Lakewood custom home builder for mid-century remodels and additions

Lakewood's housing: ranches, split-levels and a new downtown

Much of Lakewood was built out from the 1950s through the 1970s, and the housing reflects it: brick and frame ranches, split-levels and tri-levels on lots that are often wider than those in central Denver.

Mid-century neighborhoods

Neighborhoods such as Eiber, Two Creeks and Lasley are full of these houses. Their layouts are simple and their structure is usually straightforward to read, which makes them some of the most rewarding houses in the metro to renovate. What they lack is what buyers now expect: a kitchen open to living space, a second full bathroom, insulation and windows that hold heat.

Belmar and the West Colfax corridor

Belmar, built on the site of the former Villa Italia mall, gave Lakewood a walkable downtown with townhomes and condos. Along West Colfax, the 40 West Arts District has brought renewed interest to the older blocks nearby, where small houses on modest lots are candidates for careful remodels and replacement.

City of Lakewood or Jefferson County: check first

Lakewood sits in Jefferson County, and inside city limits residential permits come from the City of Lakewood. Not every Lakewood mailing address is in the city, though. Unincorporated pockets of Jefferson County border it, and those are permitted and zoned by the county under different rules. Confirm jurisdiction by parcel before design starts.

New homes carry one more Lakewood-specific question. Lakewood voters approved a limit on the rate of new residential growth, and new dwelling units can require an allocation from the city. How it applies to your project, whether a replacement house, a new home on a vacant lot or an added unit, is something to settle with the city before buying a lot or designing a custom home.

Renovating a mid-century Lakewood house

A whole-home renovation of a 1950s or 1960s ranch usually touches the same systems: electrical panels and wiring sized for a different era, galvanized supply lines, single-pane or early replacement windows, thin attic insulation and ductwork that was never sealed. Opening the floor plan often means a beam where a bearing wall was.

Two tests belong before demolition. Houses built before 1978 may contain lead paint, which brings federal lead-safe work practices. Older drywall texture, flooring and duct wrap can contain asbestos, and Colorado has rules about inspecting before those materials are disturbed. Knowing early keeps the schedule honest; you can read more about how we sequence a project.

Lakewood's wider lots make building out easier than in much of Denver. A single-story home addition off the back of a ranch keeps everything on one level, though setbacks and the location of the sewer line still decide where it can go.

Building conditions in Lakewood

Lakewood shares the west metro's conditions, and they matter most on foundation and exterior work:

• Expansive clay soils occur across the west metro, so additions and new homes start with a soils report and a matched foundation design.
• Frequent hail makes impact-rated roofing worth considering when a mid-century roof comes due.
• Strong afternoon sun on west-facing walls fades siding and overheats rooms with original windows.
• Radon is common in Colorado; test before finishing a basement or lower level.

What Lakewood homeowners ask us about

Whole-house updates and additions lead, and bathrooms follow close behind. Many ranches were built with one full bath, so a primary suite with a second full bathroom is a frequent goal. If you're comparing Lakewood with nearby options, our Denver and Golden pages cover how housing and permits differ across the line.