How Brad Weiman built Colorado’s boldest design-build firm, Work Shop Colorado 

Unlike many custom home builders, Brad Weiman’s journey into the industry was driven by his determination, passion for learning, and self-motivation. Having started his own window cleaning company at the age of 16, Brad’s entrepreneurial spirit has since led him to establish Work Shop Colorado (Work Shop), a full-service design and construction firm creating beautiful modern homes throughout Colorado.  

As the state’s only self-performing design-build developer, Work Shop does everything from design to construction, including the custom fabrication of all steel, glass, and wood elements in its 24,000-square-foot fabrication shop. Offering a unique collaboration between design, fabrication, and construction, it’s no surprise that Work Shop has grown to its current successes.  

“I started off as a 16-year-old entrepreneur with a window cleaning business, which quickly turned into a painting and exterior construction company,” Brad explains. “As we got more clients, they began asking if we could do additional work like bathroom remodels and additions, and by the time I was 18, I had 20-to-30 of my friends working for me. We never said no to anything; I learned by trial and fire, making mistakes along the way but gaining extensive experience in construction, learning everything from framing and roofing to tiling and plumbing.  

Construction DNA 

“After building an entire home, we noticed some design flaws and inefficiencies and embarked on designing homes ourselves. We built our first in-house designed home in 2010, which was an interesting time amid the mortgage crisis. However, our house sold faster than any other in the neighborhood and we figured it must have been for one of two reasons: either our marketing efforts or the design features. Hoping it would be the latter, we designed and built another home, which sold just as quickly, and we gradually gained a reputation in the area. We then had multiple clients interested in our homes and made the strategic decision to embark on custom homebuilding.” 

Considering his humble beginnings, we ask Brad what inspired him to start and grow a business at such a young age. “I began experimenting with construction out of curiosity,” he reflects. “My parents moved to a new construction neighborhood and I, along with my friends, would often get in trouble for searching dumpsters for old lumber to build treehouses. Being around construction sites at a young age motivated me to do something similar; I was so interested in homebuilding that I would sneak into sites at times when I definitely shouldn’t have been there just to see how the houses were built. Coincidentally, I found out around two years ago that my great uncles owned a custom home building company in the same area many decades ago, so perhaps construction runs in my blood too.” 

In-house capabilities 

Brad then turns his attention to the company’s extensive capabilities, including its fabrication division, which consists of an iron shop and a wood shop. “The iron shop looks after both ornamental and structural steel fabrication, including unique staircases, wine racks, mantels, fireplaces, and even planters, as well as the necessary structural steel,” he elaborates. “The wood shop manufactures all the cabinetry for our homes, particularly for kitchens, vanities, and closets, as well as custom woodworking projects. Having these in-house capabilities with architects, interior designers, and project managers employed directly by us gives us a significant competitive advantage and enables our design team to take the lid off the creative envelope.  

“Over time, our homes have become known as ‘Work Shop homes.’ Although I’m not entirely sure that ‘Work Shop homes’ have a specific style, if I had to define it, I’d say we specialize in Colorado mountain modern with an industrial flair. When I started building homes, my goal was to keep the essential three elements of a home – concrete, wood, and steel – exposed. Where other builders cover up these elements, we emphasize them, transforming perceptions of these key components into interesting interior design features.” 

Although Work Shop initially offered single-family custom homes, it has since evolved to working in multi-home communities. “We quickly realized the efficiencies gained when building multiple homes, so we started off with six homes, then ten, and we’re currently involved with two communities of more than 30 homes each,” Brad explains. “However, we’re mindful to retain our boutique, custom feeling. We’re currently involved in a unique community, The Signature in Castle Rock, where we’ve perfected our best floorplans from over the years to build exquisite houses within a community. The site has an incredible view of the Rocky Mountains from almost every lot, so we’ve designed each home to maximize the views, with West-facing entertainment areas, kitchens, and primary bedrooms. We’re also incorporating a lot of glass in the design to not only take advantage of the views, but to bring the outside in.” 

Brad is quick to point out that Work Shop’s success is not something he achieved alone. “Work Shop wouldn’t be where it is today without the support of my amazing partner and our skilled team,” he says sincerely. “Our success stems from the expertise of this incredible group, which has taken years to build. It’s their dedication, passion, and talent that have allowed us to grow and produce our best work.” 

Brad’s story is truly inspiring, and it’s clear that he has come a long way from building treehouses using scrap lumber. With him at the helm, Work Shop is sure to continue to deliver unique homes and elevate standards of perfection across Colorado. 

“We’re projected to add 35 percent growth this year, which is great considering where the housing market sits today,” Brad shares. “We’ve seen great success in our communities with sales already surpassing my expectations; we’re not only selling awesome homes and thoughtful floor plans but also selling lifestyles.  

“We’re currently engaged in some land deals as we’re looking to backfill our pipeline over the next year or so,” he concludes. “We’ll continue to perfect our craft, creating greater internal efficiencies and maintaining a great team of people to fuel our growth moving forward. I’d love to see Work Shop continue to grow as a steady pace that allows us to maintain the quality craftsmanship we’ve become known for.”   

www.workshop-colorado.com