Frequently asked questions
General
We are at 100 Carnaby Dr., Lafayette, LA 70508. We work throughout Lafayette Parish and across South Louisiana, including Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Houma, and New Iberia.
Yes. Royal Builders is licensed and insured. We can provide proof of insurance before work begins.
More than 25 years working Acadiana homes. We are family owned.
Yes. We come out, look at the project, and give you a free written estimate on cost and timeline before you commit to anything.
We offer discounts for military. Ask about it when you call.
Our own crew. One team stays on the job from the first day through the final inspection, with one point of contact the whole way.
If demo opens up something we could not see, rotten decking, old water damage, a wall that turns out to be load-bearing, you hear about it that day, with the cost and options, not at the end.
Renovations and additions
Usually, yes. We check whether the wall is load-bearing first. If it is, we frame in the right header or support to carry the load before anything comes out.
Often, yes. Many older Acadiana homes have wiring and plumbing that need to come up to current code during a remodel. We handle that as part of the work so the finished job is sound, not just good-looking.
It often is. You keep your lot, your neighborhood, and your schools. We match the roofline, siding, and finishes so the addition looks like part of the original house.
It depends on the scope. A single bathroom is much quicker than a whole-home remodel. We give you a realistic timeline in the estimate and keep you updated as the work moves.
Roofing
We inspect the whole roof before quoting. Missing shingles or a single leak is often a repair. Widespread wear, soft decking, or failed flashing usually means replacement. We tell you straight which one it is.
Architectural shingle costs less up front and looks great on most homes. Standing seam metal costs more, lasts longer, and stands up better to wind, which matters near the coast. We walk you through the tradeoff for your house.
Most residential replacements take a few days once we start, depending on size, decking condition, and weather. We give you a window before we begin.
Concrete
Usually the soil, not the concrete. Louisiana clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and a slab over poorly prepped base moves with it. Proper base prep, thickness, and control joints are what prevent it.
Concrete needs time to cure before it takes weight. We tell you how long to stay off it for your specific pour. We do not rush the cure to hit a date, because concrete loaded too early fails early.
Framing
No. We are a remodeling and exterior contractor. Our framing goes with the renovation and addition work we do, plus structural repairs. We do not frame new subdivisions.
Yes. Sagging floors, rotted sills, and termite or water damage are common here. We open it up, see how far it went, replace the bad members, and make it solid again to code.