About Louisville
Louisville is a Colorado city located just west of Boulder. Originally established as a mining town in the late 1800s, Louisville became incorporated in 1882. Over the subsequent years, they city continued the to grow and develop due to its abundant resources of coal.
Fast forward to today and Louisville is a thriving place – known for its beautiful 1,700 acres of open spaces, rich history, quaint neighborhoods, plenty of great restaurants and bars, and more!
Louisville Neighborhood Breakdown:
Are you considering making the move to the Louisville area? Well the more you know about the city, the better! Having done home inspections in the Colorado Front Range for 18+ years, we know quite a bit about the Louisville neighborhoods. Let’s dive in!
The region can be broken down into three main areas: North Louisville, Central Louisville, and South Louisville. North Louisville stretches down from the Louisville Reservoir to the W Pine St. Central Louisville is the area bordered by W Pine St to its north, down to W Dillon Rd to its south. Finally, South Louisville is located from W Dillon Rd down to the neighboring cities, Superior and Broomfield
North Louisville Neighborhoods
This part of the city has no shortage of open spaces and outdoor recreational areas – from Harper Lake to Coyote Run Open Space. This is also where you can find the downtown area, which has a wide range of charming restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, fitness centers, retail shopping and more!
Housing options range quite a bit in North Louisville. You will find a substantial inventory of single family homes built between the 1970s and the early 90s. Most of these these homes range from 3-6 bedrooms with 2-3 car garages; and they can be found in quaint suburban neighborhoods with lots of mature trees and foliage.
When inspecting homes from the 1970s, our inspectors can usually anticipate certain era-based defects. For instance, during this time period, sewer drainage lines were primarily clay or cast iron. Over the decades, these types of piping materials are susceptible to damage and/or corrosion. The best way to examine the sewer line condition in a home is to have a sewer scope inspection – one of the add-on services we offer!
Another important item to look at in 1970s homes is the electrical configuration. If the electrical systems have not been updated, inspectors may come across problematic materials, such as aluminum wiring or Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels. Both aluminum wiring and Federal Pacific panels have been discontinued for decades, as they have proven to be serious fire hazards. But we will still find them in some older homes to this day. In the case we do come across these electrical defects, we will recommend immediate evaluation and repair.
When it comes to 90s homes, one of the main issues we see is major systems, such as furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, boilers etc, that need to be replaced. The average life span of these types of devices is generally 10 -20 years. So if these systems have not been updated in early 90s homes, it is likely that it’s time for a replacement.
Our inspectors also need to stay vigilant about are certain problematic plumbing materials that were prevalent in the 90s. Piping materials such as polybutylene and Zurn PEX fittings turned out be prone to corrosion and damage, and have been the source some of serious water damage throughout the years. We will always call these materials out for further evaluation, whether or not we see any visible damage or leaks.
Central Louisville Neighborhoods
Central Louisville saw significant growth during the 80s through the late 90s. So you can expect to see a good mix of town homes, condos and single family homes from those decades.
Just like its northern neighbor, this region has no shortage of parks and open spaces. Why not take the kids to the playground and the dogs to the dog park over at Louisville Community Park, or cast a line into the Warembourg Fishing Pond? If you are an outdoor enthusiast, there is plenty to do here!
Similar to 1970s homes, we sometimes come across 80s homes that still have Federal Pacific panels. It is also commonplace for 1980s electric breakers to be without AFCIs or Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters. AFCIs are crucial on any modern day electrical system, because they prevent electrical fires from occurring. An inspector will surely call for repair if the proper AFCI setup is missing.
Our inspectors are also going to be paying close attention to the exterior components of the home. The Colorado Front Range is known to have some serious hail storms that can do quite a number on your roof, siding and windows. So we are going to be on the look out for any serious hail damage.
Be aware that most of the neighborhoods in this area are HOA-controlled. It is a good idea to get familiar with the HOA rules and regulations in the area before the pre-purchase inspection. That way you can relay any pertinent info to your inspector.
South Louisville Neighborhoods
The majority of the homes in this section were built starting in the mid 2000s up to brand new builds (at the time of this writing). You’ll find a good amount of larger, 4-6 bedroom single family homes. The houses in this area also tend be on the pricier side. Features of this region include the beautiful Coal Creek Golf Course and the Monarch High and PK-8 schools.
Though these houses will certainly have less issues than older homes, it is still a good idea to get a home inspection. Even when it comes to brand new houses, things can be overlooked and mistakes can be made. You just never know!
One key feature we look out for in mid 2000s homes is EIFS siding. This was a popular style of stucco-like material used heavily in the 90s and 00s. However, it turned out to have design flaws that made it susceptible to moisture issues. Although a newer version of EIFS has been developed to avoid the moisture issues, there are still many houses out there with original EIFS stucco siding. If our inspectors find any signs of moisture damage or intrusion on or around the EIFS siding, further evaluation will be recommended.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention radon testing. Radon is a radioactive, poisonous gas, that is prevalent throughout the Front Range. And it can be present in any home, no matter its age. Conducting a radon test is the best way to find out if any radon gas present at a property. Even if the the home has a radon mitigation system, it is still a wise idea to test – just to make sure the mitigation system is working properly. Scott Home Service proudly offers professional radon testing services.
Louisville Home Inspections
It’s safe to say that Louisville certainly has much to offer. It boasts a blend of charming neighborhoods and outstanding schools, making it an ideal place to raise a family. It’s also a prime location, just about 15 minutes outside of Boulder and about 25 minutes north of Denver, making it ideal for those who like to commute to the city for work or for fun. Not to mention, Louisville is just around the corner from the majestic Rocky Mountains- one of the great wonders of America!
There are many reasons to make the move to Louisville. Who knows – maybe it’s the right place for you!
If you are under contract and in need of a Louisville home Inspection, we encourage you to consider Scott Home Services. We have been at the forefront of CO home inspections for almost 2 decades, and it is our goal to help you find a safe, healthy and comfortable home.
For more information about our services, visit us online; or you can contact us and book your services today!
