The best sign of a careful concrete contractor is that they talk about dirt before they talk about finishes. Use the checks below on anyone you are considering, us included.
How do I find a good concrete contractor?
To find a good concrete contractor, look at work that has been through a few wet winters and dry summers. Ask neighbors whose drives are still flat. Read recent reviews and look for photos of base and steel before the pour. Collect two or three written quotes for an identical scope. Then search each name on the state contractor board's website.
Does a concrete contractor have to be licensed and insured in Louisiana?
The licence requirement depends on the job's value. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) requires a home improvement registration for work on an existing home worth more than $7,500 and not more than $75,000. Residential construction above $75,000 requires a residential licence, and commercial projects of $50,000 or more require a commercial licence. Smaller jobs need no state registration. Whether a contractor is licensed and insured is something you can check: search the LSLBC website, and ask the contractor's insurer to send you a certificate of general liability and workers' compensation cover. The City of Gonzales also publishes its own building contractor's licence application, so ask the Building Department what it requires for your job.
What should I ask a concrete contractor before hiring?
- How deep will you dig, and what base goes back in?
- What thickness and what steel are in the price?
- Where do the joints go and when will they be cut?
- Which way will the slab drain?
- Who deals with the culvert, the permit office and Louisiana 811?
- Do you hold an LSLBC registration or licence for a job this size?
- Will your insurer send me a certificate?
- Is my house slab post-tensioned, and how will you protect it?
- What happens if a storm arrives mid-pour?
- What is your warranty, in writing?
What should a written estimate include?
A written estimate should state the square footage, slab thickness, base depth and material, compaction, reinforcement, concrete strength, joint plan, finish, demolition and haul-away, any culvert or permit work, cleanup, total price, payment stages and an expected start. It should give a unit price for extra base or fill in case poor soil turns up under the old slab.
How much deposit is normal? This contractor wants 50 percent up front, in cash, with no contract.
We did not find a Louisiana law that caps a contractor's deposit, so it comes down to what you agree. A deposit that covers materials and holds your date is ordinary, with the rest paid on completion. A demand for 50 percent in cash and nothing in writing is a strong reason to say no. Sign a contract, pay by check or card and keep the receipt. Under Louisiana's residential contractor fraud statute (R.S. 14:202.1), a contractor who takes payment and then does no work for 45 days or longer, unless the contract allows a longer period, can be prosecuted.
What are the red flags?
- A quote with no thickness, base or steel on it.
- Cash only, or most of the money before work begins.
- A price well under everyone else and no reason given.
- "We have concrete left over from a job nearby."
- Pressure to decide on the spot.
- No insurance certificate, or a business name that is missing from the LSLBC search when the job size requires registration.
- After a flood or hurricane: crews going door to door with out-of-state plates.
What warranty should I expect?
Expect a written warranty that says what is covered, what is excluded and for how long. Terms differ from one contractor to the next. Workmanship faults such as a scaling surface or the wrong slope are commonly covered. Hairline shrinkage cracks and movement of the ground are commonly excluded, and on clay that exclusion matters. Ask us for our terms with the quote, and ask everyone else the same.
I paid a deposit and the contractor has stopped answering. What do I do?
Put a demand in writing, by email and certified mail, with a date by which work must start or the money come back. Save every record. If the contractor stopped answering altogether, complain to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and to the Consumer Protection Section of the Attorney General's office. Since R.S. 14:202.1 covers taking payment and doing no work for 45 days or longer, you may also report it to local law enforcement or the district attorney. Small claims court or a lawyer can go after the money. General information, not legal advice.
How can I tell they have done stamped work before?
Go and look at it. Someone who has done stamped concrete before can point you to jobs two or more years old, where you can judge how the color and sealer have aged in this sun and humidity. Ask which stamp sets they own, who on the crew runs the stamping, and for a color sample on real concrete.
What if the crew hits a hidden water line?
Work stops, the water is turned off at the meter and the pipe is fixed before the job continues. Responsibility follows the markings. Utility-owned lines are located through Louisiana 811, and hitting a marked one is on the contractor. A private water line to a shop, pool or sprinkler system is not marked by anyone. Walk the yard with the contractor beforehand and settle in the contract who pays for an unmarked private line.
Is a written estimate binding if something unexpected turns up?
Whether an estimate is binding depends on its wording and on the contract that follows. A fixed-price contract holds for the scope it lists. Surprises below ground, such as soft clay, a buried slab or a collapsed culvert, are normally handled by a signed change order with a price agreed before the extra work is done. Decline any added charge that appears only on the final bill.
Sources: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (Types of Licenses), Louisiana R.S. 14:202.1, Louisiana R.S. 40:1749.13, City of Gonzales Permits and Applications page. Checked October 2026.
Want a real number for your property? We measure on site and write the quote down, free. Call (225) 529-0954 or text a photo of the concrete.