Serving Chester & Morris County
Driveways, asphalt, pavers, patios, stoops, retaining walls and foundation work for homes and businesses in Chester and across Morris County.
Three decades paving NJ properties
Fully licensed NJ contractor
Owner-led, hands-on projects
Written, no-obligation quotes
Chester, NJ
Quick answer
Old Irish Paving & Masonry is a family-owned, licensed and insured paving and masonry contractor serving Chester, NJ (Morris County) and nearby towns. We install and repair asphalt and paver driveways, patios, walkways, stoops, steps and retaining walls, and provide basement waterproofing and foundation repair. Estimates are free.
We’ve been paving and building in Morris County for more than three decades, and Chester (Chester Borough’s historic Main Street area and the larger rural lots of Chester Township) is part of our regular service area. Chester homes range from historic houses near Main Street to large custom homes on multi-acre lots in the township, many with long private driveways.
Chester’s hilly, rocky terrain means steep driveways, ledge rock close to the surface and plenty of runoff, so grading, drainage and a heavy stone base are essential. That local knowledge shapes every quote we write: how deep to dig, how much base to install, which way water should run, and which materials will look right on your home.
Key facts
Problems we solve
These are the issues we’re called about most in Chester and nearby Morris County: some are specific to local soils, terrain and housing, others are common across New Jersey.
What you seeRuts, gullies and exposed stone after heavy storms on long driveways.
Why it happensHillside runoff crossing or running down the drive with no swale or culvert.
How we fix itWe crown the drive, cut drainage swales, add culvert pipes where water crosses, and pave on a heavier base.
How to prevent itClear culverts and swales every spring and fall.
What you seeRock appears just below the surface when excavating for walls, patios or driveways.
Why it happensChester sits on rocky, glacially shaped ground with shallow bedrock in places.
How we fix itWe plan grades to work with the rock where possible and use proper equipment where removal is necessary, pricing it transparently.
How to prevent itAsk for rock clauses in any quote so there are no surprises.
What you seeA back yard too steep for a patio, play area or lawn.
Why it happensNatural hillside terrain.
How we fix itTerraced retaining walls in natural stone or block create level areas, with steps connecting each level.
How to prevent itDesign drainage behind every wall from day one.
What you seeCars park on the lawn, doors hit each other, or someone always has to move a car to get out.
Why it happensMany New Jersey driveways were built for one smaller car decades ago.
How we fix itWe widen with matching material on a full-depth base, add a parking pad or turnaround, and check your town’s limits on driveway width and curb cuts.
How to prevent itPlan for the cars you’ll own in ten years, not the ones you have today.
What you seeRailings that move when you lean on them, with rust stains around the posts.
Why it happensWater entering the post holes, rusting the steel and cracking the masonry.
How we fix itWe reset or replace the railings, core-drill fresh holes and seal them so water can’t get in.
How to prevent itKeep posts sealed and painted.
What you seeRainwater runs back to the foundation, the door threshold or the basement window wells.
Why it happensThe patio was built flat or settled near the house, where backfill soil is often loose.
How we fix itWe rebuild with a compacted base and a consistent pitch of about 1/8–1/4″ per foot away from the house, and add a channel drain where needed.
How to prevent itMake pitch and drainage part of the design conversation before anything is built.
Driveways: Long, sloped driveways are the norm in Chester. We crown and pitch them to shed water, add swales or culverts where runoff crosses the drive, and often recommend Belgian block edging to stop the asphalt edges from washing out.
Masonry: Sloped Chester properties need retaining walls, and we build a lot of them in natural stone and segmental block, along with bluestone steps, stone-veneer stoops and walls that suit the area’s rural character.
Outdoor living: Patios with natural stone, bluestone and fire pits that look out over the countryside are a Chester favorite.
Our process
Tom or a family member walks the property, measures, checks drainage and talks through materials and budget.
You get a clear, itemised quote covering excavation, base depth, materials, finish and clean-up. No pressure.
Our own crew excavates, builds the compacted base and installs the surface using quality materials.
We clean up, walk the finished job with you, explain aftercare and stand behind the work.
Plan with confidence
Reviews
★★★★★
Old Irish put in a patio for us and we are extremely happy with the patio and their service. They were very responsive and got the job done very quickly. The patio and concrete pad underneath our hot tub look amazing!
— Alyssa M., Google review
★★★★★
My sister hired Old Irish for cellar stairs and basement wall work. They arrived early, never left until 5 or after, and always cleaned up. They also told her about leakage inside her foundation and did a great job fixing it.
— Connie B., Google review
★★★★★
Last fall the Old Irish Paving crew repaired our front slate porch and our paver walkway and they did a great job! They came back to complete a minor repair and we are very happy. We are considering using them again for another project.
— Kathleen N., Google review
FAQ
Yes. We visit your Chester property, measure and discuss options, then give you a written, no-obligation quote. Call (908) 992-2345 to book.
Asphalt and paver driveways, patios, walkways, stoops and steps, retaining walls, concrete, parking lots, repairs and sealcoating, basement waterproofing and foundation repair.
Yes. Long and steep driveways are common in Chester. We grade and crown them for drainage, use a heavier compacted base and add swales, culverts or Belgian block edging where water would otherwise wash out the edges.
Most asphalt driveways take 1–2 days. Paver driveways and patios usually take 3–7 days depending on size and design.
You can, but it rarely looks or performs right next to asphalt or pavers, and many towns limit driveway width. A paved widening on a matching base is the lasting fix.
Well-built pavers and properly air-entrained concrete can last 30+ years, and asphalt 15–25 years. The base and drainage matter more than the surface.
Free, no-obligation quote
Tell us about your driveway, patio, steps or masonry project. Tom or a member of the family will call you back promptly to book a free on-site visit and a written quote.
Prefer to talk? (908) 992-2345
