Home Improvement Contractors Near You in Laporte
Exterior Remodeling Built for Laporte's Foothills
If your Laporte home sits outside Fort Collins city limits, your project runs through Larimer County, whose building division covers all of the county's unincorporated areas. That matters more than it used to. Since January 1, 2026, the county's version of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code has treated all of unincorporated Larimer County as wildland-urban interface. So every Laporte home outside city limits is covered once a project gets big enough to trigger the code, not just homes on a hazard map.
Locals know why. The 2012 High Park Fire burned more than 87,000 acres in the county's northern foothills and destroyed 257 homes, and more than 220,700 acres burned in Larimer County between 2019 and 2025. Since 2007, our team has provided remodeling services across Northern Colorado, and our mission is to keep the foothills and plains of Northern Colorado at their best. In Laporte, that means siding, trim, decks, fences, windows and doors that look right and hold up when embers fly.
Siding and Trim: Know the 25 Percent Line
Small siding repairs stay simple. The code doesn't apply when less than 25 percent of the surface area of all exterior walls is affected. Replace 25 percent or more, though, and the county requires the whole exterior wall surface to be redone in compliant materials, with the first 5 feet around the house brought up to the code's immediate-zone rules. A re-side that size needs a county permit too.
You still have good options. Wall coverings can be noncombustible, fire-retardant-treated wood or ignition-resistant materials. Vinyl siding is allowed over a 1-hour fire-rated wall assembly or noncombustible wall construction. Wood siding has to be fire-retardant-treated at the factory, and wood siding and framing must sit at least 6 inches above the earth.
Trim gets the same attention. Eaves and soffits need a fire-resistant underside (noncombustible, ignition-resistant or another approved option), fascias need protected backing, and gutters and downspouts have to be noncombustible. Decorative trim up to 5 percent of the wall area is exempt, so there's still room for curb appeal. If your fascia and soffit are due, plan them with the siding and do the job once.
Decks and Fences Close to the House
A deck is where embers like to settle, so the code looks hard at the walking surface. When a deck project falls under the code, the walking surface on an unenclosed deck has to be noncombustible, Class A rated, fire-retardant-treated or ignition-resistant. Composite decking qualifies with at least a Class B rating, which keeps plenty of low-maintenance looks on the table. A deck that's no more than 30 inches above grade and doesn't serve a required exit door doesn't need a county permit.
Fences are about distance. Fencing within 8 feet of a covered home, or up to the property line when that's closer, must be noncombustible or ignition-resistant. Vinyl fencing may be allowed, and fences more than 8 feet from the house are exempt. A fence only needs a county permit when it's over 7 feet tall and solid enough that wind can't pass through.
Not sure where your property stands? Poudre Fire Authority, whose area includes Laporte, offers free, one-hour visits that assess wildfire risks to your home and recommend priorities for home hardening. It's a smart first step before you pick materials.
Windows and Doors in the Foothills
Glass is a weak point in a wildfire, which is why the Colorado State Forest Service recommends tempered glass, with two or more panes. When a larger project brings your home under the wildfire code, exterior windows and glazed doors need tempered glass, multilayered glazed panels, glass block or at least a 20-minute fire rating. Exterior doors have to be noncombustible, solid-core wood at least 1¾ inches thick, or 20-minute rated.
Simple swaps stay simple. Replacing a window with one the same size or smaller doesn't need a county permit, though the new unit still has to meet energy code (a U-factor of 0.30 or lower). Change the header and you'll need a permit.
Wind is the other foothills factor. The National Weather Service notes that winds of 60 to near 100 mph occur in and near the foothills around Fort Collins, so replacement windows and new doors need to be fastened and flashed for it.
Why Laporte Homeowners Choose Country Construction
Since 2007, we've provided quality craftsmanship to residents and property managers across Northern Colorado. We're a licensed and insured company, we're LEED- and EPA-certified, and we remain compliant with all building codes and practices. Owner James Westers has been recognized as a Gold Star Installer for Lowe's of Fort Collins. We handle windows, doors, decks, exterior trim, fencing and siding, so one call covers a project that touches more than one part of the house.
Get a Free Quote in Laporte
From a deck railing repair to re-siding a foothills home, we'll talk through your material options and what the county's code means for your project before work starts. Get in touch today for a free quote on your Laporte home improvement project.
Nearby Areas We Serve
We also build and repair decks, fences, windows, doors and siding in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath and Johnstown. See every town we cover on our Northern Colorado service areas page.