What the housing looks like
Harris Park, near the area around 72nd and 76th avenues and Lowell and Bradburn boulevards, is often described as the historic heart of Westminster. Mixed in with later houses are small early twentieth-century homes, some with plaster walls, wood lath, balloon framing and additions built in several eras. Around it, the southern part of the city filled in through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s with brick and frame ranches, split-levels and small apartment buildings.
That variety matters for a fire rebuild. A single house may have an original section with plaster and lath, a 1960s addition with drywall, and a more recent kitchen. Each part reacts differently to heat, smoke and water, and each may need a different repair approach.
Construction features and what they mean after a fire
| Feature | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Balloon framing in early houses | Wall cavities can run from foundation to attic without fire blocking, letting fire and smoke travel between floors | Was the full height of each affected wall cavity checked? Will fire blocking be added? |
| Plaster and lath walls | Heavier and harder to match; holds smoke differently than drywall | Can damaged plaster be patched, or does the room need drywall over or in place of it? |
| Older wiring | Ungrounded circuits or older systems may be found when walls open | Which wiring changes are fire damage and which are code-required? |
| Mixed additions | Different eras of framing and finishes under one roof | Is the repair plan different for each section? |
| Older paint and materials | Lead paint and asbestos-containing materials are more likely | Has testing been done before demolition? |
Questions specific to older Westminster homes
- Is this property a designated local historic landmark or within any area with design review? Ask the City of Westminster's planning staff.
- If so, do exterior repairs need approval before permits are issued?
- Does my insurance policy include enough ordinance-or-law coverage for an older house?
- Will the contractor salvage original trim, doors or hardware that can be cleaned and reused?
- Is there a plan to match plaster texture in rooms that were only partly damaged?
Local notes
- Permits
- City of Westminster building division
- County
- This part of the city lies in Adams County; confirm with the parcel record
- Nearby
- Southern Westminster borders unincorporated Adams County and Federal Heights, so confirm jurisdiction for edge addresses
General information for Westminster, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.