Deck Builder and General Contractor in Kirkwood, NJ
Decks, bungalow additions, roofing and remodeling for homes around Kirkwood Lake in Voorhees and Lindenwold.
About Kirkwood homes
Kirkwood grew as a bungalow community around Kirkwood Lake, an impoundment of the Cooper River. Residents of Philadelphia and Camden came here to escape the summer heat, and many of the first houses, built mostly between 1915 and 1925, were Sears, Roebuck catalog homes meant as vacation cottages. Most of Kirkwood is in Voorhees Township, and part is in Lindenwold.
Kirkwood is part of Voorhees Township, which Census estimates describe as follows: The median home was built in 1983; the largest share was built in the 1980s; 16% have been built since 2000; 51% are detached houses and 11% are twins or townhouses. Big Cat General Contractor works in the lake bungalows and the streets around Kirkwood Lake.
Popular projects in Kirkwood
These are the services Kirkwood homeowners ask us about most. All of our other services are available too.
Steel & Wood Framing
We frame basements, bump-outs and new walls in Kirkwood, in wood or light-gauge steel. We handle permits and inspections.
Steel & Wood Framing details →Roofing & Siding
Homes built in Kirkwood in the 1970s and 1980s often need new roofs along with replacement of aging siding, soffits and gutters. We install drip edge, ice-and-water shield and proper flashing on every roof.
Roofing & Siding details →Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchens from the 1970s and 1980s are due for replacement in much of Kirkwood. Typical remodels include new cabinets, counters, lighting and flooring, and sometimes removing a soffit or a peninsula. You get a written scope before work begins.
Kitchen Remodeling details →Bathroom Remodeling
For Kirkwood bathrooms from the 1970s and 1980s, we tear out tub surrounds and vanities, fix subfloor damage and build tiled showers on a waterproofing system. Accessible, curbless showers are available.
Bathroom Remodeling details →Painting
We refresh interiors, cabinets and exterior trim on Kirkwood homes, and repair rotted wood before painting. We finish with a final walkthrough.
Painting details →Deck Building in Kirkwood
Decks for lake bungalows and small lots
Many Kirkwood homes sit on narrow lots, and some slope toward Kirkwood Lake or the Cooper River. A deck here has to fit the lot, work with the grade and stand up to damp ground. We set footings below the frost line on firm soil, use ground-contact lumber for posts, flash the ledger or build a freestanding deck when the house wall can't carry it, and finish with pressure-treated or composite boards. Our deck building page shows the full process.
Permits: Voorhees or Lindenwold
Most of Kirkwood is in Voorhees Township, and part is in Lindenwold, so the permit office depends on your address. A new or rebuilt deck usually needs zoning review and a building permit, with footing, framing and final inspections. We confirm the right office and file for you.
Additions, roofing and remodeling
Bungalows built for summer use are often ready for an addition, new insulation or a new roof. We handle the framing, roofing and siding, and kitchen and bath remodels that usually come with that work.
What to know before a project in Kirkwood
- Permits. Kirkwood is an unincorporated community, not its own municipality, so permits and inspections go through Voorhees Township (or Lindenwold for the part of Kirkwood inside the borough) under New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code. We confirm the correct office from your property record and file for you.
- Water nearby. Homes near Kirkwood Lake and the Cooper River can see higher humidity, wet basements or mapped flood zones. We check the flood map and the house's moisture history, and we plan drainage, flashing and materials accordingly.
- Weather. South Jersey's freeze-thaw cycles and nor'easters are hard on roof edges, gutters and siding. Ice-and-water shield at the eaves, good attic ventilation and properly sized gutters prevent most problems.
- House age. About 38% of Voorhees Township homes are more than 45 years old. They often have original single-pane or early vinyl windows, T1-11 or aluminum siding and undersized attic ventilation.
Questions from Kirkwood homeowners
Can you add on to or winterize a former summer bungalow in Kirkwood?
Often, yes. Many bungalows were built for summer use, with light framing, shallow foundations and little insulation. We check the structure first, then plan insulation, framing upgrades or an addition that meets current code.
My Kirkwood home was built in the 1970s or 1980s. What usually needs updating?
Most commonly the roof, siding and windows, followed by kitchens, baths and decks. Some homes built from about 1965 to 1973 have aluminum branch wiring, which an electrician should evaluate during any remodel.
How do your estimates work?
We visit the property, measure, discuss options and send a written estimate that lists the scope, materials and exclusions. Estimates are free.
Can you build a deck on a sloped or low Kirkwood lot?
Usually. Taller posts with proper bracing, or a lower freestanding deck, can handle a slope, and we check drainage and soil at the footing locations. Properties near the lake should also be checked against flood maps.
Composite or wood for a new Kirkwood deck?
Pressure-treated wood costs less up front. Composite boards need less maintenance and no staining. Both sit on a pressure-treated frame, so the footings and framing matter as much as the boards.
Request a free estimate in Kirkwood
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
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Talk to Big Cat General Contractor
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