Masonry Contractor in North Liberty, IA - Patios, Walls and Brick Kept Sound
R&S Cedar Rapids Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in North Liberty, Iowa. We repair brick and mortar, build retaining walls, patios and walkways, and add stone veneer to the newer homes and yards across the city.
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North Liberty and its newer neighborhoods
On our jobs in North Liberty we mostly see newer subdivisions, with single-family homes and townhomes on the streets around the shops and offices that serve them. The city sits just south of Cedar Rapids, where we're based, and most of the houses we're called to were built in the last few decades, often with a poured foundation, brick or stone across the front and siding on the rest.
Because so many yards were shaped by the builder when a neighborhood went in, the ground here decides a good part of the job, from how a patio drains to what a retaining wall has to hold back.
What we know from working in North Liberty
Building permits here are issued by the city's Building Department, which reviews plans against North Liberty's building and zoning codes and then inspects the work in the field. On a job that needs a permit, the review has to clear before we start and an inspector visits while the work is underway, so the permit sets part of the schedule. Before each job I contact the city to learn what it requires, and I tell you what I found and who will handle it.
Price here turns mostly on how big the job is, how much has to be torn out or dug before we build, and whether new brick or stone has to match what's already on your house, while the schedule turns on any city review and on our crew's calendar. Many homes here resemble the ones we work on in Coralville, built around the same time with similar brick fronts and graded yards, so the questions I ask at your house are ones we've worked through nearby. Your estimate is where I put all of that in writing for your own job, with what I'd do and why.
What do North Liberty homes need most?
With so many homes here wearing brick or stone on the front, most of the calls we get are about that front face: a hairline crack at a window corner, a few loose bricks by the steps, or joints that have started to wear. Small cracks from a house settling in are common and often harmless, and if a few can wait, I'll tell you so. When a crack is wider at one end or keeps growing, we find the cause before we touch the brick, because a repair laid over a wall that's still moving won't stay closed.
The yards matter as much as the houses. Lots that were graded when a neighborhood went in often slope toward a neighbor or the street, so homeowners ask us for retaining walls, patios and walkways, and what decides whether those hold up is the part you never see. We dig out, pack the base and give water a way out behind a wall before the first block goes down.
- 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 North Liberty
Brick repair
Cracked brick on North Liberty homes usually traces back to water or settling. We find the cause first, then handle the brick repair with matching brick.
Tuckpointing
Worn joints on a brick front let water into the wall. We grind out the old mortar and repack it with a mix suited to your brick.
Retaining wall construction
Graded lots in newer neighborhoods often need a wall to hold a slope. We build on a packed base with drainage behind it so it stays put.
Stone veneer installation
Many homes here pair siding with a band of stone along the front. We install veneer with flashing and a drainage gap so water can get out.
Walkway construction
Front walks in newer subdivisions often settle or crack once the fill under them shifts. We rebuild them in brick or stone on a properly packed base.
Driveway pavers
Plenty of North Liberty homeowners want to dress up a plain driveway or widen it. We lay pavers over a dug-out, compacted base so they stay level.
What happens when you call us about a North Liberty job
Call or send us a message
Thank you for reaching out, by phone at (319) 536-8125 or through the form. We get back to you and set a time for me to come out to your house.
I look over the job
I look the job over, ask what you've noticed and check what's causing the problem, not just the crack you can see. Then I write up what I'd do and why, so you can decide with the facts in front of you.
We check with the city
Before work starts we check with the city on what your job requires. If it needs a permit, we begin once the city's review has cleared, and you don't need to be home for that part.
The crew does the work
The same small crew I work alongside does the job, and you're welcome to ask any of us questions as it goes. We cover the work at the end of each day and leave the site tidy.
Get a free estimate for your North Liberty project
Thank you for considering us. We reply within one business day, and then I come out to North Liberty for a free on-site estimate, look the job over and write up what I'd do and why. There's no obligation, and you're welcome to take your time deciding.
- 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 in North Liberty
Do I need a city permit for a patio or paver driveway in North Liberty?
Yes, the City of North Liberty requires an Accessory Building Permit to install a patio and a Driveway Permit for driveway additions and improvements. Any sidewalk work needs a Sidewalk Repair Permit as well, and you can see the full list on the city's permit page.
When does a retaining wall need an engineer in North Liberty?
The city requires engineering for a retaining wall taller than 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. That means a wall that stands a bit under 4 feet above the grass can still count, because part of it sits below ground, and retaining walls are among the things the city asks to see on a residential permit application. If your wall is near that height, I'll say so at the estimate so the design is settled before we dig.
Does tuckpointing or brick repair need a permit in North Liberty?
The city's permit list names patios, driveways, sidewalks and building work, but it doesn't name tuckpointing or brick repair, so the answer for your job has to come from the city. Its Planning, Building & Development Department takes permit questions at 319-626-5713, and we ask before we start either way.
How much does masonry work cost in North Liberty?
Your price comes from what I find at your house, and the biggest differences usually come from what's under the work rather than the brick or stone itself. A repair to a few bricks or a stretch of joints costs far less than a new wall or patio, which needs digging, a packed base and drainage, and a retaining wall tall enough to need engineering adds the cost of that design.
How long does masonry work take in North Liberty?
A repair to a few bricks or a stretch of mortar joints is usually a short job, while a new wall, walkway or patio takes longer because the ground has to be dug out and the base packed before any stone goes down. If the city requires a permit, its review comes before we start and its inspection happens during the work, so that adds time too. I'll tell you what to expect for your own job when I come out.
What causes mortar joints to crumble on newer North Liberty homes?
Water is the usual cause, from gutters that spill over, lawn sprinklers that hit the wall or soil that slopes toward the house, and the joints wear first where the wall stays wet. Sometimes the original mortar was simply mixed weak. I look for where the water comes from before we repoint, because new mortar won't last on a wall that keeps getting soaked.
Tell us about your North Liberty project
A short description of the wall, joints or yard, with a photo if you have one, helps me come out with the right questions and samples to match your brick or stone.
Request an estimateCall (319) 536-8125