Landscaping in Blauvelt, NY
Blauvelt has newer subdivisions on graded fill and older homes near the state park with heavy tree cover. Fill over dense till means water sits. We install drainage that actually outlets and build patios on excavated, compacted base rather than on the fill.
Working in Blauvelt
Blauvelt is one of the more open hamlets in Orangetown, with about 350 housing units per square mile at the 2000 census, less than half the density of Pearl River next door. The hamlet sits between Pearl River and Orangeburg, north of Tappan, and Blauvelt State Park, 644 acres of undeveloped woods near the Palisades, is at its edge. Historic Dutch houses stand along Western Highway, one of them shown on a map from 1750, with newer subdivisions around them, so the yards we see range from very old grading to recent builder work.
The USDA maps most of Blauvelt as Wethersfield soil on 3 to 8 percent slopes, gravelly silt loam over dense glacial till. Rain soaks in until it reaches that firm layer and then runs along it toward the low side of the lot. Lots that back onto woods also get shade and leaf litter that keep the ground damp longer than an open lawn.
Sparkill Creek begins along the south border of Blauvelt State Park and flows south through Blauvelt and Orangeburg toward Tappan, and flooding along the creek has been a long-running problem downstream. The Hackensack River also passes through the area. When we plan drainage in Blauvelt, the first question is where the water leaves your property and whose yard or which stream it reaches next.
What we build in Blauvelt
Drainage with a working outlet
A French drain in Blauvelt's dense till only works if it has somewhere to send the water. We find the outlet first, whether that is a daylight point on your lot, a storm sewer the town allows, or a dry well where a perc test says the soil can take it, then lay the pipe back from there with steady fall.
Drainage & ExcavationTerraced retaining walls on a sloped lot
Lots on the higher ground toward the park often slope enough that the yard is hard to use. We break the slope into terraces with walls 4 feet or under, set drainage stone and pipe behind each one, and file the Orangetown building permit the walls require.
Hardscape & LightingDeer fence along a wooded edge
Owners whose yards back onto woods often ask for deer fencing around gardens and plantings. In Orangetown a fence over 6 feet in a side or rear yard needs a building permit and has to sit back from the line by two-thirds of its height, so an 8 foot deer fence goes about 5 feet 4 inches in from the line.
Fencing & PrivacyPatio with a fire pit or grill counter
Blauvelt lots often have the room for a larger patio with a fire pit or a built-in grill counter. We build it on an excavated, compacted base so it does not sink into the damp soil, and any gas line is run by a licensed plumber.
Outdoor Kitchens & LivingCleanups under heavy tree cover
Wooded Blauvelt lots drop a heavy leaf load and small branches all fall. We clear lawns, beds, and yard drains, pile leaves within ten feet of the street for the town's program or haul them ourselves, and come back in spring for what came down over the winter.
Seasonal & SpecialtyStorm debris removal
After a hard storm, branches, broken fence sections, and soaked items from a garage or basement pile up fast. We load it all by hand into our own trailer and clear the yard so repairs can start.
Junk RemovalText a few photos of the area or send the form. We come out, walk it with you, and send a written scope and a fixed price.
Before you build in Blauvelt
Permits and rules in Blauvelt
Blauvelt is part of the Town of Orangetown, and there is no village government here, so building permits go through Orangetown's building and zoning office. The town wants a survey or plot plan with each application, along with the contractor's Rockland County license and insurance, and we assemble that before filing.
Retaining walls need an Orangetown building permit. Fences do not, as long as they are 6 feet or under on a one- or two-family lot, and any fence over 6 feet in a side or rear yard has to be set back two-thirds of its height from the line. Front yard fences and freestanding walls are limited to 4 1/2 feet, and fence height is measured from the average finished grade next to the fence, as determined by the Building Inspector.
Orangetown's sewer rules keep stormwater out of the sanitary system: footing drains, roof leaders, and sump pumps cannot be connected to it, and stormwater has to go to a storm sewer or a natural outlet the town approves. Any work on curbs, sidewalks, a new driveway entrance, or a storm sewer connection goes through the Sewer and Highway Departments' supplementary application, with 72 hours' notice before each item.
When to schedule work in Blauvelt
Blauvelt's till holds water through early spring, and shaded lots dry out later than open ones. We schedule excavation for walls, patios, and drains from late spring into fall, and walk the property in March or April if you want to see where the water actually collects.
Orangetown's green waste pickup runs by section on scheduled Mondays through the growing season, in biodegradable bags only, and the town does not take grass. The fall leaf program starts in early November with loose piles on the lawn near the street, and after the final pass following December 1, leaves must be bagged. With the leaf load on wooded lots, we often plan two fall visits, one in late October and one in November.
All services in Blauvelt
Guides for Blauvelt homeowners
- Retaining wall permits and engineering. In most New York and New Jersey towns, a retaining wall over 4 feet needs an engineered design and a permit, and walls under that limit can still need one if they hold up a driveway or a slope.
- Hudson Valley seasonal yard checklist. The lower Hudson Valley gets hard winters, wet springs, and a long leaf season, and a yard that is checked at the right times avoids most of the expensive repairs.
- Yard drainage in Rockland County. Most wet yards in Rockland come down to clay soil, a bad grade, and roof water with nowhere to go.
- Downspout drainage options: where roof water should go. Most wet basements and soggy foundation beds we look at in Rockland and Bergen start at a downspout that empties within a foot or two of the wall.
Nearby
We also work in Orangeburg, West Nyack, Nyack, Piermont, Sparkill, Pearl River, Tappan, Valley Cottage, and across Rockland County.
Questions
Does a retaining wall in Blauvelt need a permit?
Yes. Orangetown requires a building permit for retaining walls, and we file it with your survey before we build.
Can I put up an 8 foot deer fence?
Yes, with an Orangetown building permit and a setback from the line of two-thirds of the fence height, about 5 feet 4 inches for an 8 foot fence.
Why does my Blauvelt yard stay soggy near the woods?
The soil sits on dense till, and shade and leaf cover slow drying. A regrade and a drain with a real outlet usually fix it.
Can my French drain empty into Sparkill Creek or a neighbor's yard?
We do not send water onto a neighbor's property, and any outlet to a stream or town storm sewer has to be one the town approves. We find a lawful outlet before we design the drain.
Does Orangetown pick up leaves loose?
Yes, during the fall program that starts in early November. Piles go on the lawn within the first ten feet of the property, and after the final pass that follows December 1 they have to be bagged.
Can you build a fire pit patio on a new subdivision lot?
Yes. We excavate down to firm ground and build a compacted stone base first so the patio does not settle into damp soil.
Do you haul away storm debris in Blauvelt?
Yes. We remove downed branches, broken fence sections, and damaged items from the yard, garage, or basement and load it all ourselves.
Something to haul away first? See junk removal in Blauvelt.
Have a project in Blauvelt? Tell us about it.
Three quick steps. We call you back to set up a free on-site estimate, usually the same day.
- Call or text(845) 367-4123
- Emailgeneral@landtechenterprise.com
- Based inPomona, NY
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If it is urgent, call or text (845) 367-4123.