Westwood is a borough in the Pascack Valley with a busy, walkable downtown and a train station that has anchored the town for generations. The blocks closest to the center hold older homes, Victorians, four-squares and early colonials with porches and brick foundations. Farther out, the housing turns to capes, colonials and split-levels from the postwar decades. Pascack Brook runs through the borough, and its lower areas have seen flooding in heavy storms. That mix of ages and terrain means two Westwood projects on the same day can look very different.
Steps that match the era of the house
On an older home near downtown, brick steps with stone or bluestone treads and simple black railings fit the period. On a 1950s cape, the same idea works with a cleaner profile. Either way, we build concrete steps on a solid footing and face them in brick or stone so they hold up to salt and frost.
Brick that needs attention
Older foundations, porch piers and chimneys in Westwood often have eroded mortar joints. Tuckpointing and repointing restores them before water causes bigger damage, using mortar that suits the age and hardness of the brick.
Porches on the older homes near downtown are part of the street’s character. When the masonry under a porch fails, we rebuild piers and steps to match, and we can also handle porch framing and roofing so one crew sees the job through.
Walks and patios
Front walks and backyard patios are the most common hardscape requests here. Choices we help homeowners weigh:
- pavers versus stamped concrete for the front walk
- straight lines for a formal colonial or curves for a cape
- patio size relative to a modest yard
- color choices that suit brick, siding and roofing
On a modest backyard, a patio that runs the width of the house and stops short of the lawn usually feels right. Pairing it with a narrow walk to the driveway or garage keeps everyday traffic off the grass.
Low ground near the brook
On lower streets, drainage matters as much as looks. A patio or walk must slope away from the house, and downspouts should discharge well clear of the foundation. If water still gets in, we look at basement waterproofing options matched to the source.
Westwood borders Hillsdale and Emerson, and we serve the whole of Bergen County. Book a free estimate for your Westwood home and we will come take a look.
