Is your old house getting you down?  Would you like to finish off your basement, modernize your kitchen, add a deck, or just take care of some nagging repairs?  If so, several experienced contractors in the area can help.

Homepro offers general remodeling and repairs in the Niwot/Longmont area.  Although Homepro specializes in finishing basements and building decks, the company would like to build custom homes in the future.  Jim Bowman started Homepro in 1996, after working in this field for over seven years.  Bowman has one employee and subcontracts out specialty work such as electrical, heating or plumbing jobs. 

Most of Homepro’s larger jobs are done on a fixed-price basis, after providing the customer with a free “ballpark” estimate.  For smaller household repairs, he charges for time and materials at $50 per hour for a two-man crew.  No advance deposit is required. 

Bowman says that during the past two years he has finished several basements in Niwot and has garnered a good reputation and excellent references.  “I pride myself on being flexible and easy to work with,” adds Bowman.  “I do my best to make sure my customer is happy.” He honors callbacks from customers at no charge during the first year should workmanship problems arise. 

Also specializing in finishing basements, as well as remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, is Lookout Renovations.  It has 30 employees and three offices in the Longmont, Boulder and Denver areas. 

According to Brian Cookson, one of Lookout’s partners, the company is one of the few local contractors with its own electrical division and mechanical license.  The company has been in business for 18 years and is a member of the Better Business Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce in both Longmont and Boulder.  Cookson adds that Lookout is also on the “preferred contractor list” of television newsman Tom Martino. 

In addition to remodeling, Lookout also does handyman repairs.  “We built our business on providing that kind of service,” says Cookson, “and we continue to offer it.” Most jobs, including small repairs and larger contracts, are done on a fixed-price basis after a free estimate is given. 

Small jobs that are difficult to estimate are done on a time-and-materials basis.  Lookout’s hourly rate ranges from $38.50 (general jobs) to $45 (jobs requiring an electrical or mechanical license).  An advance deposit for materials and scheduling costs is required for jobs over $5,000.  According to Cookson, Lookout is unusual in providing a two-year warranty on all its workmanship and in having one of the largest work crews in the area.

R & R Enterprises of Longmont specializes in building decks, finishing basements, and remodeling kitchens and bathrooms.  It also offers extensive handyman services.  Owner Dan Rodgers says his company will “repair just about anything, except roofs.”  Repairs are billed at $60 an hour, with no minimum job size requirement.  Larger jobs, however, are generally done on a fixed-price basis after giving customers a free estimate.  An advance payment of 50 percent is required for jobs over $5,000. 

Rodgers started his company about six years ago, after working as an airplane mechanic for eight years.  The company’s slogan, “A Team of Professionals,” refers to its four employees and the group of subcontractors it regularly works with.  Although R & R does not offer a formal warranty, Rodgers says that if a customer has a problem with the quality of the work, he will do what is needed to satisfy that customer.

In Niwot, Timberline Builders does everything from general household maintenance to building custom homes.  Its niche, however, is finishing basements, building decks, and remodeling rooms. 

Owner Steve Preitauer started the company 15 years ago and now has a crew of people that work for him, as well as subcontractors he can call on for specialty masterwork, like plumbing and electricity.  Timberline is also a member of the Better Business Bureau. 

Preitauer says he prides himself on providing custom work that is carefully tailored to each customer’s desires, rather than being “speed-oriented.”  He is willing to work on either a fixed-price or time-and-materials basis, whichever the customer prefers.

Timberline’s hourly charges range from $20 to $35, depending on the expertise required, averaging $30 an hour.  Estimates and plans for smaller jobs, such as basements and decks, are provided free of charge, but there is a fee for a detailed proposal for larger jobs.  Timberline asks for 20 percent of the job’s cost in advance.  Preitauer offers a one-year warranty on all work he does and his subcontractors offer an additional one-year warranty on their work.

For more information, contact Jim Bowman at Homepro, 303-776-1942; Brian Cookson at Lookout Renovations, 303-772-3105; Dan Rodgers at R & R Enterprises , 303-775-2878; and Steve Preitauer at Timberline Builders, 303-604-1216. 

Photos courtesy of Steve Preitauer

The dramatic difference that finishing your basement can make is shown in these before and after photos taken in a local home where Timberline Builders was contracted to do the work.