Project Update: Office Remodel at the Catholic Charities of Maine

We recently started a new project at the Catholic Charities of Maine in downtown Portland, ME and we wanted to share pictures with everyone so you can see the work in progress.  We are in the middle of opening up offices into build a much bigger open space for workstations, new floors and natural lighting as well as creating room for more storage.

If you are interested in having Great Falls Construction remodel your office please contact us at info@greatfallsinc.com or visit www.greatfallsinc.com

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Horton’s in Maine set to have interior remodeled completed by Great Falls Construction

Last week we sent part of our construction crew team over to Tim Horton’s in Portland, Auburn and Biddeford, Maine so we could install a new fireplace wall in the main dining area of the cafe and bake shop.  This is not the first time we have worked with the international company as we built a brand new Tim Horton’s in the Westgate parking lot in Portland, ME.

The new wall we are building will be used to house a new electric fireplace and house a flat screen tv for the customers viewing pleasure.  Going beyond framing and building a new wall for Tim Horton’s we will be adding specialty seating, new tables and decorative pendant lighting in each location as well.

These pictures show you the remodel in progress:

Fireplace Wall Framed

Project Underway in Biddeford

Drywall and Taped

Ready for Tile

Biddeford Wall Framed

Portland Underway

DIY Summer Painting Tips

Now that summer has arrived and you can open your windows and let in the fresh air in, it’s is a great time to catch up on your indoor painting. We are happy to provide you with a few of the tips we use on any of our jobs to make sure the paint matches the professional look on all of our construction jobs.

Primer before paint always:
Primer provides a great surface for the paint and it will help to bring out the paint’s true color.

Use the tools the professionals use:
Use an edge pad or cutting brush for clean lines around doorframes, ceiling edges and corners so your walls look great — down to every last detail. Rollers instead of brushes will speed up your project and give an even coat to your walls

Preparation is key:
The surface must be clean, non-glossy and in good condition. Make all repairs to the wall before you start any painting job and feel free to wash them down with a clean sponge.

How much paint will you need:
The pros recommend one gallon for every 400 square feet. Covering textured, rough or unprimed surfaces may require more

Check the weather forecast before you start:
Moisture in the air keeps water-based paint from drying. Skip the humid afternoon paint project!

Door knob tip:
Small plastic bag over your doorknobs will avoid getting paint where it’s not wanted. If you don’t have plastic, make sure you pick up a roll of painters tape to wrap the edges of the mounting plate. There are several different styles of tape that are based on time of usage. Check the label or ask the service person to guide you with the right product to match your project

Clean finish:
If you’re looking for paint in high-traffic areas, start with an eggshell or satin finish which allows the walls to be easily cleaned. A semi-gloss finish is typically applied to doors, trim and casings for added protection and cleanable surfaces. High gloss in the bathroom and kitchen for shiny and durable finish, a parent’s best friend. However, the shinier the finish the more visible wall imperfections stand out so make sure your wall prep work is complete before you apply the glossy finish.

Don’t look back:
Once an area starts to dry, it’s best to leave it alone. Going back over it can leave marks and color streaks in the paint’s surface.

You’re not painting your floor:
Use a drop cloth. It’s the cheap, easy way to save yourself from spilling on the floor

Wall plate advice:
Remove all wall plates and tape off light switches and electrical outlets. This will give your project a professional look when you are finished. Too many DIY’s paint right over the outlet. This is an unsafe practice that can damage the outlets or even cause an electrical fire.

With these easy professional tips you’ll be painting looked the pros and have an amazing looking new room! If you have questions about how you can paint like a professional please contact us at info@greatfallsinc.com or visitwww.greatfallsinc.com

Tankless Water Heaters for a Greener Home

Great Falls Construction wants to be your leader in green construction and design for your home or commercial building.  We are always researching to find the latest products that will allow you, your family or employees the ability to reduce the amount of water and energy wasted everyday without even knowing it.  Our efforts to use green products and use sustainable building techniques will allow you to go about your normal lifestyle while still having a positive impact on the planet!

With all of that being said we would like to introduce you to the Rinnai Tankless Water Heater.

Did you know that your hot water tank continues to heat and re-heat water throughout the day even when you are not using it?  Think about how much energy needs to be used to keep a 30-40 gallon tank of water warm 24/7 365 days a year….

With the Rinnai Tankless water heater there is no more waste.  Only when you get into the shower, turn on the dishwasher or go to wash your hands does the Rinnai unit turn on and start to heat the incoming water.  The unit’s heating elements are ignited and warm up the water on an as needed basis instead of having the water pre-heated for future use.  Once you shut the hot water tap off the unit shuts down and the unit uses zero energy while sitting idle waiting for the next person to use hot water.

The new tankless water heaters claim to be able to save up to 40% on home energy costs and have met the approval for an Energy Star rating by meeting the guidelines of the U.S. EPA.  To top off all of the benefits you will get from a tankless water heater you will save space in your home and you will reduce the chances of having your traditional water heater leak and cause water damage.

Great Falls Construction has worked on many homes and commercial buildings including their own to help reduce energy waste.  If you are interested in remodeling, building or installing a unit that will help you to reduce yours please contact us at info@greatfallsinc.com

7 Things you don’t know about Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is probably the fastest up and coming natural flooring material we have seen in a long time.  The Europeans have been using it for centuries and not it is starting to get a lot of attention here in the US.

The Cork Oak Tree’s life span is up to 250 years and after the first 25 years of growth it can be stripped of up to 50% of its bark without causing any harm to the tree itself.  After the first harvest the trees bark can be stripped every 9 years and this can be repeated every 9 years until eventually old age will kill the tree.   The harvesting itself does not harm the tree as it will re-grow its bark.

Besides being a renewable product cork flooring provides many other benefits as well.  Naturally cork is made up of a substance of suberin, this   substance is and insect repellent and will protect cork from being burnt.  When cork is burnt it will not release any harmful toxins unlike other floor surfaces.

 7 Things You May Not Know About Cork Floors

1. Cork is natural
2. Cork flooring can be repaired.
3. Cork flooring is great for Maine winters because it is warm and will insulate but the heat and the cold.
4. Cork is a sound absorber and reduces noise throughout the house
5. Cork is easy on the back and feet
6. If you have allergies or just like a clean house; because of a substance called suberin, cork is resistant to bacteria, mold, mildew, bugs and dust mites.
7. Cork is fire resistant
8. Cork is a renewable substance

Construction Industries Most Important Bill of the Year – Project Labor Agreements: State of Maine

Great Falls Construction would like to express the importance of a bill going into session: LD 1257 -  An Act Regarding Labor Contracts for Public Works Projects.

What does this mean for the construction workers of the State of Maine?

This bill is sponsored by Senator Deb Plowman and is extremely important as it would prohibit the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLA’s) for public works projects that use state funding of $50,000 or more.  PLA’s discriminate against and exclude over 85% of Maine’s construction workforce (which is non-unionized) because they require that successful bidders sign labor agreements with unions.

Great Falls Construction and the Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine believe that contracts for public works projects should be awarded based upon a contractor’s merit and the lowest responsible bid- not your labor affiliation.

Opponents of this legislation (the unions) will argue that projects under Project Labor Agreements increase safety, prevent cost overruns, and avoid project delays. We know this is not the case.  Take for example one of the most infamous PLA’s in American history: the “Big Dig”.

To the tune of 11.8 billion dollars over budget and multiple years late in completion.  This PLA project was one of the most costly overruns in American Construction history and the American tax payers had to pick up the bill.  This doesn’t include a number of union workers deaths and massive leakage discovered after The cost of the Big Dig to taxpayers and members of our industry is simply unacceptable. Hundreds more of these cases are documented all across the United States.

This bill can’t pass without your help. Here’s what you can do to help us pass it:

1.    Send an email to your legislator and members of the State and Local Government Committee. Tell them:

• That you believe contracts should be awarded based on merit, no one’s labor affiliation.
• About your safety track record, record of successful project completion, on time and under budget, despite the fact that you do not belong to a labor union.
• That you believe Project Labor Agreements discriminate against over 85% of Maine’s construction industry that chooses not to belong to a union.
• That PLA’s are wasteful of taxpayer dollars and numerous studies have indicated that PLA’s actually inflate the cost of projects by an average of 12-18%.

2.    Attend the public hearing and speak in favor of LD 1257!

Emails can be sent to:

Senator Douglas A. Thomas (R-Somerset)

Senator Ronald F. Collins (R-York)

Senator Nancy B. Sullivan (D-York)

Representative H. David Cotta (R-China)

Representative Lance Evans Harvell (R-Farmington

Representative Bradley S. Moulton (R-York)

Representative Michael Celli (R-Brewer)

Representative Beth P. Turner (R-Burlington)

Representative Andrea M. Boland (D-Sanford)

Representative Bryan T. Kaenrath (D-South Portland)

Representative Brian D. Bolduc (D-Auburn)

Representative Alan M. Casavant (D-Biddeford)

Representative Anne P. Graham (D-North Yarmouth

For more information on PLAs please contact info@greatfallsinc.com or visit our website at www.greatfallsinc.com

Look into the future with Great Falls Construction! (Portland, Maine)

Amatos Pre-Remodel Sketch

Do you have an image in your head as to how you would like your business to look but haven’t been able to get that picture down on paper?  Great Falls Construction, will turn your ideas into reality!  Sit down with one of Great Falls Construction’s project managers as they walk you through a thorough consultation to explore exactly what you want to do with your new work space.

Great Falls Construction worked with the Operations Manager of the Amatos chain to design a space for a new product line they wanted to test in one of their locations.  Great Falls travelled to the job site and was given a list of goals that the company wanted to a achieve. Based on the product that they wanted to introduce to the store; we came up with a list of questions to help meet their needs.

After thorough communication with the Operations Manager, we received all of the specifications for the new equipment and sought out a design that would blend with the existing  surroundings.   Once we understood the process of the customer interaction and worker processing to provide new products, we were able to draw a sketch of what the final project would look like before a construction worker ever set foot on the job.  By doing this the client was able to see what the final product before it was started!

Amatos After Remodel

Coordinating the construction around current conditions and typical store hours we were able to install new signage, lighting, power, and water while keeping the safety of the employee and customer in mind.  After a few short days of remodeling our sketches came to reality!

If you are interested in having Great Falls Construction give you a free consultation for your commercial or residential remodel please contact us today.  207-839-2744 or visit www.greatfallsinc.com for more information.  By email: info@greatfallsinc.com