Masonry contractor in Coralville, IA - brick, block and pavers that hold up
R&S Cedar Rapids Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Cedar Rapids that repairs brick, repoints worn mortar, and builds walls, walkways and paver driveways for homes in Coralville, IA.
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Coralville's mix of older brick and new lots
Coralville sits on the Iowa River between Iowa City and North Liberty, and most people here know the riverfront at Iowa River Landing, just off Interstate 80. Away from the river, the houses run from older brick homes on the city's earlier streets to newer subdivisions with stone fronts, paver driveways and yards graded into slopes.
That mix means we're as likely to be matching mortar on an older chimney as building a retaining wall on a new lot, and each one asks for a different kind of care from the ground up.
Working in Coralville: what we've learned on the ground here
In Coralville, building permits come from the city's Community Development Department, which also handles zoning and site plan review. When a job needs a permit, the work can't start until the city approves it, so before each job we contact the department to learn what it requires, and then we tell you what we found and who will handle it. We're licensed and insured.
We're based in Cedar Rapids and work in many of the cities around it, so Coralville is a regular drive for our crew, as is Tiffin just to the west. On any job here, the price mostly turns on the size of the work, the brick or stone you choose and what we find once old mortar or soil is opened up, while the schedule turns on whether the city needs a permit and how soon it's approved. The written estimate I leave tells you what I'd do on your house and why.
What do Coralville houses and yards need most?
On the newer lots, most of what we see goes wrong underneath. Soil that was dug out and pushed back around a new house can keep settling for years, so a paver driveway, front step or wall set on a thin, loosely packed base starts to sag or lean, and water running toward the foundation makes it worse. When we rebuild, we dig down to firm ground, pack the base in layers and set the grade so water runs away from your house, because the part you can't see is what decides how long the work lasts.
On the older brick houses, it's usually the mortar joints that have worn back first. We rake out the tired joints and repoint with a mortar softer than the brick, because a mortar harder than old brick can crack its faces over time. If a few cracks can wait, I'll tell you so.
- 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 Coralville
Driveway pavers
Newer Coralville driveways often settle at the edges or along the garage apron. We install driveway pavers over a packed, drained base so they sit flat.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped yards in newer subdivisions often need a wall. We build on a packed base with drainage behind it, so water drains instead of pressing on the wall.
Stone veneer installation
Many newer Coralville homes carry stone across the front. We install and repair stone veneer with flashing at the base, so water behind it has a way out.
Chimney repair
Older Coralville chimneys usually lose mortar near the top first. We rebuild the loose rows of brick and redo the metal flashing that seals it to the roof.
Brick repair
Crumbling bricks on older Coralville houses usually point to water getting in. We replace them with close matches and fix where the water came from.
Foundation repair
Basement walls in Coralville can crack or bow when wet soil presses against them. We repair the wall and fix the drainage outside so that pressure eases.
What to expect when you hire a masonry contractor in Coralville
Call or send a message
Thank you for reaching out to us. We'll set up a time that suits you for me to come out to your house in Coralville.
I look the job over
I walk the job with you, ask what you've noticed and look for what's causing it, so it helps if you can be home. Then I write up what I'd do and why, so you can see what drives the cost before you decide anything.
We check with the city
Before work starts, we check with the city on what your project needs. The start date follows from what they tell us.
Our crew does the work
I work alongside the same small crew, and we cover the work at the end of each day and leave your site tidy. It comes with our promise, satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Get a free masonry estimate for your Coralville home
Thank you for thinking of us. We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your Coralville home, look the job over and write up what I'd do and why. The visit is free, and there's no obligation.
- 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 Coralville
Do I need a building permit for masonry work in Coralville?
You need a building permit from the city for any structure that's added to, enlarged, built, rebuilt, moved, torn down or structurally altered, which takes in most new walls and structural repairs. For smaller repairs such as repointing, the city's list doesn't spell it out, so we ask the department before we start instead of guessing.
Which building codes does Coralville use for masonry and foundation work?
Coralville builds to the 2024 International Building, Residential and Existing Building Codes, with the city's own amendments. On a house, the residential code is usually the one that governs walls, steps and foundations, and we build to the version the city has in force for your job.
How do I apply for a building permit in Coralville?
You email the application to submittals@coralville.org with all the contractor information, electronic plans, a site plan and any supporting documents. The site plan shows the property lines, the setback lines that mark how close you can build to them, and where the work sits. Once it's approved, the permit is paid for and signed in person at the department at 1512 7th Street, and the city's building permits page lays out each step.
How much does masonry work cost in Coralville?
Your cost is set by your own job, so the written estimate from our visit is where you'll see it. Matching older brick or stone, raking out worn joints by hand and rebuilding a sunken base all take more labor than new work on open ground. When a permit is needed, the city's fee starts at $25 for up to $500 worth of work, and a fee schedule sets it above that.
How do I get underground lines marked before digging in Coralville?
Call Iowa One Call at 1.800.292.8989 at least 48 hours before digging so underground lines can be marked, as the city reminds residents. That matters for the concrete footing under a wall or the base of a paver driveway, and we plan our digging around the marks.
Do I need a permit to add stone veneer to my house in Coralville?
The city's list doesn't name stone veneer, so that's a question we put to the department before we start. It does say re-siding a single-family house or duplex needs no permit when no structural damage is being repaired, while all commercial siding needs one. If the wall behind your veneer needs structural repair, that exemption no longer covers the job.
Tell us about your Coralville masonry project
We take calls at (319) 536-8125 until 10 PM on weekdays and 9 PM on weekends, so you can reach us after work and tell us what you've noticed.
Request an estimateCall (319) 536-8125