Tenafly is a borough in the eastern part of Bergen County, and its landscape changes as you move across it. Near the downtown and the old train station, streets are lined with Victorians, colonials and early twentieth century homes on moderate lots. Heading east, the ground rises toward the Palisades, lots get larger and more wooded, and rock is never far below the surface. Many Tenafly homes sit above the street, so getting from the sidewalk to the front door is often the first project.
Long climbs to the front door
When a house sits well above the road, the front steps carry a lot of load and a lot of weather. Old concrete runs crack, treads tilt and railings loosen. We rebuild tall concrete steps on deep footings, break long climbs with landings and finish them in brick, stone veneer or bluestone with sturdy railings.
Holding back the hill
Sloped front and back yards mean retaining walls, and older ones are often dry stacked stone or unreinforced block that has started to lean. Our retaining walls are built with a compacted base, drainage stone and a pipe behind the wall. Taller walls may need engineering and a permit from the borough, and we let you know where that line falls.
Rock and roots
The higher ground in Tenafly brings two kinds of surprises during excavation: ledge rock and large tree roots. Our approach:
- probe the area before committing to a layout
- adjust step and wall locations to avoid major roots
- pin or set footings on sound rock where we meet it
- leave spoils and stone off-site rather than in your woods
Shaded, wooded lots on the hillside also stay damp longer after rain. On walkways and landings there we favor textured bluestone or pavers with a slightly rough face, which keeps footing better when moss and wet leaves are around.
Older homes near the center
The Victorians and colonials closer to downtown have their own needs: worn mortar, porch piers, original brick walks. Careful historic masonry restoration keeps those details intact, using mortar and brick that suit the age of the house.
Tenafly borders Cresskill and Englewood, and we take projects across Bergen County. Request a free estimate and we will look at the slope with you.
