Custom home builder in Boulder for remodels, additions and new homes

Boulder neighborhoods and their housing

Boulder's housing runs from late-1800s and early-1900s homes in Mapleton Hill and Whittier, through the mixed streets of Newlands and University Hill, to the postwar ranches of Martin Acres and the 1960s houses of Table Mesa. Each area raises different questions.

In the older central neighborhoods, the work is often careful restoration paired with a modern kitchen, a rebuilt bath or a sensitive rear addition. In Martin Acres and Table Mesa, owners tend to want more space and better layouts from compact houses, often by adding a second level or reworking the floor plan. In parts of Newlands and elsewhere, older houses have been replaced or heavily remodeled, which brings Boulder's zoning limits on size and bulk into play.

Planning, permits and energy code in Boulder

Inside city limits, the City of Boulder's planning and development services staff review zoning and issue building permits. Areas with a Boulder address outside city limits, including parts of Gunbarrel, fall under Boulder County's own planning and permitting. The two have different rules, so confirm the jurisdiction first.

Boulder adopts local amendments to its building and energy codes, and its energy requirements are generally stricter than many neighboring jurisdictions. Expect closer attention to insulation, air sealing, mechanical efficiency and, in some cases, renewable energy or electrification requirements. Those rules affect wall and roof assemblies early in design, not just equipment choices at the end.

Zoning limits on size and shading

Many residential zones in Boulder limit floor area and building bulk relative to the lot, and the city has solar access rules that can limit how much a new structure shades a neighbor. On a tight lot, these limits often decide whether an addition goes up, out or not at all.

Floodplains

Boulder Creek and several other creeks run through the city, and lots in a mapped floodplain face added requirements for additions and new construction. Check the flood maps before design.

Historic districts and landmark review

Boulder has designated historic districts, including Mapleton Hill and Chautauqua, along with individually landmarked buildings. Exterior changes in a district or to a landmark go through historic preservation review before a permit is issued. Additions, window replacements, porches, roofing materials and demolition are typical review items.

The city also screens proposed demolition of older buildings outside districts for possible historic significance. If you're considering replacing an older house, find out early whether it will need that review. Good preservation work is mostly about details: matching trim profiles, keeping original windows where they can be repaired, and making an addition read as secondary to the original house.

Services Boulder owners ask about most

A Boulder home addition has to satisfy zoning, energy code and, in a district, historic review, so the design work matters as much as the construction. A whole-home renovation is common in older houses, where systems, insulation and layout all need attention at once and the energy code shapes what the walls become.

Kitchen and bath remodels, basement finishes, and roofing, siding and window work after hail round out the list. Where a lot or house calls for it, Master Builders of Colorado also builds new custom homes in Boulder, designed from the start around the city's size, energy and solar access rules.

Building conditions to plan for

Expansive clay soils occur in parts of Boulder, so a geotechnical report should guide any new foundation. Hail, strong sun and freeze-thaw cycles all test roofing, flashing and sealants, which is why the joints where houses leak deserve as much attention as the finishes. Radon is common in Colorado and worth testing before a basement finish.

Nearby cities follow their own local rules: see Longmont and Broomfield. When you're ready, tell us about your Boulder house.