Lakewood, CO General Contractor
Lakewood is one of the metro's largest suburbs, built mostly in the decades after the war. Radiant Homes serves it as part of a range running from Denver to Fort Collins, with every service available.
Brick ranches and the long stay
Lakewood is full of single-story brick and frame ranches from the 1950s and 1960s. Many owners have stayed for decades, and many houses have had piecemeal updates: one remodeled bath, a newer roof, original windows.
That history shapes the work. Most jobs here are about bringing a patchwork house into one consistent, comfortable condition.
Common Lakewood projects
- Project one
Main-floor living
Wider doors, walk-in showers and easier entries for owners planning to stay. See kitchens and baths.
- Project two
Windows and the shell
Drafty original windows and tired siding replaced as one plan. See exterior remodeling.
- Project three
Finish the basement
Extra rooms under a one-story house. See interior remodeling.
- Project four
Replace the roof
A roof near the end of its life, often after hail. See roofing.
Plan for staying, not only selling.
Many Lakewood owners want a house that works for the next twenty years. Small decisions now make that easier.
- Step-free entries and wider doorways
- Walk-in showers with blocking for grab bars
- Lever hardware and better lighting
- Main-floor laundry
- Non-slip flooring throughout
- Kitchen layouts with clear floor space
Whole streets, same-age roofs
With so many Lakewood houses built in the same few decades, whole streets often reach roof replacement age together. A hailstorm can then turn a slow decision into an urgent one.
Photograph your roof and gutters in good weather so you have a record. The storm restoration page explains what to do when a storm has already passed.
How it starts in Lakewood
- First
The list
Everything you have noticed, small or large, in any order.
- Then
The walkthrough
We go through the house and sort the list by urgency.
- Finally
A plan in writing
Scope and price, with work grouped sensibly.
Questions people ask first
Can you make a Lakewood ranch easier to live in as I get older?
Yes. The single-level layout is already a head start. The usual work is widening doorways, replacing a tub with a walk-in shower, improving lighting, and removing thresholds and steps at entries.
We plan these changes so they look like part of the house. See kitchens and baths.
Is it worth replacing the original windows in a 1950s house?
Often, especially if they are drafty, hard to open or fogging between panes. Newer windows improve comfort and cut noise as well.
Replacement is sometimes best combined with siding or paint work, so the exterior is handled once. The exterior remodeling page has the details.
Who issues building permits in Lakewood?
Lakewood is its own city, so most addresses go through the city. Some nearby areas are unincorporated and fall under Jefferson County.
We confirm which applies to your address when we write the scope.
Can I finish the basement under a 1960s ranch?
Usually, if moisture is under control and the ceiling height works after framing and insulation. Any bedroom needs an egress window.
We measure and check the basics on the first visit, before any design work.
How do I start when the house needs several things at once?
Make a list and sort it by urgency: water and structure first, then safety, then comfort, then looks. A walkthrough helps put it in order.
We can then group work so it is sensible to schedule together. Smaller items can start on the repair page.
Bring us the patchwork list.
Tell us what has been updated, what has not and what you want the house to do next.
Lakewood is at the Denver end of our Fort Collins to Denver range. Also serving Fort Collins, Windsor, Loveland, Johnstown, Longmont, Boulder, Broomfield, Westminster, Arvada, Golden and Denver.