Short answers to the questions that did not fit on our other guide pages.
How long does a concrete driveway last?
A well-built concrete driveway commonly lasts 25 to 30 years or more. On Baton Rouge clay, the base, the steel, the joints and the drainage decide whether yours reaches that age. We do not promise a number of years, because the ground under each driveway is different.
Can I pour concrete myself, or should I hire someone?
You can pour small things yourself: a mower pad, a short walk, a base for an AC unit. Anything bigger than a few bags mixed by hand becomes a race against the clock, and in our heat the clock runs fast. Concrete is heavy, it cannot be undone, and finishing takes practice. For a driveway or patio, most people who try it once hire a crew the next time.
Can I pour a small shed pad with bags from the store?
Yes, for a small shed. Dig out the grass and topsoil, pack a few inches of crushed stone, build a square level form and add wire mesh. Work out how many bags you need before you start, since a pad uses far more than people expect. Mix and place it in one go with a helper. Remember that the city-parish requires a permit for an accessory structure over 200 square feet.
I poured my own walkway and it cracked and sank. Should I redo it or hire someone?
Work out why it failed before you redo it. A walk that sank was almost always poured on topsoil or loose fill with no packed base. One that cracked had no joints or was too thin. If you are willing to dig deeper, compact stone and cut joints every few feet, a second try can succeed. If the walk leads to your front door and you want it right, hire it out.
How do I get oil stains out of concrete?
Soak up fresh oil with cat litter, then scrub with a concrete degreaser and rinse with hot water. Older oil stains need a poultice, which is a paste that draws oil out as it dries, and sometimes several rounds. Some shadow may stay. Sealing the driveway afterwards makes the next spill easier to lift.
Can an old concrete floor be stained?
Yes, an old floor can be stained as long as it is clean and bare. Paint, glue, sealer and oil block the stain and have to be ground off. Stain is see-through, so old patches and marks stay visible. Test a small area before doing the room. In a house that has flooded, a stained and sealed slab is a practical finished floor.
A customer tripped on the concrete outside my business. Am I liable?
Whether you are liable depends on the facts, and it is a question for your insurer and a lawyer. As a general matter, a business is expected to keep the surfaces it controls reasonably safe and to fix hazards it knows about. Report the fall to your insurer, photograph the spot, and repair it. For the public sidewalk, the city-parish code places upkeep on the owner of the adjoining lot. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can sections of my lot be replaced while the business stays open?
Yes. We divide the work so the business stays open, with an entrance, parking and a safe walk to the door kept clear at every stage. Each section is closed for a set time and reopened before the next is started. Trucks have to stay off new concrete for some weeks, so we plan deliveries and trash pickup with you.
Can you pour a basketball pad or sport court?
Yes. A basketball pad wants a flat slab with just enough tilt to drain, a medium broom finish for grip and joints laid out away from the key. On clay, base and steel keep it flat. There is no published price for sport courts, so we quote after seeing the site.
Do frost depth, earthquakes or salt air matter for concrete in Baton Rouge?
Very little. The ground here does not freeze to any depth, so frost heave and deep frost footings are not local concerns. Strong earthquakes are not part of normal design for home flatwork here, although the slow-moving local faults do damage concrete along their traces. Baton Rouge is well inland, so salt air is not the issue it is on the coast. Clay, water and heat are what we design for.
How do I keep mildew and green film off my concrete?
Wash it. In our humidity, shaded concrete grows algae and mildew that make it dark and slick. A cleaner made for outdoor concrete and a rinse once or twice a year keeps it in check. Go easy with a pressure washer, since a narrow tip held close can scar the surface. More sun and air on the slab slows the growth.
My slab was under water in a flood. Is it ruined?
Usually not. Sound concrete is not harmed by being wet. Check for soil washed from under the edges, new hollow sounds, and slabs that have shifted. Clean off silt before it bakes on. If a section now rocks or has dropped, the base under it was washed out and that section needs lifting or rebuilding.
The only real price is one written after we have seen your property. The estimate is free. Call (225) 434-4721 or text us a few photos.