# Questions Homeowners Ask Us About Concrete > Answers from Hernandez Concrete Works on service area, estimates, insurance, permits, cure times, cleanup and what we do and don't do in Baton Rouge. Canonical page: https://hernandezconcreteworks.com/faq Hernandez Concrete Works (Hernandez Concrete Works LLC) is a family-owned concrete contractor based in Baton Rouge, LA 70817, owned by Gerardo Hernandez. Baton Rouge's family-owned concrete contractor for homeowners who want it done right beneath the surface: honest diagnosis, drainage-first prep, written estimates, and a job site left clean. Insured with general liability and workers' compensation. No foundation repair. Phone (225) 363-8576, Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 9am to 1pm, Sun closed. These are the concrete questions Baton Rouge homeowners ask us most, answered straight. They cover how we work as a company. For questions about a specific job, like a driveway repair or a shop slab, each service page has its own answers. ## Frequently asked questions ### Where do you work? We work in Baton Rouge, St. George, Inniswold, Shenandoah, Old Jefferson, Merrydale, Monticello, Brownfields, Baker, Central and White Hills in East Baton Rouge Parish, and in Denham Springs, Walker and Watson in Livingston Parish. We are based in Baton Rouge, LA 70817, in the Shenandoah area of the City of St. George. If you are just outside that list, call and ask. ### What are your hours? We are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm. We are closed on Sunday. Call (225) 363-8576 during those hours, or send the estimate form any time. ### How do estimates work? Gerardo walks the property himself, explains what is actually wrong, and writes the estimate himself. He sometimes gives a range on the phone, but almost always sends a written estimate. It spells out what the job needs and why, so you can compare it line by line with the two or three quotes most homeowners collect. ### Are you insured? Yes. Hernandez Concrete Works is insured, with general liability and workers' compensation. That protects your property and the people working on it. Ask every contractor you are considering the same question, and ask to see proof before you sign. ### What does Louisiana require of a contractor working on my home? Louisiana's Licensing Board for Contractors requires a home improvement registration for work on an existing home over $7,500 and up to $50,000, and a Residential license for work over $50,000. The East Baton Rouge Parish permits page repeats that residential work over $7,500 must be done by a registered home improvement contractor or a contractor holding a residential license. You can look up any contractor with the board before you hire. ### What concrete work do you do? We pour and repair concrete driveways, patios and patio extensions, sidewalks and walkways, slabs, RV pads, garage and shop pads, and equipment pads for HVAC units, generators and pool equipment. We pour new slab foundations for metal buildings, sheds and pole barns. We also offer stamped and decorative concrete, build patio covers, and handle custom concrete pouring, sealing and concrete removal. Each of those has its own page. ### What don't you do? We do not do foundation repair, house leveling or slab jacking. If your problem is really a foundation problem, Gerardo will say so plainly and point you toward a foundation specialist. We are also not a bag-mix patch service; when we fix a broken section, it is cut out, the base is prepared, and it is poured properly. ### Do I need a permit for concrete work? It depends on the project and where you live. The East Baton Rouge Parish residential permits page lists the addition to or expansion of a driveway and patio cover installation among residential work that needs a permit. If you live in the City of St. George, the city has issued its own building permits since October 16, 2024. Check with the office that covers your address, and ask any contractor how they handle it. ### How long before I can walk or drive on new concrete? Wait a full day, 24 hours, before walking on new concrete, and 5 to 7 days before driving on it or putting anything heavy on it. Keep delivery trucks and heavy equipment off it during that window. Concrete keeps gaining strength after the surface feels hard, and the early days matter most. ### How long does a typical job take? It depends on the job: its size, how much old concrete comes out, the base work, the weather, and the cure time before you can use it. A single section replacement and a new shop slab are very different projects. Gerardo gives you a timeline for your project in the written estimate. ### How do payment and deposits work? The written estimate spells out the payment terms for your job, so you know before you agree to anything. If you have a question about them, ask Gerardo when he walks the property or when you receive the estimate. ### What finishes do you offer? Broom finish is our standard for plain flatwork, a lightly textured surface that gives shoes and tires some grip when it is wet. It is the practical choice for driveways, patios, sidewalks and slabs in a climate this rainy. We also offer stamped and decorative concrete, covered on our Stamped Concrete page. If you have another finish in mind, ask, and we will tell you plainly whether it is something we do. ### What does cleanup include? The job is finished when the forms are pulled, the excess concrete and debris are hauled off, and the property looks better than it did before, not when the last of the concrete goes down. Gerardo judges any contractor by the cleanup, and that includes us. ### Will you tell me if I only need one section replaced? Yes. Most calls are for one or two broken sections, not a whole driveway or sidewalk, usually because of a tree root, a heavy delivery truck, or old concrete at the end of its life. If only one or two sections are broken, Gerardo says so and quotes only that. When a driveway is broken up enough, full replacement is the honest answer. ### How are you connected to Hernandez Lawnscape? Hernandez Lawnscape is our sister company, run by the same family. It does landscaping, drainage and irrigation, and it has carried the Hernandez name on Baton Rouge area properties since 2013. Hernandez Concrete Works is the family's dedicated concrete company, launched in 2026. That drainage background is why we plan slope and runoff as part of every pour. ### Why is your price different from another bid? Usually because the bids are not for the same work. Gerardo's view is that low bids save on overhead, labor and the profit they want, a little of everything, and often on prep and materials you cannot see. We'll show you exactly where your money goes. ## Contact - Hernandez Concrete Works, Baton Rouge, LA 70817 - Phone: (225) 363-8576 - Hours: Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 9am to 1pm, Sun closed - Free written estimate: https://hernandezconcreteworks.com/contact-us