CK Mechanical Plumbing & Heating Inc.

After working for several years as a plumber, Kevin Maston decided to set out on his own and start his own company. “I was receiving a lot of calls for side work,” recalls Maston. “I decided to take advantages of the opportunities I was getting and started my business.” After receiving his Master Plumbing license, Maston began working out of his garage in Casper, Wyoming, and launched CK Mechanical Plumbing & Heating Inc. Today CK Mechanical is a full-service mechanical contractor specializing in the residential and commercial sectors.

Starting in July 2004, Maston worked 12-hour days, seven days a week for approximately 18 months in order to get his business up and running. “I would work all day Monday through Saturday and then Sunday was my paperwork day,” he recalls. “I then added a few employees and started growing the company.”

Specialized divisions

The hard work and determination of Maston paid off for him and his company. Since starting CK Mechanical, the company has grown to 60 employees and has bought out three local plumbing companies. In 2013, Maston purchased an HVAC company, transitioning the firm into Casper’s only full-service mechanical contractor. “There are plumbing companies and HVAC companies, but we are the only one that offers both services,” Maston explains. “We also have several divisions within our company.”

The divisions within CK Mechanical include service, residential and commercial. Through its service department, CK Mechanical provides general repairs and replacements to the homes of customers, such as fixing faucets and changing filters. In the residential department, the company performs plumbing and HVAC work for renovations and new homes. “Our commercial division handles large-scale commercial projects, such as hospitals and schools, as well as small tenant finishes,” says Maston. “We are able to offer those clients HVAC and plumbing services as well.” CK Mechanical also maintains a retail outlet where customers can purchase faucets, filters and other plumbing products over the counter.

Expertise in action

CK Mechanical is currently working on a commercial project that Maston says will be a landmark in the community. The company was awarded the complete mechanical contract for a four-story addition that is being built for a True Oil office building in Casper. The original structure was built in 1955, with an addition constructed in 1977. “There are a lot of complexities to it, including a roof drain system and a mechanical penthouse that feeds the entire building,” says Maston. “The trick is to integrate the new mechanical systems into the existing building.”

Maston says that one of his favorite projects the company recently completed was for a residential client in Casper. The two-story home consists of 7,500 square feet with radiant floors. “The owner poured reinforced concrete throughout the home, but we installed radiant tubing in 14 zones that are controlled individually,” Maston explains. “It also has an exposed spiral-duct cooling system with high-efficiency mini-split systems. We also installed about 3,500 square feet of snowmelt outside.”

With a complex control system that is built into a home automation system, the homeowner is able to activate the boilers from a smartphone. “He can even turn on his showers remotely,” adds Maston.

Geothermal work is included in the services of CK Mechanical. As one of the more complex aspects of construction, Maston has recruited employees who specialize in residential geothermal design. With strong product support from its vendors, CK Mechanical performs geothermal design and installation on approximately three houses per year. “We work on some of the high-profile houses around town,” says Maston. “They like the tax credit that geothermal offers because they can save a lot of money.”

The company that Maston has built with the workforce that he has acquired is one his proudest accomplishments. “I’m proud of the fact that I started by myself in my garage and now have a successful company that employs a lot of people,” he explains. “The thing I am most proud of, though, is the people that work here. The dedication and commitment of my staff is the reason for the success of the company. Everybody comes to work with a smile on their face and they just get it done.”

CK Mechanical is also heavily involved in the community. “I believe that any company, whether it’s big or small, should give back to the community that supports it,” Maston adds.

Moving forward, CK Mechanical will focus on building new business relationships while nurturing its existing ones. By refining its processes and maintaining steady growth, CK Mechanical Heating & Plumbing Inc. will remain a leader in the full service HVAC industry of Wyoming.