Resources
This Resource Section has been compiled by hands-on renovators, restorers and preservationists in Curtis Park. Included are suppliers that carry products to make a project successful, brief info on bricks, links for flagstone sidewalks and many links to more information.
Not to be overlooked are the human resources in Curtis Park. Start with the Curtis Park Neighbors Design Review Committee. The committee has a two fold purpose: to encourage good, appropriate design for Curtis Park and to help the homeowner or developer through the Landmark process. The Design Review Committee may help with styles, architects, tradesmen, contractors, materials and more.
One of Our Favorite Websites on Old Houses:
Suppliers:
Architectural Salvage:
- Unassimilated – Local Resource at 26th & California in Curtis Park
Architectural Antiques & Historic Salvage, Historic doors, hardware, fireplace mantels, stained glass windows, lighting, metal work and so much more
(720) 214-4869 - Queen City Architectural Salvage
Classic antique building materials doors, door hardware, claw tubs, fireplace mantles, etc.
Window Restoration:
- Lyons Historic Windows
Window restoration. Assessment, Reproduction and Replacement - Phoenix Window Restoration Window Restoration, Reproduction, Storms & Screens
Building Supplies and Specialty Products:
Big box stores are NOT a good source for historic-styles and replacements. The trims and stair parts are not the correct dimensions for an old house as they are either too slim and small or too chunky. Also, they do not sell four panel interior doors or stock the right style exterior doors. Here are some of our favorite local sources.
- Alpine Lumber
Denver General Building Supplies, Lumber, Millwork, Specialty Items - Austin Hardwoods
Mouldings in stock, can be frabicated in MDF or choice of woods. Also custom work and can match an existing moulding. - Front Range Lumber
In stock popular moulding styles and lumber store - RW Specialties
Source for stair parts, trims, cedar shingles, columns, corbels, transom and pocket door hardware and more. - Vintage Millworks
Victorian Porch Parts, Millwork, Trims
Decorative Shingles:
- Allura
Fiber cement shingle boards. Half-round/fish scale, and octagon/dog ear - Cedar Country Lumber
Decorative shingle info and supplier - James Hardi
Hardi fiber cementShingle boards in half round/fishscale pattern, Smooth faced 4′ iber cement siding - Shakertown
Fancy cut, cedar shingles
Doors:
Traditional Metal Shingles:
- Berridge Manufacturing Co.
Victorian Metal Shingles for Mansard Roofs
Metal Work:
- DenCol Supplies
Metal work and Ornamental Metal.
Additional Information:
Flagstone Repair and Replacement
- Overview from Historic Denver
- Presentation Slides on Flagstone Repair by Diane Travis
- Recommended Resources/Contractors (from Diane Travis/Historic Denver)
- Recommended Resources & Contractors (from City of Denver Neighborhood Sidewalk Repair Program)
Brick for New Construction:
- Summit Brick
Plants in Lakewood and Pueblo - General Shale
Use smooth faced, pressed brick. Do not use tumbled, distressed, irregular edges, white wash, or smoked bricked. Fake old bricks look fake.
- Use a single color. No brick color mixes or blends. Single colors have natural color variations.
- It is common to order brick for the correct finish: smooth faced, pressed
- Compatible colors from Denver suppliers, all are medium red:
- General Shale. Colonial Satin
- Lakewood Brick. Medium Red
- Summit Brick. Bonfire
- Colored mortar adds interest and different effects. These mortar colors do not stand out on their own but rather, they blend with the brick.
- Standard mortar color highlights the individual brick and textures
- Gold or Golden Tan adds warmth and vibrancy (see 28th & California)
- Terracotta, matching the brick color, creates a unified, solid look (see 29th & Curtis)
- Wine/Deep Red/Maroon add richness and a solid look (see 2543 California)
More Information on Curtis Park:
- Denver Public Library’s website includes a neighborhood history guide on Curtis Park. It also includes a link to resources on the neighborhood’s history available at the library.
- Curtis-Champa National Register Historic District Nomination. This 1975 nomination form includes useful information on the history of Curtis Park. In 1983, a subsequent nomination expanded the district’s boundaries. The National Register District is an honorary designation which does not convey restrictions on individual property owners. The boundaries of the National Register District are different from the locally designated Curtis Park Historic District. The boundaries of the locally-designated district are found here.
Denver Landmark Preservation:
This is the division within the City and County of Denver that regulates permits within the locally designated Curtis Park Historic District.
- Denver Landmark Preservation general contact information.
- Historic Landmark Address Finder to confirm if your property is within the locally designated Curtis Park Historic District and Denver Zoning Address Finder to determine the zoning for your property.
- These are the Character-Defining Features of Curtis Park developed by Denver Landmark Preservation. City staff uses this list of features along with its general Design Guidelines for Denver Landmark Structures & Districts to evaluate proposed alterations, additions and new construction within the Curtis Park Historic District.
- Information on the historic design review process which is required for all building and zoning permits in historic districts.
- Information on state historic preservation tax credits for historic homes. You can use these credits to offset your state income tax bill.
- Denver Landmark Preservation has a Resources for Property Owners webpage
Other Denver Resources:
- Denver has a very helpful website that provides information on what work inside and outside of your home requires building permits, and that explains the permitting process by project type (bathroom remodel, fences, roofing, etc.)
- If you would like to know more about the history of your home, the Denver Building History Tutorial is a great place to start.
- You can also pay a visit to the Western History and Genealogy Department at the Denver Public Library-Central Library, 1200 Broadway where the librarians can direct you to resources to help you research the history of your home.
- Historic Denver, Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports historic preservation in Denver, with a Resources webpage for building owners. This website includes videos on historic preservation tax credits, window restoration and weatherization, brick mortar and wood trim restoration and energy efficiency for old homes. Members can obtain access to the organization’s contractor resource list which is updated regularly. The organization is also a good resource for information on historic preservation resources and grants.
Caring for Your Historic Home:
- The National Park Service has issued a series of Preservation Briefs which provide good practical information on how to complete specific rehabilitation projects on historic homes, such as preserving ornamental plaster, repairing historic windows, etc. Links to some of the most useful briefs for homeowners are provided below:
- Preservation Brief 1: Assessing Cleaning and Water-Repellant Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings
- Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Masonry Buildings
- Preservation Brief 3: Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings
- Preservation Brief 7: The Preservation of Historic Glazed Architectural Terra-Cotta
- Preservation Brief 9: The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows
- Preservation Brief 24: Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings
- Preservation Brief 29: The Repair, Replacement and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs
- Preservation Brief 33: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass
- Preservation Brief 42: The Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone
- Preservation Brief 47: Maintaining the Exterior of Small and Medium Size Historic Buildings
- The Wisconsin Historical Society has an excellent webpage How to Preserve Your Historic Homes, which includes links to many helpful articles on repairing and weatherproofing historic windows, doors, painting historic surfaces (including choosing exterior paint colors), roofs, wood trim, and building foundations. This includes a trio of informative articles on historic house foundations, including Historic Building Foundations, Identifying Problems with Your Stone Foundation, Identifying Problems with Your Historic Brick Foundation, and Preserving the Exterior Maintenance on Your Historic Building.
- The National Park Service’s Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings is the go to guide on how to make your home more energy efficient and sustainable, covering everything from insulation, green roofs and solar technology.
- Maintaining Your Historic Home: A Practical Guide for Homeowners. This publication was produced for a county in Pennsylvania, but is very user-friendly with great illustrations and tips on resolving common maintenance problems on historic homes. It includes a helpful home inspection checklist for property owners.
- The Heritage Building Manual from Canada is another thorough and user-friendly maintenance manual for historic homeowners, with inspection checklists and troubleshooting tables to help property owners diagnose maintenance problems and determine next steps. It covers all aspects of a historic home from foundations to roofs, windows and doors, energy efficiency and site drainage.
- The Old House Journal website has great information on products and services available to repair historic buildings, as well as “how to” articles on how to improve and repair your historic home.
- The city of Boulder has a two-part holistic and detailed guide on how to make every aspect of your historic home energy efficiency, Making Your Historic Building Energy Efficient: Volume 1 and Volume 2
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation has a webpage on historic windows, and a video on retrofitting historic windows
- The Window Preservation Alliance is a clearinghouse on historic windows, and the site including invaluable information on historic windows (go to the library page), energy efficiency of historic versus replacement windows, reports and studies. Download their handout: Top Ten Reasons to Restore or Repair Windows
- If you are an Xcel Energy customer, learn about energy audits for your home, and sign up for an audit rebate.
- City and County of Denver webpage on resources to help homeowners improve energy efficiency of homes
This web content was added in 2019, and is accurate to the best of our abilities. Contact Denver Landmark Preservation for the most up-to-date and accurate information on the city’s design review and permit requirements.