Hoboken is roughly a square mile of dense, walkable city on the Hudson River, and most of it is built up with nineteenth and early twentieth century rowhouses, brownstones and brick walk-ups. Buildings stand shoulder to shoulder, stoops step down right onto the sidewalk, and many have a garden level apartment below the street. Add the fact that much of the city is low-lying and prone to flooding in heavy storms, and you get a clear picture of the masonry work Hoboken needs.
Stoops built for the long haul
Hoboken stoops take constant traffic, salt every winter and water pooling at their base. Brownstone and concrete stoops crack and scale, side walls open up and railings work loose. We repair what can be saved and rebuild what cannot. Our concrete steps and stoop rebuilds are formed to fit the building line and the sidewalk grade, with new railings anchored into solid material.
Facades and brick
Brick fronts and side walls on older buildings often have eroded mortar, cracked lintels and loose brick at the cornice and window openings. Water that gets into the wall freezes, expands and does more damage each winter. We repoint with a mortar suited to old brick, rebuild loose sections and repair brownstone trim through careful historic masonry restoration, so the facade stays true to the building.
Basements and garden apartments
Low ground and a high water table mean many Hoboken basements and garden units fight dampness. Cracks in old foundation walls, failed joints at the base of the stoop and areaways that drain poorly all let water in. We seal cracks with targeted crack repair, rebuild damaged areaway walls and recommend basement waterproofing where seepage is ongoing. We are clear that waterproofing deals with groundwater and seepage. Surface flooding from the street is a separate problem.
Backyards
Hoboken rear yards are small and enclosed by walls and fences. A paver or concrete patio with a proper pitch and a drain point turns a damp corner into usable space and keeps water away from the back wall.
Working in Hoboken
- Permits and historic areas. Stoop, sidewalk and facade work may require city approval, and some blocks have historic review.
- Shared walls. Repointing or rebuilding near a property line affects neighbors, so we coordinate ahead.
- Tight streets. Parking is scarce. We plan deliveries, debris removal and any street permits in advance.
- Weather windows. Masonry needs temperatures above freezing to cure, so exterior work is best from spring through fall.
Hoboken is part of our Hudson County service area, alongside neighboring Jersey City and Union City. Schedule a free estimate and we will come look at your stoop, facade or basement.
