Outdoor Kitchens
Plan an outdoor kitchen around how you cook, entertain, store essentials, and move between the house, patio, dining, and gathering areas.
Masonry for Chatham Township and Chatham Borough
Chatham is two municipalities, and we work in both. Many Chatham projects start with a change in grade: a sloped backyard that needs a level patio, a front lawn that falls toward the street, or an old wall that has started to lean. We build segmental and stone retaining walls, paver patios, walkways, masonry steps, and driveways, and we can plan outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and pool patios as part of the same layout.
Retaining walls: start with what the wall holds back
A retaining wall is a structure, not just a garden border. Its height, the soil behind it, any driveway or patio above it, and the way water drains through it all shape the design. If an existing wall is bulging, cracking, or tilting, the cause is usually below the surface, so we assess drainage and the base before suggesting a repair or a rebuild. Taller walls may also need an engineered design.
Walkways, steps, and patios that fit together
A walkway, landing, and set of steps should meet at comfortable heights and shed water away from the house. When a patio is added in the backyard, plan the route from the door, the furniture layout, and where runoff will go. Planning these pieces together avoids awkward transitions later.
Chatham permits
In Chatham Township, the zoning permit application lists patios, retaining walls, and driveways, and construction permits cannot be filed until zoning is approved. In Chatham Borough, the Planning, Zoning & Construction office handles zoning review, while building permits are issued through Madison. Confirm what applies to your address before work begins.
Common question: can a wall and a patio be built in one project?
Yes, and on a sloped lot it is often the better approach. The wall, patio base, steps, and drainage are designed as one system, and the estimate can still price each part separately.