Settled in 1800 by way of the Amite River
Concrete Contractors in French Settlement, LA
Driveways, slabs, patios and walks for homes and camps on low river ground in southern Livingston Parish.
- Free measuring visit at your property
- Written quote with each line priced
- Grade and drainage planned before forms go in
Concrete Work in French Settlement
French Settlement has lived with the Amite River for more than two centuries, and concrete contractors in French Settlement build with that river in mind. The village was settled in 1800 by French, German and Italian immigrants who arrived by way of the Amite, and it incorporated on June 13, 1965. It sits at about 13 feet in southern Livingston Parish and counted 1,073 residents in 2020. We pour driveways, slabs, patios, decorative concrete, walks and steps, and we repair concrete that has settled or cracked.
Sawmills, steamboats and old houses
The area was once a commercial center with cypress sawmills, trappers, shingle makers, farms and a steamboat port. Four houses in the village are on the National Register of Historic Places: the Decareaux, Deslattes, Guitreau and Lobell houses. The historical French name was La Cote-Francaise. Many homes in and around the village are raised, and there are plenty of fishing camps along the water.
Low ground and river water
At 13 feet above sea level and next to the Amite, the ground stays wet and the water table sits close to the surface. In August 2016 the Amite reached record levels, and a parish official estimated that 75 percent of Livingston Parish homes were a total loss. For concrete, that means:
- Removing soft soil and building a compacted base before any pour
- Setting slopes that carry water off the slab quickly
- Using reinforcement so slabs stay in one piece if the ground moves
- Choosing the right height for driveways and pads relative to the yard
For raised homes and camps, we pour parking pads under the house, walks to the stairs and landings at the bottom step.
Culverts under Livingston Parish rules
Unincorporated parts of the area and many village driveways cross ditches. The Livingston Parish culvert packet says the location must be staked before Public Works sizes the culvert, galvanized pipe is not approved, the parish does not supply or install concrete culverts, and an owner-installed culvert must be inspected before it is covered. It also places driveway expansion joints three feet from the center of the culvert on either side. We confirm with the village or parish which office handles your address.
Camps and boat access
Along the Amite and nearby waterways, many properties are camps or weekend homes with boat trailers to park and launch. We pour wide drives and pads sized for trucks and trailers, with a broom finish for traction when the surface is wet. Where a slab runs toward the water, we keep the grade gentle and the edges protected so runoff does not undermine it.
Working on soft ground
On low, wet lots, access for the concrete truck matters as much as the pour. We plan the route, use a pump when the truck cannot reach, and schedule pours for a dry stretch so the base is firm.
What we pour in French Settlement
- Driveways: new drives with culverts, replacements and turnarounds
- Slabs: parking pads under raised homes, shed and boat slabs
- Patios: backyard slabs and covered-patio pads
- Decorative concrete: stamped walks and patios
- Walks and steps: walks to stairs and bottom landings
- Repairs: sunken panels and flood-damaged sections
Call (225) 239-2979 to set up a visit.
French Settlement Facts That Shape a Job
- River settlement. The village was settled in 1800 via the Amite River and incorporated on June 13, 1965.
- Low ground. French Settlement sits at about 13 feet above sea level in southern Livingston Parish.
- Historic houses. The Decareaux, Deslattes, Guitreau and Lobell houses are on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Parish culverts. Livingston Parish does not approve galvanized culverts and inspects owner-installed culverts before they are covered.
Our Services in French Settlement, LA
French Settlement Questions
Can you pour a parking pad under my raised house?
Yes. We work around the piers, compact the base and set a slope so water drains out from under the house.
Do you build driveways for fishing camps?
Yes. We pour drives, pads and walks for camps, sized for trucks and boat trailers.
What culvert pipe can I use?
Livingston Parish allows concrete, black plastic, heavy white plastic and black tar-coated steel, but not galvanized pipe. Public Works sizes it after the location is staked.
Can you pour a slab when the ground is still wet?
We wait until the base is firm. Pouring on saturated soil leads to settling and cracks, so we schedule around wet weeks.
Free Estimates in French Settlement, LA
Tell us about your French Settlement home or camp, and we will schedule a free estimate.
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