There’s not much left to complete at the Staikos Homes Home Build for Healthcare site; just a few last-minute details to attend to as it moves towards its public unveiling during the Quinte Home Builders’ Association’s Parade of New Homes on October 2 and 3.
The Maple model is a popular 1,472 square foot all brick bungalow well suited for growing families or seniors. It features a large, open concept living space and the large kitchen/great room space that has become the central meeting place for so many modern families.
The model boasts two large main floor bedrooms; the master with walk-in closet and a private en-suite bathroom. There is a third large bedroom with cathedral ceiling and large windows, making it a bright and airy room that some families may chose to use as a den or study.
This Home Build for Healthcare model has a finished basement with an additional washroom, a large family room, another bedroom and additional space that would make a great office. With the added space in the finished basement there is total living space of over 2,300 square feet.
Some of the added features in the Home Build for Healthcare home include:
• Energy efficient two-stage gas furnace
• Air conditioning
• HRV air exchanger
• Finished basement
• 9 foot ceilings with coffered Great Room ceiling
• Dropped ceiling detail in kitchen
• Transoms above front and rear exterior doors
• Large cove moldings in all main areas
• Interior pot lighting
• Quality American Standard plumbing features
• Maple kitchen cabinetry with pot and pan drawers featuring wood dovetailed drawer boxes, full extension slides and soft close feature.
• Centre Island with breakfast bar
• Granite counter tops
• Oak staircase
• Porcelain floor tiles in entrance, laundry room, kitchen and bathrooms
• Heated en-suite bathroom floor
• Mirage engineered hardwood flooring on the remainder of the main floor
• Pressure treated deck
• Concrete walk and driveway
• Irrigation system
• Landscape package
Staikos Homes and their suppliers and trades have built this home with Dream Home features and their goal in pricing it is to offer the buyer an outstanding value while providing significant support to Quinte Health Care. This extraordinary home is offered for sale at $329,900
This week we look at two more of the Staikos Homes contributors.
This is a, “what are the chances” situation where the owners of both businesses being profiled have the same name: Manny Almeida.
Quinte Drywall
In 1983, Gandhi won the Oscar for best picture, M*A*S*H aired its last episode and Manny Almeida left a partnership that he had been in since 1972 and struck out on his own to start Quinte Drywall.
Like so many others, Manny’s business started relatively small, with a crew of about eight men, most of who had been with him in the other business. He quickly established a reputation for quality workmanship and solid business practice that led to an ever growing list of clients and demand for service that now has him managing a workforce of 40 men.
Manny has several men with him who have never worked for anyone else in 30 plus years. He says he likes to hire young fellows – kids – to give them a chance and teach them the trade.
Working with Quinte Drywall would certainly give you the opportunity to learn all facets of the trade. Like the name says, they do drywall, but they also do mud work, trim, plastering, stucco and even framing of things like bulkheads in basements in preparation for dry walling.
Manny’s crews also have the chance to work in just about every kind of construction setting imaginable: new home construction, home renovations, institutional, commercial and industrial.
Watching the six man crew measure, cut and install drywall in the Staikos Home gives the impression of a highly organized and well rehearsed dance troupe. They move with an amazing speed, but it’s clear the pace is the result of experience; not haste. Each man knows his job and can do it with an ease that would give a handyman heart palpitations.
“We’re quick because we’re good,” Manny says. “We never sacrifice quality for speed.”
Manny is one of those very generous contributors to the Home Build for Health Care who is working on both the Staikos and the Geertsma homes. He says both builders are, “Great. Very, very good in different ways.” Of Staikos, he says he thinks of himself as their “lifetime” drywaller, having worked with them since 1990.
There is no question that Manny supports the Home Build; you might even say with all his heart. “Number one, I believe in the cause and I want to contribute. I’ve had some issues in the past, and every time I’ve needed the hospital I’ve been well treated. I ended up having a triple bypass so I know how important it is to have a well-equipped hospital.”
But it’s not just his own experience that drives Manny to get so fully behind the project. “You’ve got to look at the whole picture,” he says. “What goes round comes round. This is good for the whole area. People buy houses and move here because we have a good hospital. A good hospital is good for everyone.”
There’s no doubting Manny’s sincerity, or his willingness to put his money where his mouth is, when you consider that his people have put in more than 400 hours of work on the two builds.
Summing up Quinte Drywalls contribution to the Home Build, Manny says, “It’s like I said, what goes round comes round, and a good hospital is good for everyone.”
M. A. Cement Finishers
The M. and A. in M. A. Cement Finishers are owner, Manny Almeida’s, initials. Having his name on the company is just one of the reasons Manny strives to provide the very highest quality product and service to his customers.
Manny started M. A. Cement finishers in Kingston in 1995. Since then he has worked hard on every job to establish and maintain the reputation for integrity, quality and workmanship that has seen his customer base grow through good, and even lean, economic times.
Now he and his crew of five employees keep a hectic schedule as they strive to meet the demand for both new construction and renovation projects in residential, commercial and industrial projects.
“Anything to do with concrete, we can handle.” Manny says. “Driveways, sidewalks, curbs; concrete floors in basements or garages, patterned concrete: you name it and we can do it.”
M. A. Cement Finishers has been working with Staikos Homes for the last five years. Echoing a sentiment expressed by all the trades that work with Staikos, and are contributing to the Home Build, Manny speaks of what a pleasure it is to work with Staikos Homes.
“They are super nice people; everyone at Staikos,” he says. “They care about their customers and they want only the best quality. Like me, their name is on the business; there’s a lot of pride in doing the best.”
Manny says that although he doesn’t live right in the Quinte area, he’s very happy to participate in the Home Build for Health Care. “Of course, it’s a pleasure to work with Nick and Chris on the project – that’s probably enough reason to be involved – but there’s much more to it than that.”
He went on to explain that he believes everyone should give back to the community. “When it’s a good cause that will help the community, hey, I’m there. When someone asks, ‘Can you give me a hand,’ I’m going to help.”
Speaking of Quinte Health Care, Manny says he considers it an honour to do something for the hospital. He added, with a chuckle, “I might move to Quinte and might need to use the hospital; I want to know you’ve got everything it needs.”
Manny’s actions certainly back up his words about giving back to the community and his support for this project. He is covering all the costs of having his full crew of five work for almost two full days doing the concrete finishing at the Staikos Home Build.
“Like I say, you’ve got to give back to the community and there’s no better way than to support the hospital so they can buy the equipment they need to give everyone the best care possible,” Manny explained. “Hopefully, this will make lots of money for Quinte Health Care so you can get the equipment you most need.”
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Geertsma Home Build Update
We’re all familiar with Dream Home lotteries, but no one has ever heard of even one builder, let alone two, going to the lengths Quinte Home Builders Association members, Geertsma Homes and Staikos Homes have to support their local hospital.
The Home Build for Health Care is raising funds to address the need for state of the art, life-saving medical equipment at Quinte Health Care. The government doesn’t pay for this equipment so we have to. Every year the hospital’s Foundations work with volunteers and donors to raise the ever increasing amount of money needed to keep the hospital equipped.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that members of the Quinte Home Builders Association have responded to this need, but it’s fair to say that people here, and around the province, are amazed at how they’re responding.
The family owned and operated Staikos Homes and Geertsma Homes are taking the extraordinary step of each building a home in their current developments to be sold and the net proceeds donated to the Trenton Memorial Hospital and Belleville General Hospital Foundations so all our families can receive better care.
And, like an extended family, tradespeople and suppliers who work with Staikos and Geertsma have rallied to make the build a success and maximize the donation to Quinte Health Care. The vast majority of labour and materials is being donated.
When speaking to contributors to the Home Build the one reason you hear from virtually all of them for their participation is that they want to give back to the community and they think equipping the hospital is the best way to help the most people.
This week we profile contributors to the Geertsma build.
A & E Ceramic Tile & Marble Ltd.
In 1985, Armando Leonarduzzi decided the time was right to start his own business selling and installing tile. It would be a family business, with his son working with him as a labourer and learning the trade. He wanted to acknowledge his son’s role in the business, both at that time and later, when he knew Elvis would play a much larger role in the running of their company. Instead of Leonarduzzi & Son, he decided on A & E; Armando and Elvis.
So, like many of the contributors to the Home Build for Health Care, A&E Ceramic Tile and Marble is a business started by the father and eventually passed to a son, although in this case the son would have happily waited a few more years to become the boss. It was only four years after the business was started that Elvis and his wife, Tina, took over A & E following his father’s untimely death at an early age.
In 1994, Elvis would move the business from a small shop on Wallbridge Crescent to a new and larger outlet at its present location on College Street West. A & E is a full service specialty shop with professional staff who enjoy working with clients from project conception to the meticulous details of installation.
When asked what motivated him to participate in the Home Build for Health Care, Elvis doesn’t hesitate for a second before saying there are two very good reasons, “Geertsma and my father.”
“Andy Geertsma, and everyone at Geertsma Homes, are great. They’re great to work for, they have a very good name and they’re known for quality workmanship. They’re the type of people you want to be associated with.” Elvis said. “Just partnering with them would be enough to get me involved.”
But there’s that other reason Elvis wanted to be part of the project. “When my father was sick the hospital looked after him 110 percent.” Elvis said. “Now that I can give back, I’m more than happy to. And we’re local, we make our living here and it’s important to give back to the community. You can’t just take; you’ve got to give back.”
With a bit of a chuckle Elvis added, “And, we’re all getting older and at some time we’re going to need a little support from the hospital. Our parents need it, we will need it, eventually everyone needs it, and it’s good to make sure QHC has got what it needs.
A & E is contributing about $5,000 in tile and installation costs for the kitchen, laundry, bathrooms and entrances. “We’re going with the new up and coming style of 18”x18” tile in the large areas.” Elvis said, “It’s state of the art. It’s going to be beautiful, just like the rest of the house.”
The Door Company
Many of the businesses involved in the Home Build for Health Care started small, you might say they had humble beginnings but grew because of the hard work and perseverance of their founders. Perhaps the very best example of this is The Door Company. Their story could serve as an inspiration to all budding entrepreneurs.
In 1979, Peter Wickers started The Door Company with a truckload of gumption, and a truck. In the years since, the company has grown to the point of having offices in Sterling and Metcalfe and selling over 7,000 garage doors a year from Ottawa to Oshawa and Peterborough and beyond. They offer a complete range of garage doors and openers to residential, commercial and industrial clients.
Peter passed away three years ago, having grown his business from the back of that truck to the thriving enterprise it is today. Since then his wife, Betty Ann, has carried on the business, continuing Peter’s commitment to deliver high quality product and excellent customer service at a fair price. It was Betty Ann who committed The Door Company to the Home Build.
According to Operations Manager, Donna Nicholson, the door being installed in the Home Build home is the best of old and new. “The door Geertsmas have chosen is our Carriage House door. It looks like the old fashioned doors with large hinges and handles that would open out into the driveway. It will be beautiful with the style of the house.” Donna said, “But looks are deceiving, it’s really a state of the art, fully insulated metal door that opens overhead with one of our best automatic openers. It has old style charm and the benefits of modern, energy conscious construction and ease of use.”
Speaking to why The Door Company is participating in the Home Build, Donna echoes the sentiments of many other contributors, “We want to give back to the community, we all use the hospital and we want to know we’ll be able to use it in the future,” she said, “And we’ve worked with Geertsma Homes for about 10 years now and wanted to partner with them on the project.”
Recently, Betty Ann Wickers decided it was time for a change and last month sold the company to Ottawa businessman, Greg Bell. Named to the Ottawa Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, Greg has already earned a reputation for supporting community building projects like the Home Build.
“I’m very excited about taking up the reins at The Door Company,” he said. “I want to build on the Wicker’s legacy of integrity and honourable dealings in business, and their support of community building through projects like the Home Build for Health Care. I am deeply committed to these ideals and look forward to being actively involved in Quinte region communities.”
Cataraque Cabinets
Most people would agree the kitchen is the heart of a house. It’s much more than just the place where meals are prepared; it’s the one room that if you sit in long enough you’ll see every member of the household. It’s the room we sit in with family and best friends and often it’s the showplace of the house. It’s the room realtors say sells a house.
The kitchen in the Geertsma home looks like it came from the pages of Better Homes and Gardens. It’s an amazing combination of luxury and functionality, colours and textures. Over 100 hours of design and construction show themselves in its old world style craftsmanship.
In 2002, Sean Flynn was working in the trucking business when his brother in law, Hans, asked him to take over Cataraque Cabinets. Hans was going through a difficult time trying to adjust to life without his wife, who was killed in an accident the year before. They had started the company together in 1979 and now Hans needed to get away. So it was that Sean and his wife, Doris Splinter-Flynn, took over the business in 2002 and bought it the next year.
In the years since, Cataraque Cabinets has grown from nine employees to 35 and from one building to three. About 30 percent of their output is for new homes, 35 for renovations and the remaining 35 percent is wholesale business.Sean has been working with Geertsma Homes for the past five years and describes their relationship as a good fit.“Andy is easy to approach and work with, and all his staff are very positive.” Sean says, “We really enjoy working with them.”
According to Sean, Cataraque Cabinets is very involved in supporting a number of community projects in Kingston. He says they believe strongly in giving back to the community and welcomed the Home Build for Health Care as their first opportunity to step forward for Quinte area communities.
“When Tony called from Geertsma and mentioned the project I immediately said, ‘We’re in.’” Sean says. “It’s something we wanted to do and I never gave it a second thought. And, my wife is a nurse, so I know about funding issues for hospital equipment and know it’s a very good cause.”
Nothing was spared in making the kitchen the stuff of a family chef’s dream. Designed by Tweed resident Clint Brushie – one of four Cataraque employees from Tweed – Sean describes it as “dressed to the nines.”
“We wanted this to be our best work.” Sean says, “We wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the project. We want people to be impressed, but we’re not in it for glory; we want to help make it a success and raise as much as possible for Quinte Health Care.”
The Home Build for Health Care is raising funds to address the need for state of the art, life-saving medical equipment at Quinte Health Care. The government doesn’t pay for this equipment so we have to. Every year the hospital’s Foundations work with volunteers and donors to raise the ever increasing amount of money needed to keep the hospital equipped.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that members of the Quinte Home Builders Association have responded to this need, but it’s fair to say that people here, and around the province, are amazed at how they’re responding.
The family owned and operated Staikos Homes and Geertsma Homes are taking the extraordinary step of each building a home in their current developments to be sold and the net proceeds donated to the Trenton Memorial Hospital and Belleville General Hospital Foundations so all our families can receive better care.
And, like an extended family, tradespeople and suppliers who work with Staikos and Geertsma have rallied to make the build a success and maximize the donation to Quinte Health Care. The vast majority of labour and materials is being donated.
When speaking to contributors to the Home Build the one reason you hear from virtually all of them for their participation is that they want to give back to the community and they think equipping the hospital is the best way to help the most people.
This week we profile contributors to the Geertsma build.
A & E Ceramic Tile & Marble Ltd.
In 1985, Armando Leonarduzzi decided the time was right to start his own business selling and installing tile. It would be a family business, with his son working with him as a labourer and learning the trade. He wanted to acknowledge his son’s role in the business, both at that time and later, when he knew Elvis would play a much larger role in the running of their company. Instead of Leonarduzzi & Son, he decided on A & E; Armando and Elvis.
So, like many of the contributors to the Home Build for Health Care, A&E Ceramic Tile and Marble is a business started by the father and eventually passed to a son, although in this case the son would have happily waited a few more years to become the boss. It was only four years after the business was started that Elvis and his wife, Tina, took over A & E following his father’s untimely death at an early age.
In 1994, Elvis would move the business from a small shop on Wallbridge Crescent to a new and larger outlet at its present location on College Street West. A & E is a full service specialty shop with professional staff who enjoy working with clients from project conception to the meticulous details of installation.
When asked what motivated him to participate in the Home Build for Health Care, Elvis doesn’t hesitate for a second before saying there are two very good reasons, “Geertsma and my father.”
“Andy Geertsma, and everyone at Geertsma Homes, are great. They’re great to work for, they have a very good name and they’re known for quality workmanship. They’re the type of people you want to be associated with.” Elvis said. “Just partnering with them would be enough to get me involved.”
But there’s that other reason Elvis wanted to be part of the project. “When my father was sick the hospital looked after him 110 percent.” Elvis said. “Now that I can give back, I’m more than happy to. And we’re local, we make our living here and it’s important to give back to the community. You can’t just take; you’ve got to give back.”
With a bit of a chuckle Elvis added, “And, we’re all getting older and at some time we’re going to need a little support from the hospital. Our parents need it, we will need it, eventually everyone needs it, and it’s good to make sure QHC has got what it needs.
A & E is contributing about $5,000 in tile and installation costs for the kitchen, laundry, bathrooms and entrances. “We’re going with the new up and coming style of 18”x18” tile in the large areas.” Elvis said, “It’s state of the art. It’s going to be beautiful, just like the rest of the house.”
The Door Company
Many of the businesses involved in the Home Build for Health Care started small, you might say they had humble beginnings but grew because of the hard work and perseverance of their founders. Perhaps the very best example of this is The Door Company. Their story could serve as an inspiration to all budding entrepreneurs.
In 1979, Peter Wickers started The Door Company with a truckload of gumption, and a truck. In the years since, the company has grown to the point of having offices in Sterling and Metcalfe and selling over 7,000 garage doors a year from Ottawa to Oshawa and Peterborough and beyond. They offer a complete range of garage doors and openers to residential, commercial and industrial clients.
Peter passed away three years ago, having grown his business from the back of that truck to the thriving enterprise it is today. Since then his wife, Betty Ann, has carried on the business, continuing Peter’s commitment to deliver high quality product and excellent customer service at a fair price. It was Betty Ann who committed The Door Company to the Home Build.
According to Operations Manager, Donna Nicholson, the door being installed in the Home Build home is the best of old and new. “The door Geertsmas have chosen is our Carriage House door. It looks like the old fashioned doors with large hinges and handles that would open out into the driveway. It will be beautiful with the style of the house.” Donna said, “But looks are deceiving, it’s really a state of the art, fully insulated metal door that opens overhead with one of our best automatic openers. It has old style charm and the benefits of modern, energy conscious construction and ease of use.”
Speaking to why The Door Company is participating in the Home Build, Donna echoes the sentiments of many other contributors, “We want to give back to the community, we all use the hospital and we want to know we’ll be able to use it in the future,” she said, “And we’ve worked with Geertsma Homes for about 10 years now and wanted to partner with them on the project.”
Recently, Betty Ann Wickers decided it was time for a change and last month sold the company to Ottawa businessman, Greg Bell. Named to the Ottawa Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, Greg has already earned a reputation for supporting community building projects like the Home Build.
“I’m very excited about taking up the reins at The Door Company,” he said. “I want to build on the Wicker’s legacy of integrity and honourable dealings in business, and their support of community building through projects like the Home Build for Health Care. I am deeply committed to these ideals and look forward to being actively involved in Quinte region communities.”
Cataraque Cabinets
Most people would agree the kitchen is the heart of a house. It’s much more than just the place where meals are prepared; it’s the one room that if you sit in long enough you’ll see every member of the household. It’s the room we sit in with family and best friends and often it’s the showplace of the house. It’s the room realtors say sells a house.
The kitchen in the Geertsma home looks like it came from the pages of Better Homes and Gardens. It’s an amazing combination of luxury and functionality, colours and textures. Over 100 hours of design and construction show themselves in its old world style craftsmanship.
In 2002, Sean Flynn was working in the trucking business when his brother in law, Hans, asked him to take over Cataraque Cabinets. Hans was going through a difficult time trying to adjust to life without his wife, who was killed in an accident the year before. They had started the company together in 1979 and now Hans needed to get away. So it was that Sean and his wife, Doris Splinter-Flynn, took over the business in 2002 and bought it the next year.
In the years since, Cataraque Cabinets has grown from nine employees to 35 and from one building to three. About 30 percent of their output is for new homes, 35 for renovations and the remaining 35 percent is wholesale business.Sean has been working with Geertsma Homes for the past five years and describes their relationship as a good fit.“Andy is easy to approach and work with, and all his staff are very positive.” Sean says, “We really enjoy working with them.”
According to Sean, Cataraque Cabinets is very involved in supporting a number of community projects in Kingston. He says they believe strongly in giving back to the community and welcomed the Home Build for Health Care as their first opportunity to step forward for Quinte area communities.
“When Tony called from Geertsma and mentioned the project I immediately said, ‘We’re in.’” Sean says. “It’s something we wanted to do and I never gave it a second thought. And, my wife is a nurse, so I know about funding issues for hospital equipment and know it’s a very good cause.”
Nothing was spared in making the kitchen the stuff of a family chef’s dream. Designed by Tweed resident Clint Brushie – one of four Cataraque employees from Tweed – Sean describes it as “dressed to the nines.”
“We wanted this to be our best work.” Sean says, “We wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the project. We want people to be impressed, but we’re not in it for glory; we want to help make it a success and raise as much as possible for Quinte Health Care.”
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