| 87 T T Hugh de Lacy Castle refurbishment unusual challenge More commonly Paul’s company builds architecturally designed homes. PD Builders BUILDING Paul Davidson reckons his building firm, PD Builders of Alexandra, will take on any work from fences to castles – yes, castles – and in fact he’s doing a major refurbishment on one at the moment. Earnscleugh Castle, between Alexandra and Clyde, is a two-storey residence built of double brick in the 1920s, and PD Builders is midway through a two-year project to completely rebuild it. The main work involves seismic strengthening, binding all the floors and parapets together with reinforcing, and Paul says it’s a job that his staff relishes because it’s so unusual and challenging. More commonly Paul’s company builds architecturally designed homes in an area attracting evermore residents to the beauties of Central Otago. PD Builders runs a staff of seven, including three qualified chippies, two labourers and two apprentices, while Paul’s wife Lisa “steers the ship” from home. Lisa is a former hairdresser who, as well as doing the books and managing the family company, runs a photography business doing the likes of weddings, portraits, and boudoir and timeless maternity and newborn photography. Paul got into building fresh out of school at the age of 15 in 1985, working with his father, Rusty Davidson, initially pouring 70m3 of concrete for a new BP service station in Cromwell. From there he started a building apprenticeship with Jonny Symons who ran a timber yard and joinery factory as well as a building crew in Alexandra. Once out of his apprenticeship Paul headed to Sydney for his OE, and he and a mate started up a carpet-laying company, only to find demand drying up after a busy first year, so he came back to New Zealand and worked with Jonny Symons again. Paul later went contracting in Queenstown before returning to Alexandra and starting up his own building business, Quality Builders Central Ltd, with another local building company. They ran a successful business for 18 years, during which they built no fewer than 150 homes, as well as completing a raft of renovations and smaller projects. Finally, in 2018, Paul and his business partner went their own ways, and Paul set up PD Builders with his brother-in-law, Alan Peacock, concentrating on building upmarket homes, though Paul says he’ll look at any work. The Central Otago building market may be softening, as it is elsewhere round the country, but Paul’s got plenty of work on between the castle and the new homes. “I get all my work from word of mouth – the phone just seems to ring at the right time,” Paul says. He’s comfortable with the size of his operation and is not looking to any great expansion in the foreseeable future, although he’s always keen to hear from qualified builders “who have a passion for building amazing homes and working in a great team environment,” Paul says. “I have some really wonderful clients who keep coming back with more work all the time, which goes to show the wonderful relationships we build with our clients.” PD Builders JACKSON SMART ROOFING SCAFFOLD | NEW BUILDS | RE-ROOFING FASCIA & SPOUTING | WALL CLADDING Phone Lee on 027 4480 897 or Email jacksonsmartroofing@gmail.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=