Concrete Contractors in New Orleans, LA

What Concrete Work Does New Orleans Concrete Contractors Handle?

New Orleans Concrete Contractors performs residential and commercial concrete work across Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, St. Charles, and Plaquemines parishes. Residential projects include driveway replacement, patio installation, stamped and decorative concrete, sidewalks, steps and stoops, garage floors, pool decks, and retaining walls. Commercial projects include parking lots, ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps, slab-on-grade foundations, industrial flooring, and drainage and detention structures.

The company also performs concrete repair, resurfacing, leveling and lifting, and full removal and demolition of failed slabs. Most residential jobs in the Greater New Orleans area fall between 200 and 1,200 square feet. Commercial pours range from small pad sites to full parking structures exceeding 10,000 square feet.

What Does Concrete Work Cost in New Orleans in 2026?

These 2026 ranges reflect Orleans and Jefferson parish pricing. Three things move a project toward the higher end of the range: demolition and haul-off of an existing slab, subgrade repair where fill has settled or organic material has decomposed, and decorative finishes such as stamped patterns or exposed aggregate. A basic 600 sq ft driveway replacement in Metairie with standard broom finish and no unusual subgrade work runs $4,800 to $8,400. The same footprint with 3 inches of settlement correction and a stamped finish runs $7,200 to $10,800.

Why Does New Orleans Concrete Need Different Detailing?

South shore concrete sits on soft alluvial clay and organic silt over a water table that often rises to within 18 to 24 inches of the surface. This combination causes differential settlement, where one section of a slab sinks while the adjacent section stays put. A driveway poured directly on undisturbed south shore clay without base correction settles 1 to 3 inches within 5 years.

The standard detail for south shore flatwork is 4 inches of 3500 PSI concrete over a minimum of 4 inches of compacted limestone base. Slabs wider than 12 feet or slabs on fill get #3 rebar on 18-inch centers rather than welded wire mesh. Control joints are cut every 8 to 10 feet and sawed to a depth of 1 inch within 12 hours of the pour to control cracking before the slab cures.

North shore conditions in Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington differ. Sandy pine-flat soil drains fast, which reduces settlement risk but creates washout and erosion problems beneath slab edges. North shore jobs use a compacted base with fines to lock the aggregate layer in place, and slabs receive thickened edges of 6 inches to resist undermining from lateral water movement during heavy rain events common in St. Tammany Parish.

How Does the Process Work from Estimate to Finished Slab?

How Does the Estimate Work?

A site visit takes 30 to 45 minutes and covers measurement, subgrade assessment, drainage evaluation, and finish selection. The written estimate arrives within 2 business days and itemizes demolition, base preparation, concrete, reinforcement, finish, and any required permits. No deposit is collected at the estimate stage.

What Happens During Site Preparation?

Existing concrete is saw-cut, broken, and hauled off before any base work begins. Subgrade is excavated to a minimum of 8 inches below finished grade, then backfilled with compacted limestone in 2-inch lifts. Each lift is plate-compacted to 95% Proctor density. On sites with organic topsoil or unconsolidated fill, excavation goes deeper until the crew reaches stable material. A 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier goes down over the compacted base on all interior slabs and any exterior slab with a stamped or sealed finish.

What Happens on Pour Day?

Concrete is placed, screeded, bull-floated, and finished in a single continuous pour. A standard residential driveway of 500 to 700 sq ft takes 4 to 6 hours from truck arrival to final broom stroke. Control joints are cut the same day or early the following morning. The slab is covered with curing compound or wet-cured with burlap and water for a minimum of 3 days in temperatures above 85°F.

When Can the Slab Be Used?

Foot traffic is safe at 24 to 48 hours. Vehicle traffic at 7 days. Full cure takes 28 days. No sealer, coating, or overlay is applied before the 28-day mark. The crew removes forms at 24 hours and completes backfill and grade restoration within 3 days of the pour.

Where Does New Orleans Concrete Contractors Work?

The company serves Orleans Parish and every adjacent parish within a 40-mile radius. Jefferson Parish jobs in Metairie, Kenner, Harahan, River Ridge, Westwego, Gretna, Harvey, Marrero, and Terrytown make up the largest share of residential work. St. Bernard Parish jobs in Chalmette and Arabi carry the same south shore soil conditions as Orleans and Jefferson. Plaquemines Parish work in Belle Chasse often involves levee-district review for projects near federal levee corridors.

Across Lake Pontchartrain, the company serves Slidell in eastern St. Tammany Parish and Mandeville and Covington on the north shore. St. Charles Parish jobs in Destrehan and Luling fall along the river corridor where clay depth and composition shift from block to block.

What Separates Good Concrete Work from Cheap Concrete Work?

Five checkable details reveal whether a slab was poured correctly or cut short.

1. Slab thickness at the edge. A properly formed slab measures 4 inches at the perimeter, not just at the center. Cheap pours taper to 2 inches at the edges, and the edges crack first.
2. Control joint spacing and depth. Joints every 8 to 10 feet, sawed to 25% of slab depth (1 inch on a 4-inch slab). Joints scored with a groover at 1/4-inch depth do not control cracking.
3. Base material and compaction. Compacted limestone, not loose dirt or sand. A compacted base resists 3,000 pounds per square foot of bearing pressure. Loose fill resists 500 to 800.
4. Drainage fall. Exterior flatwork slopes a minimum of 1/8 inch per foot away from structures. A level patio holds water, stains, and grows mold within 12 months in New Orleans humidity.
5. Cure protection. Concrete gains 70% of its rated strength in the first 7 days. Slabs left uncured in direct sun above 90°F lose surface strength and develop map cracking within the first year.

New Orleans Concrete Contractors provides free on-site estimates for residential and commercial concrete work across Greater New Orleans. Call or submit a request through the contact form to schedule a site visit.