Home repair in Lakewood, CO

Lakewood homes at a glance

Median year built

1977

Built before 1960

16%

Built since 2000

18%

Owner-occupied

58%

Median home value

$574,400

Main heat

Gas, 71%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates

What Lakewood’s housing means for repairs

Lakewood is a mature suburb west of Denver, and half its homes predate 1977. About 16% of units were built before 1960 and about 18% after 2000, including the Belmar redevelopment. About 46% of homes are detached single-family houses, with many condos and apartments along Colfax and Wadsworth, and about 58% are owner-occupied.

About 71% of homes heat with gas, mostly forced-air furnaces in basements or crawlspaces. Bi-levels and ranches from the 1960s and 1970s have original windows, aging furnaces and water heaters, and sometimes aluminum branch wiring. Expansive clay soils in parts of the city move foundations and crack basement slabs. With homes valued around $574,400 at the median, owners tend to invest in repairs that protect the structure.

Weather that wears on Lakewood homes

Lakewood sits at the base of the foothills at over 5,000 feet, with strong sun, low humidity and big temperature swings. The Denver metro area gets frequent hailstorms in late spring and summer, and hail damages roofs, gutters, siding, skylights and window screens. Winters bring snow, Arctic cold snaps that freeze pipes, and warm chinook winds that can gust hard enough to lift shingles. Intense sun at altitude breaks down paint, caulk and roofing faster than at sea level. Expansive bentonite clay swells when wet, heaving slabs and basement floors, and Colorado homes often test high for radon.

Common repairs in Lakewood

• Hail roof replacement

  Hail damages Lakewood roofs, gutters and siding in most summers, and many owners replace roofs through insurance.

• Gas furnace repair

  Lakewood furnaces work hard through cold snaps, and igniters, inducer motors and flame sensors are frequent failures.

• Basement slab and foundation cracks

  Expansive clay heaves basement floors and cracks foundation walls in parts of Lakewood.

• Frozen pipe repair

  Pipes in exterior walls and crawlspaces split during sudden cold snaps.

• Exterior paint and caulk

  High-altitude sun fades paint and cracks caulk on south and west walls.

What these repairs cost

The middle half of Runhome repair estimates nationwide for each kind of job. Your price depends on the scope of the work.

Fix guides for Lakewood homeowners

• Screen is broken, bent or blown out of a window or gable vent

  Lakewood hail shreds window screens, and this guide covers the quick repair.

• Furnace condensate drain pipe is broken at the neutralizer

  High-efficiency furnaces in Lakewood basements drain acidic condensate, and a broken neutralizer can leak or shut the furnace down.

• Door sticks and won't close properly

  Expansive clay movement makes doors stick in Lakewood homes, and this guide helps you tell a sticky hinge from foundation movement.

• Roof leaks in one spot and stains the ceiling below

  A hail-cracked shingle or skylight can leak in one spot during a Lakewood thunderstorm.

Seasonal checklist

Hail season

After each storm, check gutters, downspouts and window screens for dents and tears, and call a roofer if you find them.

Fall

Service the furnace, disconnect garden hoses and blow out sprinkler lines before the first hard freeze.

Winter

Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls during cold snaps so warm air reaches the pipes.

Spring

Make sure downspouts carry snowmelt well away from the foundation to keep the clay from swelling.

Common questions

How do I know if hail damaged my Lakewood roof?

Look for dents in gutters, vents and siding, and shingle granules collecting at downspouts. A roofer can check shingles up close for bruising. Many Lakewood roofs are replaced through insurance after major storms.

What causes basement floor cracks in Lakewood?

Expansive clay under parts of Lakewood swells when wet and shrinks when dry, heaving slabs and cracking walls. Good gutters and grading slow it down. A structural engineer or foundation contractor can assess wide or growing cracks.

Should I test my Lakewood house for radon?

Testing is worth doing. Colorado has naturally high radon levels and many homes test above the recommended action level. Test kits are inexpensive, and if levels are high, a mitigation system with a vent fan can lower them.

Neighborhoods served

• Belmar
• Green Mountain
• Bear Creek

Other Colorado cities

• Home repair in Aurora
• Home repair in Colorado Springs
• Home repair in Denver
• Home repair in Fort Collins
• Home repair in Thornton