Little Ferry is a small borough in the Meadowlands section of southern Bergen County, bounded by the Hackensack River on one side. It is almost entirely flat and low. Homes are mostly modest single family houses and two-families on narrow lots, many built in the middle of the last century. The ground under them is the main story: soft, wet soils left from the old marsh mean concrete behaves differently here than it does in the hills up north.
What soft ground does to concrete
Walkways tilt toward the house. Front steps drop an inch or two and open a gap at the foundation. Driveway slabs crack into pieces. None of this is unusual in Little Ferry, and it is rarely the concrete’s fault. The cause is almost always a shallow base sitting on soil that keeps compressing.
When we replace a slab or walkway, we dig deeper, remove soft material where we can, and build up compacted stone before we pour. Steps get a proper footing. For smaller problems, our concrete repair and resurfacing and crack repair work can extend the life of a slab that is still sound.
Slabs, porches and stoops
A lot of Little Ferry houses have a concrete front porch slab or a small stoop right at the sidewalk. Replacing one is a quick way to change how the house looks from the street. We pitch every new slab so water runs off toward the yard rather than sitting against the siding.
Keeping water out of the basement
High groundwater and heavy storms make damp basements common in low lying towns. Before any outdoor project, we look at where downspouts discharge and how the yard is graded. If water is already coming through the walls, our basement waterproofing team can look at the foundation too.
Practical notes for Little Ferry
- Small lots mean careful staging so the sidewalk stays passable.
- Flood zone rules may affect grading, so we check first.
- Pavers on a deep base are often the easiest surface to repair later.
Nearby towns
We also work in Moonachie, Ridgefield Park and across Bergen County. For a look at a sinking walk or a tired stoop, ask for a free estimate.
