Sparta builder often works from a barge

By LORI PRICE

For The Herald

SPARTA -- Hurricane Irene may be long gone but her damage and destruction could keep builders like Scott Wood busy for a long time to come. The strong winds and flooding rains resulted in damaged residential properties throughout the state. Fallen trees and rising lake waters have wreaked havoc on decks and docks, two of Wood's areas of expertise.

The builder, from Sparta, has done his share of backyard designs and building, including the design and construction of decks and docks and custom furniture. He has worked with area homeowners to create backyard sanctuaries -- outside "rooms" -- that bring the comfort of indoors outdoors.

"By the time I arrive to someone's house they already have some ideas in mind. Many will have actual pictures of things they want to discuss," said Wood.

Wood's work ranges from small decks to large areas of more than 1,000 square feet. He has used materials including trex and timber composite decking as well as pressure treated woods, cedar, IPE, which is a hardwood found in forests of Brazil and similar looking to mahogany, redwood and mahogany. Often homeowners want to steer away from the typical deck and patio look.

"You can really create a backyard sanctuary with a deck and proper landscaping," said Wood. "A backyard space can be elaborate with inlays in the decking, pergolas, bars, built-in grills, fridges and lighting."

Wood has created patio areas using various types of simple stone and elaborate pavers and designs. He has enhanced large spaces to be grand and customized smaller spaces to appear roomier with better functionality. Wood takes the time to sit with homeowners and discuss their needs and desires in order to create the space of their dreams. Whether a homeowner's budget is big or small, Wood will offer options to meet the needs of any homeowner.

Wood started his construction business, Scott R. Wood, LLC, 10 years ago and has expanded his business and professional attention on area lakes, repairing, rebuilding and constructing docks for lake homeowners. His business partner is his wife, Sandra, who handles much of the daily operations of their business.

Wood and his wife have both spent summers on Lake Hopatcong since childhood, and feel most at home on the water.

Their love for the area lakes is what made them expand the business starting a new chapter in marine construction on Lake Hopatcong as well as other area lakes to include the needs of lake residents. The business has developed into a full line of services on docks and homes.

Wood is one of few construction workers who uses a barge for servicing lake home needs. He drives pilings, builds dock, seawalls and boathouses. He is available to install boat lifts and ice eaters and will assess a homeowners needs, cost and timeline of a job in a timely manner. The barge is 25 feet long and 10 feet wide and has a hydraulic hammer on it to hit the pilings into the ground.

"This year I have been servicing work on Lake Hopatcong, Lake Mohawk, Upper Greenwood Lake, Greenwood Lake and all other lakes in the surrounding area. The addition of the barge has been a benefit to my job and the homeowners I work for," said Wood.

"The hurricane has taken a toll on docks and although it has certainly given me a boom in business, it has been a difficult time for many who suffered damage from the storm."

Since the hurricane Wood can be spotted out on the lakes moving his barge from dock to dock delivering materials to homeowners in need of dock work. Hurricane related dock problems include those that are obvious to the untrained and unprofessional eye. When pilings rise a dock is pushed up and appears to be popping out of the water or seems to fold and bend in certain areas.

An old dock may be constructed with a cage type structure which in a storm like hurricane Irene can break causing the dock to drop into and under the water. Often a homeowner is unaware of a poorly constructed dock until severe weather destroys it, and often washes it away.

The Woods are available and capable of dealing with such issues and encourage homeowners to contact them or another reputable company to do a thorough inspection of their dock following harsh weather.

Together the couple own and operate their business, which is fully insured and licensed. Wood refers to it as a family business, where a customer's needs are just a phone call away. The couple strive to deliver old-fashioned customer service.

Scott Wood can be reached by calling 973-868-6412.