With almost 55 years’ experience in completing residential and commercial projects as well as commercial maintenance contracts, RJ O’Brien Building Contractors Ltd is one of the most trusted names in construction in Cork and surrounding areas.
Established in 1969 by the late Ray O’Brien as Ray O’Brien Building Contractors, the company continues to go from strength to strength under the direction of his son John, who is joined by his brother David and eight staff. David is a project manager and interior designer whose Instagram account @theblackhouse.ie has over 32,000 followers and showcases projects throughout the entire build process.
Two years ago, David was runner-up on the hit RTÉ television show ‘Home of the Year’ – which champions creativity, individuality and clever design – for his stunning, bespoke new build home in Ballygarvan just outside Cork city. The design of the house was undertaken by CEA in collaboration with David, who had a very strong idea of creating a home that would sit comfortably into its landscape. The house is a contemporary take on Irish vernacular architecture using traditional building materials and products such as corrugated cladding.
RJ O’Brien Building Contractors’ in-house team of professional tradespeople are supported by the same tried and trusted subcontractors, including Dermot O’Brien Electrical, Michael Quinn Electrical, Cooney Bros Plumbers, Catch Security Systems and Top Security. The second-generation family business’ main suppliers are Brooks, Cork Builders Providers, International Trading and Chadwicks.
Superior workmanship, attention to detail, value-for-money and a commitment to working closely with clients to deliver total satisfaction are the hallmarks of RJ O’Brien Building Contractors. Health & Safety is at the core of the business, and never more so than since the Covid-19 pandemic. From concept to completion, the O’Brien team are with you every step of the way, ensuring that your project is designed and built to your specific needs, and that there are no hidden or extra costs involved.
The company’s one-stop shop approach will ensure that both the design and building processes are smooth, comfortable and hassle-free. The Cork contractor’s reputation for quality construction and ability to complete projects on time and within the agreed budget is borne out by the high volume of repeat business and referrals it receives from designers and scores of satisfied clients.
By employing highly-skilled people, collaborating with design teams and using only the very best building products, this fully insured and certified contractor is able to deliver the highest quality construction to its clients.
“Our father started out doing residential works before pivoting into the commercial sector. He worked on a number of bank upgrade projects across Ireland and earned a reputation that was second to none,” John explains.
“We are committed to carrying on that tradition of quality construction across the residential, commercial and building maintenance sectors. We provide industry-leading services in those areas. As a family-run business, we pride ourselves on our personal touch and attention to detail that makes our clients feel special. We try to do something unique on every job and, more often than not, our clients become our friends which speaks volumes. We will always go the extra mile for them.
“We have a fantastic team who genuinely care and take great pride in their work. They want to get it right, first time. It’s down to the finer details and that runs from the office right through to the man on the ground.”
Specialising in project management and building maintenance in all trades from interior design, carpentry, roofing, electrics, plumbing, decorating and specialty trades as required, RJ O’Brien Building Contractors’ work is largely focused on commercial building maintenance and residential renovations, extensions, complete home redesigns and new builds, although they have vast experience in all other areas of construction, including commercial fit outs and conservation work.
“We have quite a large clientele in commercial building maintenance work predominantly within Munster, but we do travel further afield when needed,” John continues.
“In residential, extensions and renovations are our speciality. We’re carrying out a full house renovation in Cork at the moment and also have a commercial building renovation project starting shortly. We undertake some conservation work as well.”
David’s expertise in interior design has become a key offering in recent years. Indeed, his services are sought outside the business and he’s currently collaborating with another building firm on nine corporate apartments.
“Our Instagram account is driving a lot of business. It’s nice to have a strong online presence and to be able to help people and offer them advice. They love the fact that they can follow the entire journey online rather than just seeing ‘before and after’ pictures,” David says.
“Building your home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. I have the experience and skill-set to guide clients and to ensure they get the best value and that they are spending their money wisely. My job is to create a cohesive design that meets their exact requirements. We also offer interior design consultations to clients who are using a different builder.
“All consultations for @theblackhouse.ie are through RJ O’Brien Contractors.”
John adds: “We’re a one-stop shop for all your design and build needs. The first thing we do on any project that involves interior design is to discuss it with David and come up with a plan that works for the client. I then price the job and we use an independent architect or engineer to work on the actual design of the building. It’s important to make the right decisions early and to be transparent from the start.
“We’re really passionate about what we do and share similar visions. No two jobs are ever the same and that’s the way we like it. Communication between ourselves and the client is every bit as important as the quality of workmanship we pride ourselves on.
“We also place as much emphasis as we can on achieving energy-efficient, green buildings using renewable energies wherever possible. You need to futureproof projects so that the home you build today is conveniently and affordably retrofittable in 30 years when the owners might want to upgrade it.”
Passionate about construction, RJ O’Brien Building Contractors would like to take this opportunity to thank its clients, suppliers and design teams for their continued support as well as its top-class team for their hard work, dedication and skill.
RJ O’Brien Building Contractors Ltd
Lios Cross,
Ballygarvan,
Co. Cork.
Telephone: 021 2061796
Mobile: 087 6137700
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.rjobrien.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, September 2023, Vol 9 No 9
RJ O’Brien Building Contractors
