Custom Kitchens for Colorado Springs Homes
Castle Rock Kitchens designs and remodels kitchens in Colorado Springs, with kitchen design, custom cabinetry and construction planned as one job. The city's housing runs from Victorian and early twentieth-century homes in districts the city recognizes, such as the Near North End and Weber-Wahsatch, to houses built in the last few decades farther from downtown.
General William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs in 1871 as a resort community, and it incorporated in 1886. An older home here usually brings original windows, plaster and room proportions that were set long before anyone wanted an island. Newer houses tend to have the opposite problem: plenty of space, and a layout chosen by a builder, not by the family who cooks in it.
What 6,035 Feet Means at the Range and Hood
The city publishes its elevation as 6,035 feet. Under the National Fuel Gas Code, gas appliance input is derated about 4 percent for every 1,000 feet above 2,000, which comes to roughly 16 percent here. A burner rated at 18,000 BTU delivers closer to 15,100. Some ranges also need a high-altitude conversion kit to burn cleanly, so the manufacturer's altitude specification belongs in the design before the cabinet opening is drawn.
Water boils at about 201°F at this elevation, based on Colorado State University Extension's high-altitude figures. Boiling and simmering simply take longer, which is one more reason to size burners and ventilation carefully.
Permits Through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department
Residential permits in Colorado Springs are issued by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, which also serves El Paso County and nearby towns including Monument, Manitou Springs and Fountain. A remodel that moves plumbing, gas or electrical, or opens a wall, generally needs PPRBD review and inspections. Swapping cabinets and counters in place may not. PPRBD makes the call, so the scope should be confirmed with them before a start date is promised.
Hail and the Kitchen's Openings to the Outside
Hail is a genuine planning factor here. The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association reports that a single storm on July 28, 2016 caused an estimated $352.8 million in insured losses, with about 33,200 property claims. For a kitchen, the exposure is at the envelope: skylights, new windows, and the vent cap or makeup air intake added for a stronger hood. Those details deserve as much thought as the cabinetry inside.
Design, Cabinetry and Construction in Colorado Springs
Most projects here use all three disciplines. The kitchen design work settles layout, clearances and ventilation; custom cabinetry is drawn to the room's measured dimensions; and the remodel itself follows the sequence of permits, rough-in, inspection and installation.
Colorado Springs Kitchen Remodeling Questions
Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Colorado Springs?
It depends on the scope. Work that moves plumbing, gas, electrical or walls generally needs a permit from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. Replacing cabinets and countertops in place may not. PPRBD decides, so confirm before scheduling.
Will a gas range perform differently in Colorado Springs?
Yes. At about 6,035 feet, gas input is derated roughly 16 percent under the National Fuel Gas Code, so an 18,000 BTU burner delivers closer to 15,100 BTU. Many ranges need a high-altitude kit; check the specification before ordering.
Do you also work in Monument and the Tri-Lakes area?
Yes. Our service area runs along the Front Range from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, including Monument and the communities around it.
Nearby Service Areas
Our Front Range service area runs from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins.