Glen Gardner is a small borough in northern Hunterdon County, set in a narrow valley along Spruce Run with steep wooded hillsides on either side. The village dates back to the 1800s, and many of its homes are older frame houses on compact lots, built into the side of the hill wherever there was room. The result is a town of tall front steps, stone walls along the sidewalk and driveways that drop sharply to the road.
On ground like this, getting from the street to the front door safely is the first priority.
Tall front steps and landings
Hillside homes in Glen Gardner often have a long climb to the entry. Old steps on these sites settle unevenly, the treads tip, and railings work loose. We rebuild front steps on footings below frost and break tall runs into shorter flights with landings. Brick risers with bluestone treads suit the older houses, and solid railings make the climb safer in winter.
Retaining walls along the street
Stone and block walls hold up many front yards in the borough, and plenty of them are leaning or bulging after decades of frost and runoff. We rebuild failing sections and add drainage behind them. When a wall holds back a lot of soil, we recommend an engineered retaining wall in segmental block or reinforced masonry with stone facing.
Foundations on sloped lots
Houses cut into a hill tend to have one foundation wall that acts as a retaining wall. That uphill side carries soil and water pressure, and it is where cracks and leaks show up first. We repair and repoint the wall, rebuild bowed sections, and improve drainage on the uphill side to take pressure off.
Small yard, small patio
Level ground is rare on these lots, so a patio usually means carving out a terrace with a short wall. Even a small paver or bluestone patio with a couple of steps can make a sloped backyard usable.
On a Glen Gardner job we plan for
- Steep access for materials and equipment
- Runoff coming down from the lot above
- Landings and railings on tall step runs
- Borough building department approval for walls and steps
Glen Gardner sits between Hampton and Lebanon Township. See our Hunterdon County page for every town we cover, or ask for a free estimate for your steps or wall.
