Masonry contractor in Marion, IA - repointing older brick and building sound walls
R&S Cedar Rapids Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Cedar Rapids that repairs mortar joints, chimneys, brick and foundations on homes in Marion, Iowa, and builds retaining walls, walkways and other masonry around them.
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Marion's mix of older brick and newer homes
Marion is a historic city that shares a boundary with Cedar Rapids, so it's close to home for us, but it has its own feel. Uptown, the city's central business district, has older brick buildings, and the streets around it hold older houses with brick walls, chimneys and porches. The neighborhoods farther out are newer, with block foundations, stone veneer and some yards that slope down toward the creeks.
So a job in Marion can mean matching old mortar one week and setting the base for a new retaining wall the next, and I plan each one around what that house and that ground need.
What we check before working in Marion
Building permits for houses in Marion come from the City of Marion's Building Division, not from Linn County, whose planning office serves the rural county and a list of smaller cities that doesn't include Marion. The division issues residential permits for work such as repairs and remodels, so before each job here I contact the city to learn what it requires, then tell you what we found and who will handle it, and if a permit is needed, the start date waits for it. It's also fair to check the contractor, because Iowa requires anyone earning at least $2,000 a year from construction to register with the state's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing before doing construction work. We're licensed and insured.
Most of what moves the price is in the wall or the ground itself, such as how much old mortar has to come out, whether brick has to be matched to an older house, how high a chimney stands, how much room there is for scaffolding on a tight lot near Uptown, and how much digging and base a new wall or walk needs. The schedule turns mostly on the permit check and the size of the job, and the estimate I write lays out what I'd do and why, so you can see where the cost comes from. As a masonry contractor in Cedar Rapids, IA, we're in Marion often, and we do the same work in Hiawatha, North Liberty and other cities around ours.
What do houses and yards in Marion need?
On the older brick houses in this historic city, the mortar is usually the first thing to go, and it often hides a bigger problem behind it. Worn joints and gaps in the metal flashing that seals a chimney to the roof let water into the wall, and earlier patches done with mortar harder than the old brick can crack the brick around them. We cut out the failing mortar, repoint with a mix suited to that brick and deal with the flashing that let the water in, because new joints over an old leak won't last.
In the newer parts of Marion, the calls are more often about a yard that slopes, a walk that has settled or a block foundation with a crack. Those come down to the base and the drainage, so that's where we put the most work, even though nobody sees it once the job is done.
- 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 Marion
Tuckpointing
Older brick houses around Uptown often have joints worn thin or patched with the wrong mortar. Our tuckpointing cuts out the worn mortar and refills it to match.
Chimney repair
On older Marion houses the chimney usually wears first, because it stands above the roof unsheltered. We rebuild loose brick and reseal the flashing so water stays out.
Brick repair
Flaking or cracked bricks show up on Marion's older walls where water has sat for years. We replace them with brick matched in size and color.
Masonry restoration
Marion's historic homes and Uptown storefronts call for repairs that keep the original look. We restore brick and stone with mortar chosen to suit the old wall.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped yards in Marion's newer neighborhoods often need a wall to hold the soil. We build each one on a packed base with drainage behind it.
Foundation repair
Block and brick foundations under Marion's older houses can crack or bow when water sits against them. We repair the wall and the drainage problem behind it.
How the job goes when you call us in Marion
Call or send us a message
Thank you for reaching out, by phone or through the form. We set up a time that suits you for me to come out to your house in Marion.
I look over the job
I come out myself, ask what you've noticed and look at the wall, chimney or ground, so it helps if you can be home. Then I write up what I'd do and why, so you can see what the price covers before you decide anything.
We check with the city
Before work starts, we contact the city to learn what your job needs. We plan the start date around their answer, so nothing begins before it should.
The crew does the work
The same small crew I work alongside does the job, so the faces you meet stay the same. At the end of each day we cover the work and leave your yard tidy.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Marion
Thank you for considering us. We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your Marion home for a free on-site estimate. I'll look the job over, then write up what I'd do and why, with 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 Marion
Do I need a building permit for masonry work in Marion, Iowa?
Some jobs may, so we ask the city before each one rather than guess. The city's building code text names a few small projects that need no building permit, such as a one-story shed or playhouse up to 120 square feet that isn't a storm shelter, and some small, low decks. For masonry work, we check with the Building Division before we start and tell you what they said.
How do I look up past permits on my house in Marion?
You can search the city's Online Permit Service, which shows past and current permits for property in Marion. It's a good way to see what work has been done on your house before, and contractors use the same site to apply for permits and view inspection results.
How do I see flood hazard areas near my home in Marion?
Use Linn County's floodplain map, which gives a close-up view of flood hazard areas and where they sit in relation to your property. Enter your address or parcel number, then choose "Floodplain" from the FEMA Flood Layers. I think it's worth a look before we plan a retaining wall or foundation work on low ground, because where the water goes decides how we build.
How much does masonry work cost in Marion, IA?
The price comes down to the size of the job and what turns up once it's open, and I give you a written figure after I've looked at it. On older houses, finding brick that matches and tinting mortar to suit the wall takes extra time, and raking out joints often shows more wear than you can see from the ground. On new walls and walks, the length, the height and how much soil has to come out to make room for a proper base are the main things.
What causes mortar joints to crumble on older brick homes in Marion?
Usually it's age and water, because mortar is meant to wear before the brick does, and on Marion's older houses it has had many decades to do so. Water from a leaking gutter or failed flashing speeds it up, and so does an earlier patch done with mortar harder than the brick. When we repoint, we deal with the water too, or the new joints wear out the same way.
How do I know if cracks in my brick walls in Marion need repair?
Hairline cracks that follow the mortar and don't change are often fine to watch, and I'll tell you so if that's what I see. Cracks that run through the bricks, widen over time or come with a bowed wall usually point to movement or water, and those are worth a closer look soon. I can't say which yours are without seeing them, so a visit is the honest answer.
Have us look at your Marion masonry
If a few cracks can wait, I'll tell you so, and if they can't, you'll know why before water does more damage to the wall.
Request an estimateCall (319) 536-8125