Hillside is an older inner-ring township bordering Newark, Elizabeth and Union. Its neighborhoods are dense and established, with brick colonials, Tudors, Cape Cods and plenty of two-family homes built mostly in the 1920s through the 1950s. Lots are small to moderate, front yards are short, and many homes sit a few steps above the sidewalk on brick or concrete stoops.
Brick that has seen a century of weather
Brick is everywhere in Hillside: house walls, stoops, porch piers, garden walls and chimneys. The brick itself usually outlasts the mortar. Once joints wear thin, water gets in, freezes and starts pushing brick loose. Tuckpointing cuts out the failed mortar and replaces it with a mix suited to older brick. Where pillars or wall sections have already shifted, we take them down and rebuild them with masonry repair that matches the existing color and bond.
Stoops close to the sidewalk
Because homes sit near the street, the stoop is the face of the house. Common problems are cracked concrete treads, brick caps working loose and railings rusting out of their anchors. We rebuild stoops in brick with bluestone treads or in poured concrete, set new railings into solid masonry and tie the bottom step neatly into the public walk.
Chimneys and roof lines
Many Hillside homes still have their original brick chimneys. The top courses and the crown take the worst of the weather. We repoint, rebuild from the roofline up when needed and pour new crowns. We also handle roofing and porch roofs if the work around the chimney calls for it.
Concrete driveways and walks
Driveways here tend to be narrow and shared or bordered closely by the neighbor’s house. We replace them in concrete or asphalt, pitch them to drain to the street and repair sidewalk slabs that the town may flag.
Good questions to ask
- Is the problem the brick, the mortar or the base underneath?
- Does the work touch the public sidewalk?
- Are there railings that need to meet current code?
Hillside sits beside Union and Elizabeth, and we serve the rest of Union County as well. For a stoop, brick or chimney repair, book your free estimate.
