We replace cracked driveways and pour new ones across Gonzales and Ascension Parish. The clay here swells and shrinks with the seasons, so our quote begins with the base and the steel. We also look at the culvert and ditch at the road before giving a price.
Clay is the reason driveways crack in Gonzales. The ground under the city swells through a wet winter and pulls back in a dry August and September, and a thin slab poured straight on that clay gets bent a little every year. We dig to firm ground, build a compacted base and tie the slab together with rebar. The base gives the slab an even seat, and the steel keeps cracks tight when the clay moves.
The street end needs as much thought as the slab. Many Gonzales and Ascension Parish roads have an open ditch with a culvert under the driveway, and a crushed or undersized culvert floods the drive and the road. We look at the culvert before quoting. For a first driveway on a public road, Ascension Parish handles culvert permitting through its Call Center, and inside the city we check with the Gonzales Building Department.
A normal replacement runs over three working days: break out and haul off, form and build the base, then pour. Summer storms can push the pour by a day. We place joints so each panel is close to square, and we leave a soft joint at the garage so the drive and the house slab can move apart. Cars stay off for about a week. We give you the exact date.
Concrete driveways in Gonzales: common questions
Why does my driveway crack wider in late summer?
Because the clay under it has dried and shrunk. When the rain returns the soil swells and the crack narrows again. A crack that opens and closes like that will break any hard filler, so we seal it with a flexible product or replace the panel on a better base.
Who is responsible for the culvert under my driveway?
It depends on the road and on who installed it. For a first driveway on a public road in the parish, Ascension Parish handles the culvert permit through its Call Center. Ask the parish or the city about an existing culvert before you replace the concrete over it.
Can you pour a wider driveway for a truck and a boat?
Yes. Tell us what will park there and how heavy it is. A side pad for a loaded boat trailer or a camper is poured thicker with more steel than a pad for a car, and it must not block the swale between you and the neighbor.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We visit and measure.
- Written quote: Clear pricing with finish options.
- Prep & forms: We excavate, grade, compact the base and set forms and reinforcement.
- Pour, finish & cure: We pour, finish, cut control joints and tell you when you can use it.