Masonry Contractor in Cedar Rapids, IA - Mortar Work That Suits Older Brick Homes
R&S Cedar Rapids Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Cedar Rapids. We repoint worn mortar on older brick homes, repair chimneys and foundations, and build walls, walkways and paver driveways meant to hold up.
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Cedar Rapids and its many older brick homes
Cedar Rapids is where we're based and where we do a lot of our work. The older parts of the city have plenty of brick houses, brick and block foundations and chimneys that have stood a long time. The newer neighborhoods toward the edges run more to poured concrete, paver driveways and retaining walls in sloped yards. The same mix carries on into Hiawatha and Marion, and we do the same work there.
That age shapes almost every job here, because an older wall has usually been patched, painted or added onto over the years, and we have to see what's underneath before we know what it needs.
What to check before hiring in Cedar Rapids
Iowa requires construction contractors to register with the state Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, so it's fair to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring about it, us included, and we're licensed and insured. Whether a masonry job on your house needs a permit is up to the city or county office, and I don't guess at that before we've asked, because the answer can change when we're able to start.
On most jobs here, the price moves with how much of the wall really needs work, and some of that only shows once we open it up. The schedule turns on what the office tells us and what we find inside the wall, and the written estimate lays out what I'd do for your house and why. We work the same way in North Liberty and the other cities around Cedar Rapids.
What do older Cedar Rapids houses need most?
Most of the calls we get come from worn mortar joints, a chimney that has started to crumble, or a wall that someone patched with a harder mortar years ago, so the brick around the patch is now flaking. Old brick wants mortar that gives a little before the brick does, so when we repoint a house here we match the old mix instead of reaching for the strongest bag on the shelf.
Water is the other thing. Linn County notes that the parts of the county outside city limits have a history of flooding, since they sit in the watersheds of both the Cedar and Wapsipinicon rivers, and on any lot, water held against a foundation or behind a wall is what does the damage. That's why we look at drainage and grading before we fix a crack, so the repair isn't working against the water that caused it.
- Call (319) 536-8125
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
- Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Masonry work we do in Cedar Rapids
Tuckpointing
Many older brick houses here have joints worn back from the face. We rake out loose mortar and refill with a mix suited to the brick.
Chimney repair
A chimney takes water from every side, so it often crumbles first on an older house. We repair the brick and check the metal flashing at the roof.
Foundation repair
Older foundations here crack and lean when water sits against them. Our foundation repair fixes the wall and looks at the drainage that caused it.
Brick repair
On older walls, a few bricks often flake or crack while the rest stay sound. We replace just those, matching size and color as closely as we can.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped yards often need a wall to hold back soil that would otherwise wash toward the house. We build on a packed base with drainage behind the wall.
Driveway pavers
Cracked concrete drives are a common call here, and pavers make a good replacement. We dig out, pack a firm base and set them level.
How it works when you call us in Cedar Rapids
Call or send a message
Thank you for reaching out. Call (319) 536-8125 or use the form, and we'll set a time that suits you for me to come out to your house.
I come out and look
I walk the job with you, ask what you've noticed, and look past the cracks to the flashing, drainage and base. Then I write up what I'd do and why, so you can see what the cost is built on before you decide anything.
We check with your office
Before work starts, we contact the city or county office to learn what it requires for your job. We tell you what we found and who will handle it.
Our crew does the work
The same small crew I work alongside does the job, and we cover the work at the end of each day. When we leave, the site is tidy.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Cedar Rapids home
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your house in Cedar Rapids. The estimate is free, done on site and comes with no obligation, and I'll write up what I'd do and why.
- Licensed and insured.
- Phone
- (319) 536-8125
- Location
- Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
Questions about masonry work in Cedar Rapids
Do I need to register with the state to do masonry on my own house in Iowa?
No, Iowa's contractor registration doesn't apply to people working only on their own property, or to anyone who earns less than $2,000 a year from construction. It's the contractors you hire who have to register, which is why it's worth asking before you sign anything.
What does a contractor from another state need to work in Iowa?
A contractor based in another state has to file a $25,000 surety bond with the state, or provide a letter from the Iowa Department of Transportation saying it's prequalified to bid on that department's projects. If someone from out of state offers to do your work, it's fair to ask which one they have. We're based here in Cedar Rapids, so this rule doesn't apply to us.
Where do I find the official flood map for my home in Cedar Rapids?
For the current regulatory map, check the FEMA Map Service Center or ask your local officials, because the University of Iowa's flood maps are drafts meant for information, not regulation. Linn County has a floodplain information page, and you can reach the county at 319-892-5000. If your house sits low, it's good to know before we plan a foundation repair or a retaining wall.
How much does masonry repair cost in Cedar Rapids?
The cost comes down to how much of the wall needs work, how hard it is to reach and how closely new brick and mortar have to match what's there, so I can't give you a fair number until I've seen it. Matching an older brick house takes more care, and a chimney or a tall wall costs more to reach than a low garden wall. Once I've looked it over, I write up what I'd do and why so you can see what you'd be paying for.
How do I tell if my brick house in Cedar Rapids needs tuckpointing?
Your brick likely needs tuckpointing if the mortar has worn back from the face of the brick, crumbles when you scrape it with a key, or has open gaps between bricks. A few worn joints can often wait, and I'll tell you so if yours can, but long runs of open joints let water into the wall.
What causes foundation cracks in older Cedar Rapids homes?
Most foundation cracks we see come from water, either wet soil held against the wall or ground that slopes toward the house instead of away from it. Older block and brick foundations also settle with age, and some hairline cracks are nothing more than that. I'll tell you which cracks need work now and which can be watched, because the fix usually starts with where the water goes.
Book your Cedar Rapids masonry estimate
If a few cracks can wait, I'll tell you so, and that's much easier to judge before a small gap in the mortar has let water into the wall.
Request an estimateCall (319) 536-8125