Lakewood, CO Roofing

Much of Lakewood’s housing was constructed during the postwar expansion of the Denver metropolitan area. According to the City of Lakewood’s housing analysis, about 18% of the city’s housing stock predates 1960, while approximately 40% was built during the 1960s and 1970s. Another 25% was constructed during the 1980s and 1990s. This distribution creates noticeable differences in architectural character from one neighborhood to another. 

Lakewood Architecture

The oldest residential areas, particularly in central and northern Lakewood, contain houses from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The city’s historic-preservation surveys identify National Folk, Queen Anne, Classic Cottage, Bungalow, and other architectural types among pre-1920 residences. Many early homes were relatively modest vernacular structures, with front- or side-gabled roofs, wood siding, porches, and straightforward floor plans. 

The largest wave of residential construction occurred after World War II. As Lakewood transitioned from a more rural and agricultural area into a suburban community, developers constructed large numbers of detached houses on newly subdivided land. Homes from the 1950s through the 1970s commonly exhibit ranch-style influences, reflecting the era's preference for single-story living, attached garages, larger suburban lots, and relatively open interior layouts. Later neighborhoods added additional ranch, split-level, two-story, and contemporary suburban designs. The result is a city where architectural styles often correspond closely to the period in which individual neighborhoods developed.

Roofing in Lakewood

Roofing is similarly diverse. Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing materials on Lakewood houses today, according to the Lakewood Historical Society. Tile, slate, and metal roofs are also present, particularly on older or architecturally distinctive properties. Historic houses sometimes retain original wood-shingle roofing, although such examples are less common. 

Roof forms also vary considerably. Gable and hip roofs are especially common on traditional homes and ranch-style residences, while some houses have low-pitched or more contemporary roof designs. This variety reflects both changing architectural preferences and the gradual development of Lakewood's neighborhoods over more than a century.