Kota Construction Co.

05/20/2026

Home building tip #26: Zone your floor plan for efficient heating

Open floor plans look great in photos but heat inefficiently in Maine. A 25-foot vaulted great room loses heat to the ceiling, struggles to cool in summer, and means you're heating a large empty volume 24/7.

Smart zoning saves real money: keep main living areas reasonably sized and well-connected, but separate primary bedrooms, guest wings, and basement spaces with doors so each zone can be heated independently.

Pair this with multi-zone heat pumps or a hydronic system with multiple zones, and set bedrooms to 62°F at night and 68°F during the day. Plan ceiling fans (with reverse mode) in any room with ceilings over 9 feet to push warm air back down.

The layout decisions you make today control your heating bills and comfort for decades.

05/19/2026

Looking for a trustworthy home renovation expert in ? Contact us here to schedule an estimate:

Home Renovations in Arundel ME A home renovation does not have to mean total disruption on your property. From planning to cleanup, Kota handles your home renovation project with simplicity and confidence that we can meet or beat your expectations. Your custom renovation crew will be trained to be e...

05/19/2026

Home building tip #25: Build a deck that survives Maine winters

Decks take a brutal beating in Maine — UV in summer, freeze-thaw cycles all winter, snow loads, and shovels scraping the surface. Pressure-treated pine is cheap but checks, twists, and needs sealing every 2–3 years. Composite decking (Trex, TimberTech, and similar) costs more upfront but doesn't splinter, rot, or need refinishing — a real win in this climate.

Whatever boards you choose, the structure underneath must use proper joist hangers, hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners (standard zinc rusts fast in salty winter air), and most critically, a properly flashed ledger board where the deck attaches to the house. Deck ledger failures are a leading cause of catastrophic deck collapse and almost always trace back to missing or wrong flashing.

Specify it on the plans and inspect before decking goes down.

05/19/2026

Home building tip #24: Plan for power outages during the build

Lately, Maine has averaged at least one multi-day power outage per year due to ice storms or high winds. Building a generator-ready home costs almost nothing during construction and thousands more to retrofit. Opt for a transfer switch (manual or automatic) and a dedicated generator inlet near the meter. If you'll install a standby generator, pour a small concrete pad and run the gas line and conductor conduit during site work.

Decide which circuits belong on backup: heating system controls, well pump, refrigerator and freezer, internet router, sump pump, and a few key outlets. A whole-home automatic 22kW propane generator runs $10,000–$14,000 installed while a portable with a transfer switch is $3,000–$4,000. Either way, plan it before drywall.

05/18/2026

Looking to build a home in Arundel Maine? We've been doing it for years and we'll give you a fair price. Call 207 576 9818 to set up a consultation.

Quality Building in Southern Maine Our Construction Services Roofing Projects Our experienced roofers work quickly and safely to return your roof to new in as little as one day. Structure Framing From the ground up, we ensure your framing will stand stable and true. Siding Installation We protect yo...

05/18/2026

Home building tip #23: Engineer where snow slides off the roof

Pitched metal roofs and steep asphalt roofs shed snow in sudden temperature swings. Plan during design where that snow will land — and where it absolutely cannot. Never locate entry doors, decks, walkways, hot tubs, propane tanks, AC condensers, well caps, or septic vents directly below a sliding roof slope.

Add snow guards (rails or pad-style) above any feature that must sit there, such as a front porch roof or an entry door. For metal roofs especially, design the roof so snow sheds onto safe ground areas, and confirm landscaping and patios are positioned accordingly.

A 2,000-pound snow slide off a steep roof breaks decks, crushes shrubs, and can seriously injure pets or family.

05/18/2026

Home building tip #22: Slope your driveway and plan for plowing access

Driveway design gets ignored until the first big storm, and then it becomes the most important feature of the property. For your slope, keep grades under 10% wherever possible — anything steeper becomes a sheet of ice that no amount of sand will fix.

For width: build a 14–16 foot driveway with a turnaround so you don't have to back into the road in a snowstorm. Plan dedicated snow storage areas at the edges where pushed snow won't block sight lines, kill landscaping, or melt back across the surface.

Avoid driveways that run directly downhill toward the garage door without a flat pad in front — vehicles slide. If you're considering pavers or stamped concrete, confirm with your builder that they'll handle a plow blade. Asphalt is forgiving; decorative finishes are not.

05/17/2026

Looking for a deck install or repair in ? We're ready to help. Get a free estimate here:

Deck Building and Repair in Arundel ME Decks provide a perfect complement to your interior gathering spaces. Kota is the perfect contractor to make your deck sturdy and appealing. We make customers happy with their decks throughout Arundel ME. Whether you want wood or composite, pressure treated, or...

05/17/2026

Home building tip #21: Plan the garage as a thermal buffer and working hub

A garage is more than parking in Maine — it's a workshop, mudroom extension, and weather buffer. Locate the garage on the north or west side so it shields living spaces from prevailing winter winds. Insulate the walls between the garage and the house (and the ceiling if there's living space above), and air-seal that boundary aggressively to keep car exhaust and cold air out of the house.

Insulate the garage door itself (R-12 minimum) and the garage walls if you'll heat the space, even occasionally. Slope the slab toward a floor drain with a frost-resistant trap for melting snow. Rough in 240V for an EV charger now — it's nearly free during construction and a $2,000+ retrofit later. Add deep storage along at least one wall while you're framing.

05/17/2026

Looking for new siding for your home in Arundel Maine? We have got a great crew that gets it done right. Get a free estimate here:

Residential Siding in Arundel ME Properly installed home siding helps your house retain visual appeal, protect structural integrity, and minimize maintenance. Kota Construction doesn’t take siding as an afterthought…it’s a key component to a sustainable building. And our approach creates happy...