Cliffside Park sits on the narrow ridge of the Palisades between Fort Lee and Fairview, with high-rises along the cliff edge and blocks of two-family houses, row-style homes and small walk-ups behind them. Lots are tight, many houses sit right at the sidewalk, and streets running toward the river can be steep. That density makes masonry here very different from the leafy suburbs a few miles west.
The stoop is the front yard
On many Cliffside Park properties the stoop, a short wall and a strip of concrete make up the entire front of the house. When those pieces fail, the whole building looks tired, and loose steps become a real hazard for tenants and visitors.
We rebuild stoops in brick, block with stone veneer or poured concrete steps, add bluestone or concrete treads, and finish with railings. Front yard walls get new footings and caps through our masonry construction and repair work.
Working on a steep, crowded street
A small site can take more planning than a big one. On jobs here we think about:
- Where materials can be staged when there is no driveway
- Grade changes between the sidewalk and the door, especially on sloping blocks
- Shared walls and walks with the house next door
- Tenant access, so people can still get in and out during the work
Concrete and walkways
Side walks between buildings and the public sidewalk out front take constant traffic and salt. Where the surface is flaking but the slab is solid, resurfacing is an option. Broken or heaved slabs get removed and repoured with proper pitch so water drains away from the building and does not freeze on the walk.
Facades and stucco
Plenty of buildings in town combine brick, stone and stucco on the front. We repoint brick, replace loose veneer and repair or refinish stucco so the facade sheds water properly again.
Permits
Steps, walls and anything touching the public sidewalk may need approval from the borough. We check with the building department and handle what is required.
We serve Cliffside Park as part of Bergen County, along with neighboring Fairview and Fort Lee. Get a free estimate and we will measure the site.
