Butler is a compact borough in the northern corner of Morris County, with an older downtown and a rail line running through it. It developed as a mill and factory town, and much of its housing reflects that: modest single family homes and a few two family houses, many built before the Second World War, on lots that are narrow by Morris County standards. Side streets climb the hills away from the center, so plenty of homes sit a few feet above the sidewalk.
Porches and front steps
A lot of Butler houses were built with front porches, and after many decades the masonry under them is often the weak point. Block piers settle, concrete steps crack where they meet the porch, and railings pull loose. Because we do porch framing and roofing as well as masonry, we can rebuild the base, the concrete steps and the porch structure as one coordinated job. That avoids the common problem of new steps that no longer line up with an old porch floor.
Foundations, parging and block repair
Older block and stone foundations here often have cracked or missing parging, leaking window wells and small cracks that let in water. Our masonry repair covers relaying loose block, rebuilding window wells, patching stone and applying fresh parging so the foundation sheds water again.
Driveways and walks on small lots
Narrow driveways that run tight along the house are common in Butler. When the concrete there fails, water can end up against the foundation. We set the new slab to pitch away from the house and toward the street. Short front walks get the same attention: a level, broom finished walk from the sidewalk to the steps is one of the simplest safety upgrades on an older home.
A short checklist for Butler homeowners
- Look at where your steps meet the house. A gap there usually means the footing has moved.
- Check for parging that sounds hollow when tapped.
- Watch where water goes during a heavy rain, especially along the driveway.
- Ask the borough building department whether your project needs a permit. We can handle the paperwork.
Butler borders Kinnelon and Riverdale, and we serve towns across Morris County. To get a plan for your steps, porch or driveway, ask for a free estimate.
