No-nonsense approach to business is a welcomed reputation for Grafton Construction, Inc.
When a crew from Grafton Construction, Inc. arrives on a job site, the customer can be confident that these professional carpenters have the same expectations as the project owner: Get the work done correctly the first time.
Company President Harry Grafton is a disciplinarian and a perfectionist. His no-nonsense approach to every project has earned him and his company a reputation for delivering quality work. “We get the job done right the first time around,” Grafton says.
Grafton’s insistence for quality jobsite performance led him to start his company in the mid-1980s, after working in the construction industry for several years. He saw ways to do the work better, faster, and more cost-effectively. He also knew that the only way to deliver that type of product was to put his own name on it, so he could control the process. His business model is firmly grounded in customer service. His strategy: Be a solution provider to the project owner and bid on everything involved in the project so that the customer only has to deal with one contractor.
“My customers know that I’m all business, and that I’m reliable. I will look at a job and determine what I can bring to the table to make sure that job is completed above the customer’s expectations,” he said.
The New Castle, Pennsylvania-based commercial interior contractor works throughout Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. His company is responsible for many high-profile projects in the region, such as Consol Energy’s Corporate Headquarters and downtown Pittsburgh’s Cork Factory Apartments. Consol’s facility is a 400,000 square foot building in Southpointe, Washington County. Grafton framed the entire exterior of the building and handled the metal studs and drywalling of the interior.
The year-long work included lots of communication with the project managers to work through and provide problem solving services to keep the job on track. Along the historic Strip District in downtown Pittsburgh, Grafton played a key role in completing 295 loft-style hi-end apartments called The Cork Factory. Grafton was responsible for all of the drywall and metal studs in the project, which included converting an abandoned warehouse into an elite residential structure.
Completing projects like Consol and The Cork Factory is feasible because of superior workmanship. Grafton works with anywhere from 30-60 professionals. He doesn’t hesitate to remove a worker if his/her attitude or work product does not meet company standards. And, Grafton leverages the resources available to his company by being an active member of the Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania (The Builders).
The Builders, representing employers in Trumbull, Columbiana and Mahoning counties in eastern Ohio and Mercer and Lawrence counties in western Pennsylvania, services 15 different skilled trades in the region, and is an ongoing resource for union construction contractors such as Grafton Construction. Members of The Builders have access to state-of-the-art education
and training, unlimited manpower from apprenticeship and union labor halls, contract negotiation support, and a pool of technical, administrative and support resources.
Grafton believes that supporting The Builders is important to help the association grow, “because if it grows, it will help us get the union message to key decision makers, and it will help us deliver our superior product to customers,” he said.
A steady flow of work comes through Grafton’s office door from former customers, and that’s no accident, says his wife and office manager, Debbie Grafton. “Harry’s made a name for himself and this company as being a great craftsman whose
priority is the customer. I believe our repeat customers appreciate that and they come back to us because they know their needs will be taken care of. And they’ll love the final product, too.”
About Grafton Construction, Inc.
Grafton Construction, Inc. has a long history of supplying customers with personal, thorough and cost-effective construction services that include:
• Steel stud framing
• Drywall
• Acoustical ceiling systems
• Acoustical wall panels
• Lathing and plastering
• Exterior insulation and finish systems
• Spary-on fireproofing
• Computer flooring
• Rough carpentry
• Finish carpentry
• Door/frames/hardware
• Toilet and bath accessories
Most Recent Hallmark Projects:
• Consol Energy Corporate Headquarters
• Barnes and Noble
• Cork Factory Loft Apartments
• Hofbrauhaus
• New Castle Junior-Senior High School
• Ross Park Mall
• Shops at Adams Ridge
• Shenango Valley Cinemas
• Walgreens
Contact:
Grafton Construction, Inc.
Harry Grafton, Jr.
1244 Melrose Ave.
New Castle, PA 16101
Phone: 724-654-7201
Fax: 724-654-7202
Email: graftoninc@comcast.net