Hillsdale sits in the Pascack Valley in northern Bergen County, with a commuter rail stop near its small downtown and quiet residential blocks spreading out on either side. Most of the housing is single family: older Colonials and bungalows closer to the center, then the split-levels, Capes and ranches that filled in the borough after the war. Lots are a comfortable suburban size, big enough for a real patio but not so large that every project turns into an estate job.
Where the entry starts
On a lot of Hillsdale homes the front steps were the last thing anyone thought about. Builders poured a plain concrete stoop, set a pipe rail and moved on. Decades later those steps have pulled away from the foundation, the top landing is cracked and the railing wobbles. We tear them out and rebuild on a proper footing, then face them in brick or stone veneer with bluestone treads. Our concrete steps page explains the options in more detail.
Walkways that make sense
Many houses here have a driveway on one side and a narrow concrete path from the sidewalk straight to the door. Families end up walking from the car across the grass. A new paver or bluestone walk from the driveway to the stoop fixes that and dresses up the front yard at the same time. We build patios and walkways on a compacted stone base with edge restraint so they stay level through winter.
Backyards in the Pascack Valley
Hillsdale backyards tend to be fairly flat with mature trees along the property lines. That makes them good candidates for a paver patio off the back door, often with a short seating wall or a fire pit. Tree roots are the main thing to plan around, and we lay out the patio so excavation stays clear of the biggest ones.
A few things we check on every Hillsdale job:
- How water moves across the yard after a storm, so the new surface does not send it toward the basement
- Whether the borough needs to review the work before it starts
- Where the sewer cleanout, gas meter and downspouts sit relative to the new layout
Nearby and next steps
We also work in neighboring Westwood and Woodcliff Lake, along with the rest of Bergen County. If your entry or backyard is overdue for an upgrade, request a free estimate and we will come measure and talk through the choices.
