Rahway is a small city in southern Union County, built along the Rahway River with a walkable downtown and a train station. Its housing is a mix of late 1800s and early 1900s single-family homes, two-family houses, and postwar Cape Cods and colonials farther from the center. Lots are mostly small, homes sit close to the sidewalk, and low ground near the river has flooded in major storms.
Foundations and basements first
Older Rahway homes stand on fieldstone, brick or early block foundations. Those walls hold up well for a long time, but the mortar joints wear and hairline cracks open. Add a river city’s high water table and heavy storms, and damp basements are common. We start by finding how water gets in, then repair the wall with foundation repair such as crack sealing, repointing or rebuilding damaged sections.
Outside, a stone veneer or parged finish protects the exposed part of the wall and makes an old foundation look clean. Inside, basement waterproofing helps where the walls themselves let water through.
Stoops and sidewalks
Close-to-the-street homes mean the stoop and public walk get heavy use. Brick stoops lose their caps, concrete steps crack and sidewalk slabs heave. We rebuild stoops in concrete, brick or stone and replace sidewalk sections so they sit flush with the neighbors and the curb.
Driveways on narrow lots
Driveways here are often a single lane between houses. We replace them in concrete or asphalt and pitch them toward the street so water does not collect against either foundation.
Rahway checklist
- Flood zone rules may apply to grading and some structures near the river.
- City permits may be needed for steps, sidewalks and aprons.
- Downspouts should discharge well away from the foundation, not onto a walk.
- Two-family homes need access planning for both units.
Rahway is next to Clark and Linden, and we serve every town in Union County. For foundation or stoop work, request a free estimate.
