Ridgewood is one of the older and more established villages in northwest Bergen County. Its streets are lined with mature trees and homes from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries: center-hall Colonials, Tudors with brick and stone details, Victorians with deep porches, and plenty of later homes built to fit in. Masonry on houses like these is part of the architecture, so the work has to respect what is already there.
Restoring older brick and stone
Brick and stone on early twentieth century homes was often laid with softer mortar than modern mixes. Repointing with a hard, modern mortar can trap moisture and damage the brick face. Our historic masonry restoration work starts by looking at the original materials, then matches the mortar color, strength and joint profile so the repair blends in. We rebuild damaged sections of walls, steps and garden walls with brick or stone selected to match.
Chimneys and fireplaces
Older Ridgewood homes often have tall brick chimneys and working fireplaces. The top of the chimney takes the most weather, and cracked crowns, missing mortar and loose brick are common. We repair crowns, repoint, rebuild upper courses and restore fireplace surrounds through our chimney and fireplace masonry service.
Entries, driveways and patios
A front entry on a Tudor or Colonial calls for materials that suit the house. Brick paver walks, bluestone landings and stone veneer steps fit well with older facades. Paver driveways in clay-toned or tumbled finishes, edged with a darker border, are a popular way to replace cracked asphalt while matching the brick of the home.
Behind the house, larger lots give room for a full patio with seating walls and an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. Natural stone and bluestone pair well with mature landscaping, and we lay out patios to work around established trees and their roots.
Garden walls and walkway edging are worth mentioning as well. Many older properties have low brick or stone walls along the front yard or driveway that have leaned or lost mortar. We reset and repoint them, or rebuild them on a new footing, using stone and brick that match what is already there. Our stone masonry and brickwork service also covers new veneer on foundations and garages.
Considerations for Ridgewood homes
- Respect the original work. We repair before we replace, and we match materials rather than introduce new ones that clash.
- Village approvals. Some projects need review by the village. Homes in historic areas may face added steps for exterior changes. We help you find out early.
- Protect the trees. Mature roots affect where excavation can go, which we account for in the design.
- Plan masonry for mild weather. Lime-based and traditional mortars need moderate temperatures to cure well.
Ridgewood is one of the Bergen County towns we serve, close to Fair Lawn and Paramus. Schedule a free estimate and we will look at the house with you.
