East Rutherford is a borough of two halves. The eastern side runs into the Meadowlands, home to the stadium complex, highways and commercial land. The residential neighborhoods sit on the western side, next to Rutherford, with blocks of older colonials, brick-front homes and two-family houses on narrow lots. That older housing stock drives most of the masonry work in town.
Brick that needs care
Many houses here have brick fronts, brick stoops or brick chimneys that have been through many decades of winters. Mortar is designed to wear out before the brick does, but once joints open, water gets in and freezes behind the face.
Tuckpointing and repointing means grinding out the failed mortar to an even depth and packing new mortar matched in color and strength. On older soft brick we avoid overly hard mixes that can crack the brick itself.
Stoops and side entries
Two-family homes in East Rutherford often have both a front stoop and a side entry off the driveway. Both get heavy use and both are usually poured concrete or brick on a shallow base. When they crack or tilt, we rebuild them on proper footings as concrete steps or brick with bluestone treads.
Driveways close to the low ground
Closer to the Meadowlands the soil gets softer and wetter. Driveways and walks there need a deeper base, and we pay attention to where water ends up so it does not pool against the house or the garage.
Basement and foundation checks
Older foundations in town are often stone, brick or block. Cracks, efflorescence and seepage after storms are common. Our approach:
- Find where water is entering and why
- Correct gutters, leaders and grading where possible
- Seal or repair the crack from the appropriate side
- Recommend waterproofing only where the first steps are not enough
Coordinating with neighbors
Shared driveways and attached walls are common on these blocks. We talk through access and timing with you before starting, and we can meet a neighbor at the property if the work affects a shared space.
East Rutherford is part of our Bergen County coverage, close to Rutherford and Carlstadt. Schedule a free estimate to get started.
