From historic brick restoration in Montclair to natural stone patios in Paramus, our masons combine traditional craft with modern engineering. We tuck-point, rebuild, and lay new stonework with proper drainage and frost-depth footings. Serving Clifton and neighborhoods like Athenia, Allwood, Botany Village.
Clifton masonry work is heavy on stoops, steps, and retaining walls, because so many mid-century Clifton lots were cut into a grade. The older block retaining walls we find here were built without weep holes or drainage stone, so they bow outward as water pressure builds behind them. A bowed wall is not repairable by patching the face; it gets rebuilt with proper drainage behind it.
In Botany Village and the older brick sections we do more restoration-style work: re-pointing with a softer, compatible mortar, rebuilding window sills, and replacing cracked steps with matched material. Sourcing brick that matches a 1920s Clifton facade takes a trip to a salvage yard, and we would rather do that than leave you with an obvious patch.
Clifton is one of our busiest masonry cities simply on volume: Athenia and Dutch Hill have older brick homes with lime mortar and original window sills, Allwood's split-levels sit on poured foundations with block retaining walls cut into sloped lots, and Botany Village has some of the oldest brick stock in the city. The retaining walls we see most in Clifton are older block or stone walls built without weep holes, now bowing as water pressure builds behind them from decades of runoff with nowhere to escape. Front stoops and areaway steps here also show heavy wear from sidewalk salt.
Clifton requires a construction permit for retaining wall rebuilds above the city's height threshold, stoop reconstruction that alters footprint or step count, and any lintel or structural brick repair. Cosmetic re-pointing typically doesn't require a permit on its own. Sidewalk and curb replacement along city rights-of-way is handled through the engineering division, which inspects forms before the pour and can require ADA-compliant ramp details at corner properties. Botany Village's older commercial-residential mix occasionally has additional site plan considerations for exterior work.
A single bowing retaining wall rebuild with proper drainage typically lands in the middle of the range depending on length and height; brick-matching work on an Athenia or Botany Village facade, which requires sourcing from a salvage yard rather than a supply house, adds cost but avoids an obvious patch. Straightforward step and stoop resurfacing on split-level entries in Allwood sits toward the lower end.
Price your own Clifton roof with our NJ cost calculatorDemolished a 35-foot block retaining wall that had bowed nearly four inches outward from decades of hydrostatic pressure with no weep holes or drainage stone behind it. Excavated, installed a footing, rebuilt with reinforced block, drainage stone backfill, filter fabric, and weep openings every four feet, then capped with cast stone. Five days, roughly $14,200.
Real tear-off, installation and finished roof photos from Alba Pro Construction crews working in Clifton and the surrounding North Jersey towns.
Completed replacement with tight valleys and crisp shingle lines.
Tear-off down to the deck with a dumpster set on site for clean removal.
Finished shingle field with clean courses and new chimney flashing.
Every price, permit note and roof problem on this page comes from masonry work our own crews have done in Clifton and around Passaic County.
Written and reviewed by the Alba Pro Construction roofing team. Last reviewed September 2026.
Our yard sits at 81 Jewell St in Garfield, roughly 3 miles out. Passaic County is daily driving for our crews.
Licensed NJ contractor, GAF certified, family run since 2004.
$2M Liability liability coverage, and we stay on the Clifton job through the municipal inspection.
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Alba Pro Construction handles masonry for homeowners in Clifton, NJ 07013 and the surrounding North Jersey towns. The comments below are authentic Google reviews of our work, shown word for word. We do not claim a reviewer lives in Clifton unless the review itself says so. See every Alba Pro review or read how we handle masonry across New Jersey.
"Alba Pro sets the gold standard for roofing contractors. Their attention to detail, adherence to safety protocols, and transparent line-item pricing put them miles ahead of the competition. The project manager kept us updated daily with photos and progress reports. Flawless execution from start to finish."
"Excellent work on the roof repair. They were punctual, explained every step, and left everything clean when they finished. We haven't had any leaks since the rain. Highly recommended"
"I recently had my roof completely replaced by this company, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. From the initial inspection and estimate to the final cleanup, the entire process was handled professionally and efficiently. The crew arrived on time, worked hard throughout the project, and paid attention to every detail. They kept me informed every step of the way and made sure all my questions were answered. The new roof looks fantastic, and the quality of the workmanship is evident. They left my property spotless when the job was completed, which I really appreciated., they definitely "
"I had an amazing experience with Alba Pro for our complete roof replacement. From the initial inspection to the final cleanup, the entire process was smooth and hassle-free. The crew was punctual, hardworking, and finished the project right on schedule. The craftsmanship is top-notch, and my new roof looks fantastic!"
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A bowing wall has water pressure behind it and no drainage path. Facing repairs will not stop it. Rebuilding with drainage stone, filter fabric, and weep holes is the durable fix.
In most cases yes. We source from regional yards and salvage suppliers to match color, size, and texture rather than installing a patch that reads as new from the street.
No — a bowing wall means water pressure has built up behind it with no drainage path, and patching the visible face doesn't relieve that pressure. It will keep moving and eventually fail structurally. The correct repair is rebuilding the wall with drainage stone, filter fabric, and weep holes so water passes through instead of pushing against it.
In most cases yes. We source matching brick from regional yards and salvage suppliers rather than installing stock brick from a home center, since 1920s Clifton brick has a specific color, size, and texture that off-the-shelf product doesn't replicate. It takes a bit longer to source but avoids a patch that's obviously visible from the street.
If the rebuild changes the stoop's footprint, step count, or requires new footings, yes, a construction permit is required. Minor resurfacing of existing steps without structural changes generally doesn't need one. We determine which category the job falls into during the estimate so the permit gets filed before demolition starts.