Built on Real Colorado Experience
I'm Jonathan Shea, owner of The Colorado Handyman. I grew up doing construction work in Washington State and have been building in Colorado Springs since 2013. Working in two genuinely different climates early in my career taught me something most contractors never have to learn: what works somewhere else often fails here.
Washington is wet, moderate, and sea-level. Colorado Springs is dry, extreme, and sitting at 6,035 feet where the sun is harder on materials, the winters are more aggressive, and the ground moves more than most contractors account for. When I got here I didn't just bring my tools — I had to rebuild my material specs, my timelines, and my approach from the ground up. That adaptation took years. It's also what I bring to every project I take on in the Pikes Peak region.
What Makes This Business Different
Owner on every project. When you call, you talk to me. When the estimate is done, I've done the walkthrough. When the work is happening, I'm there. You don't get a crew chief you've never met or a subcontractor I'm managing from a distance.
Flat-rate written estimates. Every project gets a detailed written estimate before work begins. The number on that estimate is the number you pay. I don't bill hourly and hand you a surprise invoice — and I don't add "unexpected findings" charges without stopping, showing you what I found, and getting your written approval first.
PPRBD permit expertise. I know the Pikes Peak Regional Building Code. I know which projects require permits and which don't, and I handle the entire permit process — application, plan review, and inspections — on every project that requires it. No surprises at inspection time.
Colorado-specific materials. UV-rated stains for exterior wood. Polyaspartic floor coatings over epoxy in unheated Colorado garages. Hard-water-resistant fixtures for bathrooms. UC4B pressure-treated lumber for ground contact. These aren't upsells — they're what actually holds up here, and I won't spec anything less.
How I Work
Free written estimates on every project — from a $200 door repair to a $40,000 kitchen renovation. During the walkthrough I'll tell you what I see, what I recommend, and what it costs. Straightforwardly, without overselling scope you don't need.
You get a realistic timeline, a clear schedule, and one point of contact start to finish. When the project is done, I do the final walkthrough with you personally.
My standard for every job is simple: would you recommend me to your neighbor? That's a more honest measure than any review platform, and it's the one I actually build this business around.