Costs for Popular Improvements in Denver

With the holidays now past, and the Broncos missing the playoffs, there are a lot of Front Range residents that aren’t sure what to do with themselves these days. Fortunately, we’ve got a suggestion for you. How does a new home improvement project sound as far as fighting those winter doldrums go? The truth is that late winter and early spring are some of the best times of year to get started on a major home improvement in the Mile High City. Contractors are readily available, you’ll likely be able to set the project in accordance with your schedule, instead of theirs, and you’ll be beating the big spring home improvement rush.

That being the case, here’s a list of some of the most popular home improvement projects in the Denver metro area, along with figures for average costs and project durations that have been collected from our own in-house research and other sources. We realize that choosing the right project is often a balancing act between your dream remodel and your real-life budget. Hopefully the information that follows gives you a better idea of what to expect so you can make the right decision about which home improvement is the best fit for you.

Kitchen Remodeling

Kitchen remodeling continues to be one of the most popular remodeling projects in the Denver metro area, and shows no signs of losing ground. Whether you’re planning a dream kitchen that pulls out all the stops, or are thinking more along the lines of making some smaller improvements in order to improve the immediate value of your home, kitchen remodeling is one of the best ways to add luxury, livability, and marketability to your Denver residence. Based on the data we’ve gathered from past kitchen remodels in Denver that we’ve been involved with, you should expect to spend in the neighborhood of $14,800 for an average kitchen remodel in the Mile High City. Though, we have seen jobs that cost as little as $5,000 and others that topped the $25,000 mark. As for how long it’s going to take, a month makes for a pretty good measuring stick as long as you remember that the size and scope of your individual project is ultimately going to determine the timeline for how long your kitchen remodel is going take.

Bathroom Remodeling

Next to kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodels are the next best thing. In fact, from the standpoint of the way different remodels improve the value of your home, there aren’t two other remodeling projects in the industry that have consistently paid off more for homeowners in regards to getting a return on your investment. And just how much is that investment going to be if a bathroom remodel is the direction you choose to take? Again, using numbers acquired from our own customers, an average bathroom remodel in Denver averages just under $7,800. It’s still a good chunk of change, though you’ll notice it’s only half of what a kitchen remodel runs. While bathrooms are significantly cheaper than kitchens, that two to one relationship isn’t reflected in project durations. Despite costing half as much, bathrooms still take 23 days on average to complete.

Basement Remodeling

It won’t take you too long to discover that basement remodeling has become a force to be reckoned with in the Mile High home improvement industry. In fact, there are entire businesses in Denver now dedicated to this single task. What makes basement remodeling so attractive to Front Range homeowners? Imagine a remodeling project that adds extra bedrooms, a home office, a spot for the pool table, wet bar, and a home theater system all without the inconveniences of a major addition. With that kind of upside, even the high average cost and long average project duration of a Denver basement remodeling project ($24,300 and 44 days, respectively) doesn’t seem so out of line. Be aware that these projects can get a lot more expensive than that, however. Our high water mark is currently $50,000, though any contractor who specializes in basement remodeling will tell you that even that can be a conservative estimate depending on how much you decide to have done.

New Asphalt Roof

Installing new roofing isn’t so much a question of whether you want a new roof as it is a question of whether you need one. After all, a failing roof is no laughing matter. The combination of Denver’s high altitude, chinooks, winter storms, and quick-moving spring and summer thunderstorms coming down off the mountains can cause a host of problems for roofing in the Mile High City. If common signs of roofing failure like missing, bare, curling, and/or buckling shingles are present on your home, there’s a pretty good chance your roof is no longer doing its job. And the truth is that even a small roof leak can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage if left unchecked. Compare that to an average cost of $7000 for a new asphalt roof in metropolitan Denver, along with average project duration of only two days, and this investment should be a no-brainer for any Front Range homeowner with a roof that’s seen better days.

New Vinyl Siding

If your Front Range home is in need of new siding, you owe it to yourself to look into vinyl siding. It’s hands down the most cost-effective siding material you can purchase in Denver, as well as one of the most durable, best-looking, and maintenance-free siding choices. Add to that the fact that new generations of vinyl siding, especially the higher-end lines, no longer suffer from problems such as poor color retention or growing brittle in extreme environments, like bitter cold or Denver’s 300 days of sun per year, and it’s easy to see why going vinyl is an excellent investment for your Denver-area home. As for average costs, Remodeling Magazine’s 2006 Cost vs. Value Report places the average cost for vinyl siding in Denver at about $10,300 per job; though depending on the size of your home, and the quality of vinyl you purchase, that number can fluctuate quite a bit in either direction. Talk directly to a Front Range vinyl siding contractor to get a better idea of what vinyl siding installation will cost for your residence.

Exterior House Painting

How many improvements can literally transform the look of your home overnight, yet still claim to be one of the most cost-effective home improvements on the market? Exterior house painting just happens to fit that bill. Based on the information gathered by HomeAdvisor.com, an exterior paint job in Denver averages $2,300, and takes seven days to complete. On a side note, we highly recommend that you get multiple bids and check references before hiring a painter in the Mile High City. The 300 days of sunshine Denver gets each year are rougher on your exterior paint than almost any other part of your home, so it’s important that you make sure your painter knows what he’s doing from prep through painting the trim so that you can rest easy knowing your new paint job is going to stick around awhile.

Install a Deck

There are few areas of the country better suited for decks than the Front Range. Not only does the Mile High City have one of the best views in the world out of its backdoor, in the form of the majestic Rocky Mountains, but Denver’s climate is perfect for the type of person who likes to spend as much time outside as they do indoors. Ask anybody from Boston or Minneapolis how many days each winter they get to spend comfortably barbecuing out on their backyard deck, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone who needs more than 10 digits to count ’em up. Ask a resident of the Front Range the same question, and they’ll most likely count up the winter days they can’t comfortably spend throwing steaks on the grill. That said, a deck is a great addition to any Denver home if you can afford the average cost of $7,900. Plan on this project taking about 12 days to complete, with a day or two added on later in the year to treat your deck. That means if you get a jump on it now, you’ll be able to take full advantage of those 60 and 70 degree days in late winter and early spring that the Mile High City is famous for.

Replace Windows

Replacing old windows with new, energy-efficient models is a great home investment for residents across the Denver metro area. With new technology that includes multiple glazings, gas fills, insulated frames, low e-coatings, and multiple panes of glass, new windows can increase your home’s energy efficiency by up to 30 percent or 40 percent. In fact, with Denver’s mild climate the right windows can virtually eliminate your need for air conditioning in the summer, and drastically cut down on the time your furnace has to run during the wintertime. With those kinds of saving on your energy bills, the average cost of $3,600 for replacing multiple windows in Denver isn’t just a sound investment, it’s one that will pay itself off, and keeps paying, as the years roll by.

Whether you’re ready to shell out for that basement remodel you’ve always wanted or you’ve put off investing in the new siding your home desperately needs, this is the perfect time of year to start thinking about potential home improvements, calling in a contractor, and beating the annual spring home improvement rush in Denver and across the Front Range.

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