Linn County Courthouse Exterior Restoration

The Problem

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The Linn County Courthouse is one of Cedar Rapids’ most recognizable public landmarks. Completed in 1925, the Beaux‑Arts courthouse sits on May’s Island in the middle of the Cedar River and features limestone balustrades, carved piers and decorative masonry. After nearly a century of exposure to freezing and thawing cycles, the exterior had begun to fail. Stone balustrades and precast components on the plaza were cracked or spalled and joints had opened up. Portions of the limestone piers flanking the central stairs were disintegrating and threatened to fall. Water infiltration through deteriorated mortar joints at cornices, belt courses and other façade elements accelerated deterioration and posed safety risks. Without intervention, this civic landmark’s appearance and structural integrity would continue to decline.

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Our Approach

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Working under a single‑prime contract with Linn County and Design Dynamics, TnT Tuckpointing & Building Restoration designed a restoration program that respected the building’s historic character while solving the underlying problems.

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• ‍Selective demolition and documentation – We carefully dismantled the existing plaza balustrades and precast components, numbering each piece for reuse. Damaged precast units and cut‑stone pieces were removed, and salvaged material was stored for reinstallation.

• ‍Custom fabrication of stone and cast‑stone elements – Replacement balusters, pier stones, and caps were fabricated from high‑grade Indiana limestone to match the color, texture, and profiles of the original balustrades. Suppliers submitted samples and detailed shop drawings showing joint arrangements, anchor locations, and carving details. Architectural cast‑stone units were manufactured using Portland cement and carefully selected aggregates to replicate natural stone and meet ASTM requirements.

• ‍Rebuilding and anchoring – Using the approved shop drawings, our masons reconstructed the balustrades and plaza piers. Each new limestone or cast‑stone piece was anchored with stainless‑steel dowels, ties, and joint reinforcement, and numbered to ensure correct placement. Skilled carvers reproduced the courthouse’s ornamental details from templates taken from the original fabric.

• ‍Tuckpointing and joint sealing – On the building façade, we saw‑cut deteriorated mortar joints at cornices, belt courses, and other masonry courses, cleaned them, and repointed with a compatible mortar. Silicone and urethane sealants were installed at vertical and horizontal joints to prevent moisture infiltration. The work included tuckpointing any deteriorating joints on the building’s brick and stone façade.

• ‍Cleaning and protection – Once masonry repairs were complete, we cleaned the stone surfaces and applied protective sealants. Field adhesion tests ensured compatibility between the sealants and stone substrates. The restored plaza received new waterproofing where needed, and a final inspection verified that joints were watertight.

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