Bergen County, NJ

Roofing, Chimney, Masonry & Exterior Contractor in Bergen County, NJ

The short answer

NJ Gold Star Construction serves Bergen County, NJ from our Totowa base with roofing, chimney, masonry steps and stone walls, poured concrete sidewalks, gutters, siding and decks. We are licensed (NJ HIC #13VH13359900), insured, give free written estimates and answer emergency leak calls 24/7.

Bergen County is where most of our work is, and it is the county we know best: the permit offices, the older housing stock, the tree-lined streets that fill gutters, and the river valleys that hold water.

The pages below cover what we do here, how permits work town by town, and what local conditions mean for your roof, chimney and masonry.

What exterior work does NJ Gold Star do across Bergen County?

NJ Gold Star Construction takes on six trades in Bergen County, NJ: roofing, chimney work, masonry, gutters, siding and decks. The same family-run crew handles each job from estimate to cleanup, with no subcontractor handoff, working from our Totowa base in neighboring Passaic County.

Most exterior problems in a house are connected, so we scope them together. A leak at a chimney is a roofing question and a chimney question at once. Overflowing gutters stain siding and push water toward the foundation, which is masonry territory. Seeing the whole envelope on one visit usually saves a second trip.

Roofing: repair, replacement, attic ventilation and maintenance.
Chimney: repairs, rebuilds, stainless liners, caps, chase covers and deep cleaning.
Masonry: masonry steps, poured concrete sidewalks and patios, natural stone walls, veneer and foundation repair.
Gutters: seamless gutters, guards, screens and cleaning.
Decks: new construction and structural repair.

Every estimate is free, written and itemized, and our NJ Home Improvement Contractor registration is #13VH13359900.

How do building permits work across Bergen County's towns?

Bergen County has no single permit office. Each municipality runs its own construction office, which issues permits and inspects work under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. Applicants submit the statewide Department of Community Affairs forms, starting with the F100 Construction Permit Application, to the local enforcement office.

The state writes the rules and the town enforces them. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs publishes the same permit packet for every municipality, and its page tells applicants to send the completed forms to the “Local Construction Code Enforcement Office”. Which subcode sections apply depends on the project, so a roof tear-off and a new deck do not trigger the same review.

Thresholds differ from town to town

Wyckoff’s building department says a roof repair or replacement needs a permit once it exceeds 25 percent of the roof, and siding follows the same 25 percent rule. It also lists a new deck and a concrete patio as permit jobs, with retaining walls handled through engineering permits. Ridgewood, by contrast, lists exterior decks as building-permit projects and requires zoning certificates for patios, with zoning approval coming first.

Our crew pulls the permits and schedules the inspections on jobs that need them. See our roof replacement and new deck pages for what the inspections look at.

How do rivers and the Palisades shape exterior problems in Bergen County?

Bergen County’s east-west geography changes how water behaves around a house. The Saddle River drains the central valley, the tidal Hackensack River and its Meadowlands wetlands sit to the south, and the Palisades ridge rises above the Hudson in the east. Each setting stresses gutters, foundations and masonry differently.

Saddle River valley

The U.S. Geological Survey has mapped flood inundation along a 5.4-mile reach of the Saddle River through Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood and Paramus, at stages from 5 feet up to 14 feet. Homes in this valley, including parts of Ridgewood, Paramus, Lodi and Fair Lawn, should treat roof runoff as a foundation issue. Gutters sized for real volume and downspouts that discharge well away from the wall matter more than they do on high ground.

Hackensack River and the Meadowlands

In the southern towns the water is tidal. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority reports that its Route 17 project in Rutherford and East Rutherford, completed in 2010, added 11 tide gates and culverts to reduce storm surge reaching the highway. Near Rutherford, damp basements and efflorescence on foundation masonry are worth a look after every big storm. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Map Service Center is the official place to see where a property sits relative to mapped flood hazards.

The Palisades

Fort Lee Historic Park sits on 33 acres atop the Palisades, just south of the George Washington Bridge. Ridge-top homes in Fort Lee and Cliffside Park take wind that valley homes do not, which is why we check flashing, ridge caps and siding fasteners there first.

How does northern New Jersey weather wear out roofs, gutters and masonry?

The Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers reports average annual precipitation from about 40 inches on the southeast coast to 51 inches in north-central New Jersey, with 40 to 50 inches of snow in the northern zone. Bergen County’s wet, freezing winters drive most roof leaks, ice damage and masonry cracking.

Rutgers also reports that measurable precipitation falls on about 120 days a year and that the northern highlands average 163 freeze-free days. That leaves a long season when nights dip below freezing after a wet day, and water that enters a joint, crack or flashing gap then expands as it freezes.

Roofs: snow that melts on a warm attic deck and refreezes at the eave can back water under shingles. Balanced attic ventilation keeps the deck cold and even.
Gutters: clogged troughs hold water that freezes and pulls fasteners loose. Gutter guards and routine gutter cleaning help.
Masonry: water in brick, stone and mortar freezes and spalls the face. Repointing and sound chimney caps and crowns keep it out.

When is the best time of year to schedule exterior work in Bergen County?

Schedule exterior work in Bergen County according to the trade. Roof repairs and replacements can happen in most of the year when conditions allow, concrete and mortar work does best in mild weather, and gutter cleaning belongs after the leaves drop. Emergency leaks and storm damage cannot wait for a season.

Spring and fall fill up fast, so booking an estimate several weeks ahead gives you more choice of dates. A few trade-specific points follow.

Roofing: shingles seal best in moderate temperatures. A planned replacement is easier to schedule before a deteriorating roof turns into an emergency.
Masonry and concrete: fresh mortar and poured concrete should not freeze while they cure. New masonry steps, sidewalks and walls are best done in mild weather.
Decks and roofs: a deck repair or roof check in spring beats waiting for summer storms.
Gutters: clear them after the leaves come down and again in spring so melt and rain have a clear path.
Chimneys: NFPA 211 calls for chimneys to be inspected at least once a year, and the Chimney Safety Institute of America says that holds for lightly used ones too. Early fall, before the heating season, is the natural time.

How do you choose a contractor in Bergen County?

Choose a Bergen County contractor who holds an active New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor registration, which you can check through the Division of Consumer Affairs license verification site. Also ask for a written, itemized estimate, proof of insurance, and a clear statement of who pulls the permit.

New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs runs a real-time license verification system, and home improvement contractors appear among the business licensees. Use the business search, enter the company name, and confirm the registration is active before you sign anything. Our number, #13VH13359900, is on every estimate and contract.

Questions to ask every bidder

Is the registration active, and is it in the business name on the contract?
Will your own crew do the work, or will it be subcontracted?
Who applies for the permit and schedules inspections?
Is the estimate written, itemized and free of obligation?

Our own crew does the work from tear-off to cleanup. For a deeper checklist, read how to choose roofing contractors in New Jersey. Prices for similar jobs vary with roof pitch, access, layers and materials, so the real number comes only from a free written estimate.

What happens when a roof leaks or a storm hits in Bergen County?

NJ Gold Star Construction answers calls and texts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for roof leaks and storm damage in Bergen County. We respond the same day whenever possible, make the problem safe first, and then give a written scope and estimate for the permanent repair.

Call or text (862) 271-1225. Tell us where the water is coming in and send photos if you can. We start with containment, such as a temporary cover or flashing repair, so the damage stops spreading.

Storm damage looks different across the county. Wind-driven rain tends to find flashing on the ridge-top homes in the east, while fallen limbs are common in the leafy valley towns. See our roof repair page for how a leak is traced, and our guide to common roof leaks for the usual culprits.

Which Bergen County town page covers my area?

NJ Gold Star Construction has a dedicated page for 19 Bergen County towns, grouped here by area: the Ramapo foothills in the northwest, the Saddle River valley in the center, the Palisades and Hudson side in the east, and the southern river towns. Each page covers that town’s permit office and local conditions.

Northwest and Ramapo foothills. Mahwah, Ramsey, Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff have larger lots and more tree cover, so gutters and roof edges are the usual concern.

Central Saddle River valley. Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, Paramus, Hackensack, Lodi, Garfield and Elmwood Park sit in or near the river corridor, where drainage and foundations come first.

Palisades and the Hudson side. Fort Lee, Cliffside Park, Englewood, Tenafly, Teaneck and Bergenfield cover the ridge and the older neighborhoods behind it.

South. Rutherford is our nearest Meadowlands-edge page. Our home base, Totowa, sits just across the county line in Passaic County. If your town is not listed, see the full areas we serve or contact us for a free estimate.

Exterior services in Bergen County

Roofing

Roof repair, full replacement, attic ventilation and maintenance, with 24/7 emergency leak response.…

Chimney

Repairs, rebuilds, stainless liners, caps, chase covers and deep cleaning.…

Masonry

Masonry steps, poured concrete sidewalks, natural stone walls, stone veneer and foundation repair.…

Gutters

Seamless gutters, guards, screens, repairs and cleaning.…

Siding

Vinyl and fiber cement siding, installed and repaired with the flashing behind it done right.…

Decks

New decks and structural repair, built to code on proper footings.…

Recent projects

Bergen County service area map

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Prefer to talk? Call or text (862) 271-1225 — 24/7 for active leaks.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Bergen County?

It depends on the town. Wyckoff, for example, requires a building permit when roof work exceeds 25 percent of the roof. Other municipalities set their own thresholds under the NJ Uniform Construction Code, so call your construction office before work starts. We confirm the rule and pull the permit when one is required.

How can I check a contractor's New Jersey registration?

Use the Division of Consumer Affairs license verification site, choose the business search, and look up the contractor under home improvement contractors. Confirm the registration is active and matches the name on the contract. Our registration is NJ HIC #13VH13359900.

Is my Bergen County home in a flood zone?

FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center is the official source for mapped flood hazards in Bergen County. Homes near the Saddle River and the tidal Hackensack River are the likeliest to be affected. We are contractors, not floodplain engineers, so use the maps for the zone and ask your town’s construction office about requirements.

Can you handle a leak outside normal business hours?

Yes. We are open 24 hours, seven days a week, and take emergency calls and texts for roof leaks and storm damage. We respond the same day whenever possible, stop the water first, and then follow with a written estimate for the permanent repair.

Which service should I start with if I have several exterior problems?

Start with whatever lets water in, usually the roof, flashing or gutters, because wet framing and masonry get worse quickly. An on-site inspection shows how the problems connect. We then write one itemized estimate so you can sequence the work to fit your budget.

Sources & further reading

Construction Permit Forms — NJ Department of Community Affairs
New Jersey Climate Overview — Office of the NJ State Climatologist, Rutgers University
Flood Inundation Maps, Saddle River, Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood and Paramus, NJ — U.S. Geological Survey
Floodplain Management — New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
Flood Maps — FEMA
When will I need a building permit? — Wyckoff Township
Building permit FAQ — Village of Ridgewood
Fort Lee Historic Park — Palisades Parks Conservancy
License Verification — NJ Division of Consumer Affairs
Homeowner Resources — Chimney Safety Institute of America

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Edgar Lopez Gonzalez, owner · NJ HIC #13VH13359900

Free written estimate

(862) 271-1225

Licensed & insured. 25+ years in North Jersey. We answer 24/7 for leaks and storm damage.

Key details

County: Bergen County, NJ
License: NJ HIC #13VH13359900
Emergency service: 24/7 — call (862) 271-1225
Estimates: Free, written and itemized

Towns we serve in Bergen County