| 125 T T Virginia Wright Nothing like running your own builds DCR Building Services have built up trusted relationships with various sub-contractors. DCR Building Services BUILDING Danny Roper established his own business, DCR Building Services in 2009. He’d been building for 10 years with his brother Jason in Auckland, including doing his apprenticeship, and continued to contract to him off and on until he moved to Queenstown in 2014. There he contracted to Mike Thurston of RMT Builders for six years. “I learnt a lot over those six years, doing a lot of high-end architectural builds rather than the group housing I’d been mostly doing before that,” says Danny. While in Queenstown Danny double-shifted, working after hours to build his own first house, and despite the 100-hour weeks Danny really discovered how much he enjoyed building and running his own builds. His move to Dunedin in 2020 meant stepping up a notch and having to find his own work, no longer being paid fortnightly to run a team of builders for someone else. Based in Mosgiel Danny and his apprentice Nathan Knox work throughout the region wherever a job takes them. Having come from another builder looking for someone who could take him on, Nathan is a thirdyear apprentice and a good complement for 39-year-old Danny who has been building all his adult life. Having made the call before Christmas last year to break with the housing companies he’d been working for Danny’s looking forward to running projects from scratch, from the initial quote, through the build itself, to completion. DCR Building Services currently do a lot of maintenance work for a Dunedin rental agency who look after 300 rental properties, “so a lot of kitchens, bathrooms, fixing and upgrading whatever’s needed,” explains Danny. He’s been part of teams building award-winning group houses over the years and he’s looking forward to completing the family home he’s building which will also serve as a showhome for potential clients. “They can come through and see all the fittings and fixtures and the quality of our work,” says Danny. It’s a 311 sqm home, with two storeys showcasing Mosgiel’s rural views from its place on the hill, complete with all day sun and built to make the most of that natural source of light and heat. While this really is his own house Danny prides himself on treating every job that he does as if it’s his own. “I’ve got a very good work-ethic, very pro-active. I’ve fine-tuned my building style so that I’m quick but with attention to detail and high-quality finishing.” DCR Building Services have built up trusted relationships with the various sub-contractors needed to get the job done, and they’re who Danny and Nathan have in mind as they work. “I’m always thinking of the person who’s coming in next basically, whether it’s the plumber, the electrician or the people installing the kitchen, everything needs to be plumb and true so they can just get on with their job,” says Danny. Whether it’s a bathroom renovation or a new build Danny’s looking forward to people getting in touch for a free quote or estimate. “It doesn’t matter how big or small the job is. It takes time to quote, especially a whole new build, but I’ve been in the trade 20 odd years so I can come back to people with a well-founded ballpark figure within two to three weeks.” In the meantime he’s looking forward to spending time with his family as they all enjoy the views from their cosy, well-insulated, modern home. DCR Building Services DCR Building Services
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