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Serving Des Moines, IA and surrounding areas. (515) 724-6905
DEM Des Moines Masonry is a licensed masonry contractor serving Altoona, IA, specializing in chimney repair, brick repair, and tuckpointing for this city's wide mix of housing - from 1960s ranch homes near original downtown to newer subdivisions on the east side. We have served Altoona homeowners since the business opened and respond to every new inquiry within 1 business day.
Ranch and split-level homes built in Altoona during the 1960s and 1970s often have original brick chimneys that have never had their mortar replaced or their liner evaluated. After 40 to 60 Iowa winters, those chimneys are prime candidates for tuckpointing, crown repair, or relining. Our chimney repair service starts with an inspection that shows you exactly what needs fixing before any work begins.
Altoona's older brick homes near the original town core have mortar joints that have been through decades of central Iowa freeze-thaw cycles. Once those joints start pulling away from the brick, water works its way in with every rain - and each winter makes the damage worse. Tuckpointing before the gaps open fully is consistently cheaper than repairing the water damage that follows.
Central Iowa sees hail storms regularly from late spring through early fall, and Altoona sits right in that corridor. A single severe storm can leave brick facades, chimney faces, and retaining walls with spalled, cracked, or displaced brick across an entire neighborhood - and matching older brick correctly requires experience with the specific materials common in Altoona construction.
Polk County clay soil expands when it absorbs water and shrinks during dry stretches, putting steady pressure on foundation walls in both older and newer Altoona homes. Cracks that appear small in summer often look noticeably different after a wet Iowa spring - and older concrete block foundations in the in-town neighborhoods are especially vulnerable to that seasonal movement.
Altoona has homes from the 1950s through the 1980s where the brick or block exterior has weathered to the point where cosmetic repairs are no longer enough. Masonry restoration addresses the underlying structure - repairing or replacing damaged units, re-sealing joints, and stabilizing sections that have shifted - so the exterior performs as it should rather than just looking better temporarily.
Some Altoona properties have older concrete block walls in the yard or along property lines that have started to shift or crack under the pressure of clay soil movement. Block walls that were set without adequate footings below the frost line typically need a full rebuild to perform reliably through another decade of Iowa winters.
Altoona has a housing stock that spans roughly 70 years, and that range creates two very different sets of masonry problems sitting side by side. The older in-town neighborhoods have ranch and split-level homes from the 1950s through the 1980s where original brick chimneys, block foundations, and brick facades have been through 40 to 60 Iowa winters without significant maintenance. The mortar joints in these older structures were mixed with lime-based formulations that have a natural lifespan - and in many cases that lifespan has been reached. Polk County's clay-heavy soil, which swells when saturated and shrinks during dry spells, has been putting low-level stress on those foundations and walls for decades.
The newer subdivisions on the outer edges of Altoona face different challenges. Homes built since the 1990s typically have concrete driveways and thin brick veneer accents rather than full-masonry construction, and they sit on lots that were graded and filled during development. That disturbed base soil continues to compact over the first several years, creating early settling in flatwork and veneer. Iowa winters bring frost depths of 40 inches or more in hard years, and hail storms roll through central Iowa every spring and summer - both accelerating wear on any masonry surface that was not installed with those conditions in mind. A contractor who works in Altoona regularly recognizes both types of properties and adjusts the approach accordingly.
We pull permits through the City of Altoona for structural masonry work and chimney rebuilds, and we are familiar with the requirements for both the older in-town properties and the newer subdivision builds going up on the east side of the city. The mix of housing ages in Altoona means our crew regularly encounters both lime-based mortars from 1960s construction and the synthetic materials used in homes built in the past 20 years - and the repair approach differs between them.
Altoona sits just east of Des Moines along Interstate 80, making it quick to reach from anywhere in the metro. The city is home to Adventureland Resort, one of Iowa's most recognized landmarks, and Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino has been a fixture in the community for decades. Most residential neighborhoods cluster along 1st Avenue SE and Adventureland Drive, with newer development spreading east and south toward the city limits.
We serve homeowners throughout the Des Moines east side. If your address is in Norwalk or across the city line in Ankeny, the same crew and standards apply - we do not treat neighboring communities as out-of-area jobs.
Reach out by phone or through the contact form and describe what you are noticing. We respond to every Altoona inquiry within 1 business day and will schedule a free on-site visit at a time that works for you - no commitment required.
We visit your Altoona property, inspect the masonry in person, and explain what we find in plain language - no jargon. You receive a written estimate that breaks down the cost of each repair before we leave, and we tell you upfront whether a permit is needed for the work. No surprises, no pressure.
After you approve the estimate, we handle permit paperwork through the City of Altoona and schedule the start date. Most chimney and brick repair jobs are completed in one to two days. You do not need to be home for most exterior chimney work, though we will confirm access requirements with you before the crew arrives.
When the work is done, we walk through the repairs with you, show you what was done, and tell you how long to wait before using the fireplace if fresh mortar was applied. If a permit inspection is required, we coordinate with the city and make sure it is closed out properly.
We serve homeowners all across Altoona - from the older streets near downtown to the newer subdivisions on the east side of the city. Call us or fill out the form and we will respond within 1 business day.
(515) 724-6905Altoona is a city of about 22,000 people sitting just east of Des Moines in Polk County, with quick access to downtown via Interstate 80. The housing stock spans a wide range: the older in-town neighborhoods have ranch and split-level homes built between the 1950s and 1980s, clad in vinyl siding or brick, with attached garages and original concrete driveways. Farther out, newer subdivisions developed since the 1990s bring two-story homes on standard suburban lots. The city has a high owner-occupancy rate, and most residents stay for years - which makes Altoona a community where homeowners take maintenance seriously.
Adventureland Resort has been a landmark in Altoona since 1974 and is one of the most recognized attractions in Iowa. Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino has been a major local employer and community fixture since the 1980s. Most residential areas sit along 1st Avenue SE and the streets that branch off it, with newer development on the east and south edges of the city. We also serve homeowners in nearby Norwalk and across the metro in Des Moines - if your address is just outside Altoona's city limits, you are still in our service area.
Professional foundation repair to protect your home's structural integrity.
Learn morePrecision tuckpointing to renew deteriorating mortar joints in brick and stone.
Learn moreSkilled brick repair services that restore damaged or deteriorating brickwork.
Learn moreDurable retaining wall construction to manage slopes and prevent erosion.
Learn moreComprehensive masonry restoration to bring aging structures back to life.
Learn moreCustom fireplace installation crafted with quality masonry materials.
Learn moreBeautiful stone veneer installation to elevate your home's exterior or interior.
Learn moreSolid concrete block wall construction for residential and commercial projects.
Learn moreStrong foundation block wall installation built to code and built to last.
Learn moreCustom outdoor kitchen masonry for functional, elegant backyard living spaces.
Learn moreBeautiful walkway construction using brick, stone, or paver materials.
Learn moreProfessional brick wall installation for fences, enclosures, and landscaping.
Learn moreNatural stone masonry work combining timeless beauty with lasting durability.
Learn moreBrick pointing services that seal and reinforce mortar joints to prevent water damage.
Learn moreServing these cities and communities.
DEM Des Moines Masonry serves all of Altoona, IA. Call us today or request a free estimate online and we will respond within 1 business day.