Verona is a mostly residential township in the middle of Essex County, west of Montclair. Its homes are largely colonials, capes, Tudors and ranches from the 1920s through the 1960s, on lots that are a bit roomier than in the towns to the east. The terrain rolls throughout, and the land rises steeply in the neighborhoods closer to the Watchung ridges. Many yards were shaped decades ago with stone or timber walls that are now reaching the end of their life.
Replacing walls that have done their time
Old walls in Verona tend to fail in familiar ways: dry-laid stone that has bulged forward, timber that has rotted, and short block walls built with no drainage behind them. When a wall starts to lean, it rarely straightens itself. We remove the failing structure and build a new retaining wall on a compacted base with drainage pipe and clean stone backfill.
What a wall replacement involves
A typical replacement on a Verona lot runs in this order:
- excavate the old wall and the soil behind it
- set a level, compacted gravel footing
- lay the first course below grade
- build up with drainage stone and pipe behind each course
- cap the wall and regrade the top so water runs off
Steps on rolling lots
Front doors in Verona often sit a few feet above the street, and side yards change level along the house. We build concrete steps and stone or block steps set into walls, with landings and railings where the rise calls for them.
Patios, walks and cracked concrete
Once the grade is under control, a patio is easy to add. Paver and stamped concrete patios and walkways are popular here. For older slabs and foundation walls with cracks, we repair what can be saved before building around it.
Approvals and timing
The township building department may require permits for walls, steps and larger patios. Spring and fall are ideal for wall work, when the soil is not frozen or baked hard.
Verona borders Cedar Grove and Montclair, and we serve all of Essex County. To deal with a failing wall or slope, schedule a free estimate.
