Expert Masonry Contractor in Johnston - Retaining Walls Built for Iowa Clay and Frost

Johnston has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa for two decades, which means its housing stock spans a wider range than many suburbs. Older ranch homes built in the 1970s and 1980s sit a few streets away from newer two-story subdivision homes from the 2000s and 2010s. Homes in the older range are now 20 to 50 years old - the exact window when roofing, insulation, and masonry elements installed at original construction need their first major attention. Johnston's frost line reaches about 42 inches deep in a hard Iowa winter, and concrete, block walls, and foundation perimeters that were not built with sufficient footing depth have been working against that frost every season since they were installed. The cumulative effect shows up as cracked driveways, shifting block walls, and bowing basement sections on older properties throughout the city.

Clay soil is the consistent underlying issue across all of Johnston's housing ages. The heavy clay soil under most of central Iowa absorbs water when it rains and expands, then shrinks during the dry stretches of summer. Johnston gets intense summer storms - significant rainfall in short bursts that saturates clay soil faster than it can drain. For homes with sloped lots, that means runoff and erosion. For homes with flat lots, it often means hydrostatic pressure building against basement walls. The brick veneer that is common on the front facades of Johnston homes from the 1980s onward adds another layer of concern - the mortar joints in that veneer are a primary entry point for moisture once the original mortar starts to fail, and in Iowa's climate, that failure comes faster than most homeowners expect.

Johnston is a city of about 24,000 people sitting just northwest of Des Moines, and it has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa for the past two decades. Families consistently move to Johnston for the Johnston Community School District, one of the largest in Iowa by enrollment - which means there is always a steady flow of new homeowners settling in and starting to learn what their house needs. Most homes in Johnston are single-family detached houses with attached two-car garages and full basements. The housing stock spans from older ranch homes built in the 1970s and 1980s to newer two-story subdivision homes from the 2000s and beyond. Homes in the older range have reached the point where original roofing, mechanical systems, and masonry features need attention. Newer homes are hitting the 15-to-20-year mark, when the first significant maintenance needs start to show.

Merle Hay Road is the main north-south corridor through the city, connecting Johnston to Des Moines and carrying most of the commercial traffic. Johnston Town Center sits along that corridor and serves as the city's primary retail and community hub. The Iowa National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters at Camp Dodge is one of the most visible institutions in Johnston, employing thousands of people in the area. The western and northern edges of the city still have a more open character, with larger lots and some rural-feeling properties mixed in among the newer subdivisions. If you are in a neighboring community, we also work regularly in Waukee and in Des Moines.