Masonry · Bergen County
Masonry in Edgewater, NJ
Our first masonry job in Edgewater was a Palisades-side retaining wall above River Road, 2015 — the original had rotated outward after years of frost heave behind a failed drain line. We pulled it apart, poured a fresh footing below frost, and rebuilt with geogrid reinforcement plus proper drain tile. Most Edgewater masonry work follows that pattern: retaining structures on the cliffside lots where soil load and water are the real engineering problem.
20Min from yardEdgewater, NJ
20-min drive
From our Garfield yard
24-hour estimate
Written, no obligation
Bergen County
Edgewater, NJ
Licensed & insured
NJ #13VH10343500
About working in Edgewater
What Edgewater masonry actually looks like
Site conditions, housing stock, and the kinds of projects we get called for in this town — the local context behind our estimates and recommendations.
Housing stock & neighborhoods
Pre-war single-family on the cliffs above the Hudson, newer condo and townhome developments along River Road, and a small pocket of older homes near the borough hall. Most common asks here: Engineered retaining walls on cliffside lots; Bluestone walkways and front-step work; Stone veneer on newer construction; Paver driveways on steeper grades.
What we build
Masonry — what's included
Stone walls, retaining walls, chimney work, and structural repair across Northern New Jersey.
- Dry-laid and mortared stacked stone walls
- Engineered segmental retaining walls with proper backfill and drain tile
- Chimney rebuilds, crown caps, and flashing repair
- Stone cheek walls, columns, and mailbox pillars
How we build it
Masonry — start to finish
The four stages we run on every masonry job. Same workflow whether it's a small fix or a full install.
1
Walk the site
We measure, check grade and drainage, and ask what you want the finished wall to do. Photos go in the file the same day.
2
Footing and base
Footing dug below the 36-inch frost line. Compacted base course of 3/4-inch clean for segmental walls; reinforced concrete footing for mortared.
3
Lay the wall
Stones picked for face, hearting tied in behind. Drain tile, gravel backfill, and filter fabric on the retained side as the wall comes up.
4
Cap and clean
Cap course mortared or pinned. Joints tooled, faces brushed, site swept. Walkthrough on the last day.
Edgewater questions
About masonry work in Edgewater
7 questions — the trade fundamentals plus the ones we hear most in this area.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
In most Northern NJ townships we work in, walls over 4 feet of retained height need a permit and a stamped engineering drawing. Anything below that is usually permit-exempt but still has to meet setback rules. We check with your township before we quote.
How long does a stone wall last?
A properly footed dry-laid wall is a 50+ year structure. A mortared wall is similar provided drainage is correct. The failure mode is almost always water — freeze/thaw behind the wall — which is why we put as much work into drain tile and backfill as we do into the face.
Can you match a wall I already have?
Yes. We'll pull a stone from the existing wall to match material at the yard, and mortar joints are tooled to the same profile and color. The new section reads as part of the original wall, not a patch.
What's the price difference between dry-laid and mortared?
Dry-laid is typically 15–25% more labor per linear foot because the fit has to work without mortar. Mortared walls cost more in material (footing, rebar, mortar) but go faster in the field. Your estimate breaks the choice out so you can compare apples to apples.
LocalWhy do Edgewater retaining walls need engineered drawings?
Palisades grade. Walls over 4 ft of retained height on the slope side of River Road carry real soil load, not decorative fill. The borough requires engineered drawings before issuing a permit. We prepare the structural package as part of the estimate; the engineering review adds 2 to 3 weeks to the timeline.
LocalCan you tie stone veneer into an Edgewater retaining wall face?
Yes. We build the structural core first — mortared block, drain tile, frost-protected footing — let it cure, then apply the veneer over a proper substrate. The cap detail at the top of the wall determines whether the install holds for thirty years. Water management above the wall is the part most installs skip.
LocalDo you do work along the River Road condo strip?
For retaining and hardscape on adjacent lots, yes. The condo cladding itself is usually handled by the developer's general contractor. Backyard patios on the houses above the cliffs are a common ask, and we can integrate those with any retaining or stone-veneer work in the same project.
More services in Edgewater
What else we build in Edgewater.
Same crew, same warranty. Click any service to see scope and process for Edgewater specifically.
Free Estimate · Edgewater, NJ
Ready to talk through your masonry project in Edgewater?
We're 20 minutes from your door. Tell us what you're building and we'll walk the site, check footings and drainage, and leave you a written estimate within 24 hours.
- Site visit booked within 24–48 hours
- 5-year written workmanship warranty
- Licensed (NJ #13VH10343500), insured, family-owned
Or call for a fast quote(973) 272-5869