. We're fully licensed and insured, and we'll gladly show you.
How much does it cost to replace a concrete driveway in Opelousas?
The cost of a driveway here comes down mostly to its size, how much old concrete we break out and haul away, and how much digging and packing the ground needs before the pour. Extra strength where heavy vehicles park and a stamped or colored surface add to it, while a plain broom finish, the light texture that gives a wet slab some grip, keeps it lower. If the budget has to give somewhere, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because the base is hidden on day one and it's the part you can't fix later without starting over.
How long does new concrete need before I can drive on it?
You can usually walk on a new slab within a few days, but it needs longer before you park on it, because the concrete is still curing and gaining strength well after it looks dry. The time you're without your driveway also includes taking out the old one and preparing the base, and I'll talk through the timing for your job when I'm out there.
How do I keep a new concrete patio from cracking?
Concrete can still crack, so the aim is to keep the slab from sinking and to decide where any crack goes, which comes down to the base, the steel and the joints. Over a packed base we put in rebar, steel rods that hold the pieces together if a crack opens, and we cut control joints on time, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight line to crack along. When those joints are cut late or skipped, cracks end up in places nobody chose.
Do you pour concrete in Opelousas if you're based in Lafayette?
Yes, we're based in Lafayette and work in the cities around it, Opelousas included, and I come out myself to look at the job and write the estimate. If your city isn't named on this site, please call and ask, because that list isn't the edge of where we work.
Plan your Opelousas concrete project with us
Call (337) 216-1997 or use the form, because what's under your old concrete is something I can only judge standing on it.