Concrete Contractors in Merrydale, LA

Merrydale is an established community, and most people calling concrete contractors in Merrydale want old concrete replaced, not new concrete added. The census-designated place counted 10,395 people in 1990 and 9,227 in 2020, a slow decline that tells you the housing stock is mature and few new homes are going up. At the 2000 census it had 3,483 housing units. We replace and repair driveways, carports, walks and steps, and we pour new patios, decorative concrete and slabs.

Where Merrydale sits

Merrydale covers about 4.24 square miles, all land, in central East Baton Rouge Parish, at an elevation of about 52 feet. U.S. Route 190, Airline Highway, forms part of its southwest border and Louisiana Highway 37, Greenwell Springs Road, part of its southern edge, with downtown Baton Rouge 7 miles to the southwest. Baton Rouge borders it to the south and west. Because it is unincorporated, permits for things like driveway culverts go through the City-Parish Department of Development.

Old concrete, common failures

On driveways and walks that have been in the ground for 40 to 60 years, the same problems turn up again and again:

• Carport slabs cracked through the center where the car sits
• Driveway aprons broken at the street edge
• Front steps that have sunk or separated from the porch
• Walks heaved by tree roots
• Panels that have sunk where downspouts dump water

When the base is the problem, surface patches only buy a year or two. We saw-cut out the failed sections, rebuild and compact the base and pour new concrete. When most of the slab has failed, we replace the whole thing.

Get a Free Estimate

Parish culvert rules

Many Merrydale streets drain to open ditches. The Department of Development's culvert permit says plastic pipe (PVC or HDPE) may not be used under driveways, driveway pipe must be at least 24 feet long, and the trench, bedding and grade must be inspected before backfill. If your driveway replacement includes a new or longer culvert, we schedule that inspection before the pour.

Why the street edge breaks first

The apron, where the driveway meets the street or ditch, takes the most punishment. Cars turn on it, water runs across it and the soil at the edge gets less support than the middle of the lot. On older Merrydale drives, the apron is often the first section to crack into pieces. Replacing just the apron is a common first step when the rest of the drive is still sound.

Tree roots along older streets

Mature trees planted decades ago now have roots that lift walks and driveway panels. We cut out the lifted sections, deal with roots where it is safe for the tree, and pour new concrete. Where a large tree sits right beside a walk, we may suggest a gentle curve to give the roots room.

What we do in Merrydale

• Driveway replacement: tear-outs, wider drives and new aprons
• Carport slabs: replacement of cracked or sunken carports
• Walks and steps: front walks, stoops and porch steps
• Patios: new backyard slabs
• Slabs: shed pads and detached garage floors
• Repairs: section replacement, trip hazards and root damage

We give a written estimate for each part so you can do the most urgent piece now and the rest later if you prefer. Call (225) 239-2979 to set up a visit.