Cheers! To Building Community for 140 Years!

Building for 140 Years!

At King’s Material, we understand what we build is about more than the backyard. Or the driveway, community building, and firepit. It’s about building places to connect. To learn. To get away – with good friends and family.

We are proud to be a part of bringing people together for 140 years!

Explore more about our history of building community.

1882 1882
1930s 1930s
1935 1935
Early 1970s Early 1970s
1978 1978
1978 1978
1979 1979
1981 1981
1988 1988
1994 1994
2000 2000
2021 2021
2022 2022

1882

William King founded King’s Crown Plaster Co. with the company’s operations focused on dredging sand out of the Cedar River to make plaster.

1930s

The company entered the “new” ready-mix concrete industry.

1935

The first known sale of ready-mix concrete was made in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At $6.50 a cubic yard, the price was considered outrageous.

Early 1970s

King’s and Builder’s Material, a masonry supply and ready-mix company, merged to create Kings-Builder’s Material Inc.

1978

Kings-Builder’s Material Inc. was purchased by Charles P. Rohde (C.P. Rohde).

1978

Company name changed to King’s Concrete Inc.

1979

C.P. Rohde purchased multiple concrete block companies while continuing in the ready-mix industry.

1981

C.P. Rohde acquired Iowa and Illinois Concrete Products and renamed the company in its entirety to King’s Material, as it’s known today.

1988

Charles A. Rohde (son of Charles P. Rohde) was named president of King’s Material and continues in that role today.

1994

Constructed a state-of-the-art ready-mix plant at 355 50th Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids.

2000

King’s Material moved Iowa/Illinois Concrete to a new location in Eldridge, Iowa.

2021

Added a location in Waukee, Iowa

2022

King’s Material celebrates 140 years!

Building Our Team.

Our talented people are the foundation of our company. They exude knowledge and experience. Get to know some of them here.

Building Community

For 140 years, our company has been committed to building community. Not only through pavers, ready-mix, and brick, but through our dollars and volunteer hours. King's Material is committed to giving back to the many non-profit organizations within the communities in which we work and play.

Celebrate With Us!

Share a King's Material story.

Or send us a note about a memory from the last 140 years.