Hire the contractor who explains what goes under the slab, puts it in writing and can be checked with the state board. Here is how to do that in Louisiana.
How do I find a good concrete contractor?
To find a good concrete contractor, look at old work, not new work. Any slab looks fine the week it is poured. Ask for addresses of jobs that are three or more years old and go and see whether they are still level. Read recent reviews for how problems were handled. Get two or three written quotes for the same scope. Then look the contractor up on the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors website.
Does a concrete contractor need to be licensed and insured in Louisiana?
It depends on the value of the job. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) defines home improvement as work on an existing home with a project value of $7,500 or more, and that work comes under its registration and licensing rules. Its website states that home improvement projects and residential construction exceeding $50,000 need a residential license, and that commercial projects of $50,000 or more need a commercial license. These thresholds have changed in recent years, so confirm the current rule on the board's site, where you can also search a contractor by name. On insurance, ask any contractor for a certificate of general liability cover and proof of workers' compensation, sent to you by the insurer. Smaller jobs fall below the state thresholds, so checking is up to you.
What should I ask a concrete contractor before hiring?
- How deep will you dig, and what base goes in?
- How thick is the slab and what steel is in it?
- Where are the joints and when do you cut them?
- Where does the rain go when you are done?
- Who applies for the permit and who places the Louisiana 811 request?
- Is my house slab post-tensioned, and how will you avoid it?
- What is your LSLBC number, if the job is big enough to need one?
- Will your insurer send me a certificate?
- What happens if a storm hits on pour day?
- What do you warrant, in writing?
What should a written estimate include?
A written estimate should state the area in square feet, the thickness, excavation depth, base material, reinforcement, joint spacing, finish, concrete strength, removal and disposal, permit, drainage plan, cleanup, start window, price and payment schedule. It should also say what happens if soft soil or a buried surprise turns up, with a unit price for extra base.
How much deposit is normal?
We know of no Louisiana law that caps a deposit for this kind of work, so it is a matter of agreement. A modest deposit that secures the date and covers materials is normal, with the main payment due when the work is finished. Pay by check or card, never before you have a signed contract, and get a receipt.
A contractor wants 50 percent up front in cash with no contract. Should I go ahead?
No. Half the price at the start, in cash, with nothing signed, leaves you with no record and no leverage. That is the pattern behind most of the contractor complaints you read about. A sound contractor will give you a written contract and take a traceable payment. Asking for 50 percent before any work is a reason to choose someone else.
What are the red flags?
- No written contract, or a quote that is one line and a number.
- Cash only, or most of the money before work starts.
- Nothing said about base, steel or joints.
- A price well below everyone else with no reason given.
- Pressure to decide today, or an offer of concrete left over from another job.
- A business name that does not match the state board record.
- After a flood or hurricane, strangers going door to door offering quick work.
What warranty should I expect?
Expect a written warranty on workmanship that says what is covered and for how long. Terms differ from one contractor to the next, so read them. Honest warranties exclude hairline shrinkage cracks, because every slab gets some. On Baton Rouge clay they also commonly exclude movement of the ground itself. Be wary of anyone who promises concrete that will never crack.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped answering. What do I do?
Write to them by email and certified mail, give a date to start or refund, and keep copies. If the contractor has truly stopped answering, complain to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and to the Consumer Protection Section of the Louisiana Attorney General. Louisiana's residential contractor fraud statute, R.S. 14:202.1, covers a contractor who takes payment and fails to perform any work for 45 days or longer, unless the contract allows a longer period. So you can also report it to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office or the Baton Rouge Police. Small claims court is a route for getting money back. This is general information, not legal advice.
How do I know they have done stamped work before?
Ask to see it. Someone who has done stamped work before can give you addresses of jobs a few years old, show their own photos and bring sample pieces. Ask who on the crew does the stamping and how many people will be there on the day. Stamping has to be done in a short window, more so in our heat, and it shows when a crew is learning on your patio.
What if the crew hits a hidden water line?
Work stops, the water is turned off and the pipe is fixed before anything else. Who pays depends on the line. Public utilities are marked through Louisiana 811, and hitting a line that was marked correctly is on the excavator. Private lines, such as a sprinkler main or a water line to a shop, are not marked. Show the crew where yours run, and have the contract say who pays if an unknown private line is hit.
Is a written estimate binding if they hit something unexpected?
An estimate is a price for the work it describes. Whether it is binding when conditions change depends on its wording. A fixed-price contract holds for the stated scope. Extra work caused by things nobody could see, such as buried debris or saturated clay, is normally handled by a written change order that you sign before the extra work is done. If the paper says nothing about hidden conditions, ask for that to be added.
Sources: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (types of licenses), Louisiana R.S. 14:202.1 and Louisiana R.S. 40:1749.13. Checked October 2026.
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.