Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
LOTS OF TOOLS — Greg Mills, Grand Rental store manager, stands in front of a few tools used for home improvement. Grand Rental offers many tools to do whatever project a homeowner undertakes.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
As spring finally arrives, homeowners scratch their heads and decide which project is first to begin after a long winter of discovering tasks that need to be addressed.
For some, it is outdoor projects like landscaping or dressing up the flower bed or just plain getting rid of all the leftover dirt on their lawns. Others, they see a whole different set of undertakings in the home since the windows and doors can be swung open and minor to major renovations can be made.
If a homeowner does not have all the necessary equipment to tackle a job and hiring someone may be too expensive, the do-it-yourselfer may look no farther than your Grand Rental Store on the North Road in Houlton.
Grand Rental also has a branch in Presque Isle for those northern homeowners to utilize, as well.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Gloria Austin
CUTTERS — Cutters from tile to wood are available at Grand Rental in Houlton and Presque Isle. Grand Rental can help homeowners with any projects from start to finish.
“We offer many items,” said Dan Delucca, president/owner of Grand Rental for the last 19 years. “There really is not one popular item that we rent out. It is all dependent upon the season.”
Delucca noted in the spring, summer and fall, Grand Rental has more aerial lifts or excavators going out than in the winter when more floor sanding equipment and flooring nailers are rented.
“One of the more popular projects would be installing and refinishing hardwood floors,” Delucca added.
When it seems like everyone waits until the same time to start a project, there are no worries that Grand Rental may not have what you need.
“We have more than one of most everything,” explained Delucca. “Availability is pretty good. With the two stores, if one store does not have a particular item, we can usually get it from the other store if we know a day or two in advance.”
The one sure way to know that the tool you need is accessible is to call and reserve the item. That way, the project can be started with all the tools necessary to complete the job at the homeowners’ finger tips. However, if someone jumps the gun and begins a project and the tool is not on hand, the homeowner can be put on a waiting list. When the tool arrives back at the store, the person is contacted.
“We have always been able to fill our waiting lists,” added Delucca.
Grand Rental has a selection of tools including aerial, earth moving, concrete to floor finishing equipment. They also offer tile saws, hardwood nailers, carpet cleaners and floor sanders. For the outdoor task, lawn and garden equipment is offered including post-hole diggers and lawn rollers.
“We have pretty much anything needed to do any type of home improvement,” said Delucca.
The cost range for individual items vary, but for smaller inside projects, Grand Rental offers equipment from $20 to $100 depending on how long an item is kept; and from $20 to $400 depending on length of time an item is rented.
Grand Rental is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Starting May 1, the summer hours will be Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to noon.
“We offer suggestions, tips or help with anything that our customers ask about,” said Delucca. “We do the best we can, and if we don’t have the answer, we will always do our best to find it for you.”
For pricing and advice from the blog section for do-it-yourself projects, check out Grand Rental’s website at www.grandrentalmaine.net or on Facebook. For other inquiries call 532-9200 in Houlton or 760-9200 for the store at 191 Parsons Road in Presque Isle.
