A wide range of houses in one small city
Golden's older neighborhoods near downtown include houses from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some have stone or brick foundations and small cellars that were dug for storage, with dirt or thin concrete floors and walls that were never meant to keep water out. Those spaces often smell earthy no matter what, and the goal is usually to keep that air from reaching living areas rather than to make the cellar itself odor-free.
Newer subdivisions on the hills and mesas around town look more like the rest of the west metro: full basements, walkouts and finished lower levels. Like Green Mountain in Lakewood, they deal with water flowing from uphill and wind-driven snow piling on one side of the house.
Golden is also home to the Colorado School of Mines, and there are many rental houses and lower-level apartments. Rentals that turn over often may have had several tenants with very different habits, and basement units in older houses can be especially prone to musty air.
Historic cellar compared with modern basement
Old cellar or partial basement
- Stone, brick or rubble foundation walls that pass moisture.
- Dirt or patched floor in places.
- Low ceilings and little ventilation.
- Best handled by isolating it from the house and controlling humidity.
Modern full or walkout basement
- Poured concrete walls and slab with perimeter drains.
- Finished rooms with carpet and drywall.
- Odor more often from humidity, storage or leaks.
- Handled like basements elsewhere in the metro.
Golden-specific considerations
| Factor | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Historic foundations | Stone and old mortar pass water and soil gas | Ask for evaluation by someone experienced with old masonry before sealing |
| Historic district rules | Exterior changes may need review | Ask the City of Golden whether your property is in a designated district before exterior drainage work |
| Hillside lots | Uphill runoff and snow drifts | Check swales, downspouts and window wells on the high side |
| Rentals | Frequent turnover and limited owner presence | Owners should inspect lower units between tenants |
| Clear Creek proximity | Lower lots may see higher groundwater in runoff season | Check flood maps and track humidity in spring |
For owners of older Golden homes
- Seal and weatherstrip the door or hatch between the cellar and the house.
- Keep the cellar free of stored fabric, paper and cardboard.
- Measure cellar humidity; run a dehumidifier only if the space can be closed off.
- Look for gaps in floors above the cellar where air rises into rooms.
- Have any old pipe insulation or other suspect materials tested before disturbing them.
- Ask the City of Golden about permits before structural, drainage or encapsulation work.
Common questions
- Can an old stone cellar ever be fully dry?
- Usually not completely. Old stone and rubble foundations tend to pass some moisture. The practical goal is control: keeping humidity down, keeping odor-absorbing items out, and separating the cellar air from the house.
General information for Lakewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.