Remodeling Contractor in Denver, CO
Kitchen, bath, and structural remodeling for Denver's pre-1940 bungalows and Denver Squares, planned around plaster, masonry, and old systems.
Building in Denver
Remodeling a Denver bungalow or Denver Square is a plaster-and-masonry problem before it's a design problem. Homes in Berkeley, Sloan's Lake, Congress Park, and Park Hill were built pre-1940 with plaster over wood lath, unreinforced brick walls, and layouts built around a formal dining room and small, separate kitchen — exactly the wall arrangement most clients want opened up.
Cutting into that structure needs a plan before demolition starts. An opening in a load-bearing brick wall requires an engineered lintel, and any wall removal on the main floor of a two-story home should get checked against what's above it. We open a small area first to confirm framing and load path rather than pricing off assumptions about a house we haven't looked inside.
Systems are the other constant. Knob-and-tube remnants, undersized panels, and original cast-iron waste lines show up often enough in this housing stock that we build an inspection into the front of the project — a camera run on the sewer line, a load calculation on the panel — so those costs are in the estimate, not the change order.
Permitting and approvals
- Denver Development Services building permit for structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical remodel work.
- Landmark or historic district design review for exterior-visible changes where an overlay applies.
- Engineered lintel and structural sign-off for any opening in a bearing masonry wall.
- Separate trade permits for electrical service and plumbing line work.
What shapes a Denver project
Plaster and lath demolition
Removing plaster over wood lath is dustier and slower than drywall demo, and what's behind it — balloon framing, old wiring, sometimes horsehair insulation — needs to be assessed before the new layout is finalized.
Unreinforced masonry openings
Structural openings in brick walls need an engineered lintel and, in some cases, a broader look at the wall's condition. This is standard scope on Denver remodels, not a rare complication.
Original electrical and plumbing systems
Knob-and-tube remnants and cast-iron or galvanized lines are common in pre-1940 stock. A remodel that touches the kitchen or bath is a reasonable point to address both rather than building around them again.
Historic district design review
Where a property sits inside a Denver landmark district, exterior changes visible from the street go through design review before the building permit — interior remodels are typically unaffected.
What we build in Denver
Neighborhoods and areas we cover
- Berkeley
- Sloan's Lake
- Highlands
- Congress Park
- Washington Park
- Park Hill
- Platt Park
- Cherry Creek
Denver questions, answered
Can you open up the kitchen wall in my Denver bungalow?
Often, once we've confirmed what the wall is carrying. Unreinforced brick or a balloon-framed bearing wall needs an engineered lintel or beam sized to the load, which we get stamped and permitted before demolition proceeds past the exploratory opening.
Should I replace old wiring during a remodel?
If there's knob-and-tube remaining in the areas you're touching, yes — it's a reasonable point to address it rather than working around it again. We assess what's present before finalizing the electrical scope.
Does my remodel need historic design review?
Only if the exterior is changing and the property sits inside a landmark or historic district. Interior remodels — kitchens, baths, basements — generally aren't subject to that review, but we confirm district status early regardless.
How do you handle plaster walls during demolition?
Carefully and with proper dust containment — plaster and lath demo generates more debris than drywall. We also use the opening to check the framing and any wiring or plumbing behind it before committing to the final layout.
Read before you start
Planning something in Denver?
Tell us what you have in mind. We walk the site, talk through what it actually takes here, and send a line-item estimate you can read.