Union County is small on the map but holds a wide mix of homes. Elizabeth, Linden and Rahway have dense blocks of brick and frame multi-family houses close to the city streets. Westfield, Cranford, Fanwood and Roselle Park are classic railroad suburbs with colonials and Tudors from the early and middle 1900s. Summit, New Providence and Berkeley Heights climb toward the Watchung ridge. Most of the housing is decades old, and the steps, driveways and walkways show it.
Projects we do most in Union County
Front steps and porches. Union County entries take a lot of weather and a lot of foot traffic. We replace cracked and sinking steps with new brick, stone or concrete steps and add bluestone treads and code-compliant railings.
Driveways and aprons. Many older homes have narrow driveways with broken slabs or worn asphalt. We remove and replace driveways in concrete or asphalt, or upgrade to pavers, and rebuild the apron to meet the street cleanly.
Sidewalks and walkways. On streets lined with mature trees, roots lift sidewalk slabs and front walks. We replace damaged sections and can redo the front walk in pavers, stamped concrete or bluestone.
Repointing and brick repair. Older brick homes and multi-family buildings in Elizabeth, Roselle and Hillside often need repointing, chimney repairs and fixes around steps where brick has loosened.
Patios. Backyards here are usually modest in size, so a well-planned patio or walkway that fits the space and drains properly makes the most of it.
The Rahway River and basement water
The Rahway River runs through the middle of the county, and towns along it, especially Cranford, Springfield, Kenilworth and Rahway, have seen serious flooding in major storms. Elizabeth and Linden sit low near the Arthur Kill and Newark Bay. Even away from the river, older foundations with aging block or stone walls can let water in during heavy rain. Our approach starts with finding the source, then fixing it with crack repair, waterproofing or better grading and downspout routing.
Good to know before you start
- Each town has its own permit office. Steps, driveway aprons and retaining walls are handled differently from one town to the next. We check the local requirements for your address.
- Sidewalks usually fall to the owner. Many Union County towns expect homeowners to repair the sidewalk in front of their property, and some issue notices when slabs are raised.
- Flood zone properties. If your home is in a mapped flood area, additional review can apply to certain exterior work. It is worth checking before the design is final.
- Plan around the season. Concrete and mortar cure best in moderate weather. Scheduling your estimate early in the year helps secure a spot in spring.
Union County towns we serve
We work all over the county, including Elizabeth, Union, Westfield, Summit, Linden, Rahway, Plainfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Clark, Kenilworth, Roselle, Roselle Park, Hillside, Springfield, Mountainside, New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Garwood.
Have steps, a driveway or a patio on your list? Request your free estimate today.
