Residential concrete on the St. Tammany Northshore
Across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, St. Tammany Parish feels different from the south shore. Much of it sits higher, the soils are often sandier or siltier, and tall pines replace the swamp and live oak landscape of the city. Lots in Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville and Abita Springs are often larger, with long driveways, workshops and room for a boat or camper, while parts of Slidell and the lakefront sit low and close to the water. This page explains how those differences affect a concrete project and what a good quote should cover.
Higher, older ground north of the lake
Much of western and central St. Tammany sits on older terraces that rise gently away from the lake. The ground there is generally firmer and better drained than the soft deltaic soils on the south shore, though clay layers near the surface are common and can hold water. Creeks and rivers such as the Tchefuncte, the Bogue Falaya and the Pearl cut through that terrain, and land beside them is lower and wetter.
Closer to the lake and in parts of Slidell, the ground drops toward marsh and coastal wetlands. Those areas behave more like the south shore, with softer soil, higher water tables and greater exposure to storm surge. A concrete plan should reflect which kind of ground a property sits on, not simply its parish.
Long driveways and rural lots
Outside the towns, many properties sit on wooded acreage with long driveways back from the road. A concrete drive of that length is a big investment, so many owners pour concrete near the house and leave gravel or another surface for the rest. Where the drive runs through low spots, dips or crosses a ditch, culverts and drainage need to be planned so water does not flow over or under the slab.
Delivery trucks, a camper, a tractor or a trailer often use rural driveways, which calls for thicker sections and a well-compacted base. Ask how the contractor will handle soft or wet stretches, where the concrete will end, and how it will meet any gravel beyond.
Pines, roots and needles
Pine trees are everywhere in the parish, and while their roots are generally less aggressive at the surface than the big oaks across the lake, large trees of any kind can still lift slabs near their trunks. Clearing a site for a patio or shop slab often means removing stumps and roots, and the holes they leave should be filled and compacted before the base goes in.
Needles and leaves build up on shaded patios and walks, holding moisture and staining the surface. A good fall, a finish with some texture and periodic cleaning help. Ask the contractor about sealers that resist organic staining if the slab will sit under trees.
Workshops, garages and boat slabs
Larger lots invite detached garages, workshops, barns and covered boat or RV parking. Those slabs need thickened edges under walls, extra thickness under heavy loads and careful planning for anything embedded, such as anchor bolts, electrical conduit and floor drains. Some buildings come with foundation requirements from the manufacturer that the slab must meet.
Parts of the parish are in mapped flood zones, especially near the lake, the rivers and in Slidell. Elevation rules for new structures and accessory buildings may apply. Check with the parish or your city permit and floodplain offices, and your HOA, before settling on a slab height or location.
Rain, clay layers and drainage on the Northshore
Heavy rain is common here too, and while sandier soil drains faster, a clay layer a short way down can leave water perched near the surface after a storm. Slabs poured on low spots, or on ground that has been graded toward the house, will see water under and around them. A good plan checks the grade across the whole area and routes water away before the forms go up.
In subdivisions around Mandeville, Covington and Slidell, drainage often runs through shared swales and ditches. Changing the grade or blocking a swale with concrete can send water onto a neighbor's lot, so ask the contractor to keep existing drainage paths open and check with the HOA about any rules.
Sandy soil and slab edges that wash out
Where the Northshore soil is sandy, it drains well but moves easily with running water. Runoff pouring off a roof or a driveway can carve a channel along the edge of a slab and carry sand out from beneath it, leaving the edge unsupported. Once that happens, the concrete tends to crack a short distance in from the edge.
Gutters with downspouts piped away, a strip of grass or stone along the edge, and a finished grade that sits just below the slab all help keep the sand in place. Ask how the contractor will backfill and finish the ground along the edges once the forms come off.
Communities across the parish
Requests often come from Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Lacombe, Slidell, Pearl River, Folsom and the subdivisions between them. Each carries a different mix of older town lots, newer neighborhoods and rural acreage, and conditions can change noticeably within a short distance.
What homeowners here ask most
Is concrete easier to build on in St. Tammany than in New Orleans?
Much of the parish sits on older, higher ground that is firmer and better drained than the soft soils south of the lake, so slabs there often settle less. Low areas near the lake, the rivers and parts of Slidell are softer and wetter. Clay layers and old fill can also be found anywhere. A contractor still needs to see the specific site before planning.
Should I pour my whole long driveway or only part of it?
That depends on how long it is, how it is used and what you want it to look like. Many owners on larger lots pour concrete near the house and garage, where traffic is heaviest and appearance matters most, and use gravel or another surface farther out. Ask the contractor how the concrete will end and how that edge will be protected from breaking.
Do I need a permit for a workshop slab in St. Tammany?
The answer usually hinges on how big the building is, what it will be used for, its position on your land and whether a flood map covers the site. Rules can differ between the unincorporated parish and cities such as Covington, Mandeville and Slidell, and HOAs may add their own. Check with the right permit and floodplain offices before ordering the building or scheduling the pour.
Will pine trees crack a patio?
Pine roots tend to stay less shallow than oak roots, yet a mature tree of any species growing beside concrete may still heave or split it over time. Keeping some distance from trunks and removing old stumps and roots before the base is built both help. Ask an arborist before removing or cutting roots of a tree you want to keep, since damage can weaken it.
How should my slab handle a drainage swale behind the house?
Many Northshore subdivisions use swales to carry water between lots. Pouring concrete across a swale or raising the grade can block that flow and push water onto your neighbor or back toward your house. The slab should be laid out so the swale stays open, or water should be redirected with an approved alternative. Check with your HOA and the contractor first.
Is Slidell ground different from Covington ground?
Often, yes. Much of Covington sits on higher, older terrace soil, while parts of Slidell lie lower and closer to the lake and marshes, where soft soil and a high water table are more common. Both towns include a wide range of conditions, so the contractor's visit to your lot is what counts. Share photos of any spots that stay wet after rain.
Talk through your project
Start with the address, what you want poured or replaced, rough dimensions, and a few photos of the area and any existing concrete.
The work, by type
Concrete Driveways
New drives, widening and replacement on ground that settles.
Concrete Patios
Backyard slabs with enough fall to shed a summer downpour.
Stamped & Decorative Concrete
Pattern, color and exposed aggregate that suit a humid climate.
Walkways & Steps
Front walks and steps that meet raised porches cleanly.
Garage, Shed & RV Slabs
Pads for garages, sheds, boats and campers on soft soil.
Concrete Repair & Replacement
Choosing between patching, lifting and tearing out a sunken slab.