Dirt Work and Building Pads in Jennings, LA

Where we are most useful in this area

General walkthrough — not a specific customer project

What goes into a pad for an equipment barn

People sometimes assume a barn pad is a lesser job than a house pad. It is often the harder of the two, because of what drives across it.

• —Understand the loads. A tractor, a loaded trailer or a grain truck concentrates far more weight than a house does, and repeatedly
• —Strip organics off the footprint — the same rule as any pad. Topsoil under a slab keeps settling
• —Build up in compacted lifts, with moisture content watched as closely as the roller
• —Set the elevation high enough that water never runs toward the door, which is where it always tries to go
• —Plan the approach apron, because the transition between the drive and the slab is where damage starts
• —Think about where equipment turns. Turning loads are harder on a surface than straight travel

Questions we hear in Jefferson Davis Parish

You are based in Lake Charles — is Jennings a normal service area for you?

Yes, it is within the territory we cover. As with anywhere outside Calcasieu Parish, travel is a real factor in pricing and we will be open about it. Grouping several jobs into one trip is usually the best way to get value out of hiring us at this distance.

Can you work on ground that has just been harvested?

Often, and sometimes that is the ideal window. The limiting factor is usually moisture rather than the crop — saturated ground will rut and will not compact properly no matter how good the plan is. We would rather wait a few days than leave you with a mess.

Do you handle irrigation or water-control structures?

We do dirt work, excavation, ponds and culverts. Specialized agricultural water-control infrastructure may fall outside what we take on, and if your project needs something we are not the right company for, we will say so instead of learning on your property.

Who do I ask about local requirements?

Jefferson Davis Parish, and the City of Jennings if you are inside city limits. Requirements differ between parishes and we are not going to state a rule for a jurisdiction we have not verified it in.

Can I get an estimate without you driving out?

For something simple and well described, sometimes. For anything involving grade, drainage or access we would rather come look at it — a quote built on assumptions helps nobody, and change orders are worse than an honest number at the start.