Remodeling and Exterior Work in Collingswood, NJ
Remodeling, roofing and siding for Collingswood's early-20th-century homes, twins and bungalows.
Built as a railroad suburb, remodeled for today
Collingswood grew on land that was largely the Collings family's farm in the 18th and 19th centuries, and it was incorporated as a borough in 1888. That same year, Edward Collings Knight donated the land for Knight Park. The borough sits between the Cooper River to the north and Newton Creek to the south, with its business district along Haddon Avenue and a PATCO station connecting it to Philadelphia, about five miles away.
Collingswood's housing is old and dense by suburban standards. Census estimates put the median home at 1941, and about half of all homes were built before 1940. Only about 40 percent are single-family detached houses; the rest are twins, rowhouses, duplexes and apartments. Big Cat General Contractor remodels and repairs homes throughout the borough, from the streets around Knight Park to the neighborhoods along the Cooper River.
Services for Collingswood homes
In older, closely spaced homes, these are the services we do most and the details that matter.
Kitchen Remodeling
Collingswood kitchens are often compact. We make them work harder with better layouts, storage, lighting and finishes, and we coordinate the electrical and plumbing updates older houses usually need.
Kitchen Remodeling details →Bathroom Remodeling
Remodeling small older bathrooms: repairing subfloors, waterproofing showers, installing tile, vanities and fixtures, and adding ventilation that many original baths lack.
Bathroom Remodeling details →Roofing & Siding
Roof replacement and repair on homes and twins, where the roof may tie into the neighbor's, plus siding, trim, soffit and fascia work.
Roofing & Siding details →Finished Basements
Older basements are often damp and low. We address moisture and check ceiling height before finishing.
Finished Basements details →Flooring & Tile
Tying new flooring into original hardwood, leveling uneven old floors, and installing tile and LVP.
Flooring & Tile details →Steel & Wood Framing
Reinforcing old framing, correcting sagging floors and framing new openings.
Steel & Wood Framing details →Painting
Interior painting over plaster and exterior painting with full prep on older wood siding and trim.
Painting details →Deck Building
Rear decks and replacements sized for smaller lots and built to current code.
Deck Building details →What to plan for in Collingswood
- Twins and party walls. In a twin or rowhouse, the shared wall and roof connect you to your neighbor. Roofing, siding and framing work has to tie in cleanly on both sides, and some work is best coordinated with the neighbor.
- Older materials. Most homes here were built before 1978, so federal lead-safe rules apply when painted surfaces are disturbed. Old plaster, pipe insulation and floor tiles may need testing for asbestos before demolition.
- Tight lots. Narrow side yards and on-street parking make staging, dumpsters and deliveries part of the plan. Ask the borough whether a dumpster on the street needs its own permit.
- Basements in older homes. Many Collingswood basements were built as utility spaces, with low ceilings, stone or block walls and little waterproofing. Finishing one starts with managing moisture and confirming that ceiling height and egress can meet code for the intended use.
- Permits. Building permits and inspections go through the Borough of Collingswood's construction office under New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code.
Questions from Collingswood homeowners
Can you replace the roof on one half of a twin?
Yes. We tie the new roof into the neighboring half so water cannot get in at the joint, and we recommend letting your neighbor know when the work is scheduled.
My bathroom floor feels soft. What does that mean?
Usually water has damaged the subfloor or framing under the tile. We open the floor, repair the structure and then rebuild the bathroom properly.
Do you handle lead paint in older Collingswood homes?
Homes built before 1978 fall under federal lead-safe work rules when painted surfaces are disturbed. Containment and cleanup are part of the plan and the price.
How do you handle limited parking and space?
We plan deliveries, dumpster placement and daily cleanup before work starts, and we help with any street permits the borough requires.
Can you match the look of my older home when remodeling?
Yes. We can match trim profiles, choose finishes that suit the era of the house and keep original features where they are sound, while updating what is behind the walls.
Request a free estimate in Collingswood
Tell us about your project. We reply by phone, text or email, usually within one business day.
Prefer to talk? Call 609-968-0133 or text 609-968-0133.
Licensed & Insured · NJ HIC Reg. #13VH13434700
Other areas near Collingswood
Talk to Big Cat General Contractor
Call, text or send the form above, and we will set up a time to look at the property.