A meticulous, professional and client-focused approach to every project enables Derek Collins Construction to consistently deliver industry-leading private and public sector building solutions throughout Leinster and beyond. We headed to Celbridge in County Kildare and touched base with the founder / proprietor to find out more about this exceptional building contracting company.
Operating out of Celbridge for a quarter of a century and counting, Tipperary native Derek Collins has worked in construction for coming up on three-and-a-half decades and the wealth of experience he has gained over the years has been instrumental in securing his company’s status as one of the most sought-after building contractors in the Kildare / Dublin region.
Boasting an enviable track record delivering superb residential and commercial projects to the most exacting standards and with a painstaking attention to detail, Derek Collins Construction Ltd. has built up a strong core of repeat clients – from both the public and private sectors – and also benefits from consistently positive referrals through word of mouth, resulting in a steady flow of stellar projects and a healthy order book at all times.
“We pride ourselves on our quality of work,” Derek confirms. “I like to be able to walk away from every job knowing that the client got what they expected and that they are happy with the quality of the work and the service we provided. That way I can hold my head high and say ‘we did a good job here’.”
Through this no-stone-left-unturned-to-achieve-absolute-client-satisfaction approach, the quality of the work always speaks for itself. “I’ve worked with a few different architects and it’s reassuring that they keep coming back to me, because they know I always give a good level of finish and that the client is always happy with it.”
Transparency, communication and collaboration are also key to securing an optimal end product that is to the satisfaction of all parties. “I take a very active interest in all projects and there is always a foreman on site,” continues Derek, whose genuine enthusiasm and passion for construction are evident in his every word. “If there is a problem or issue the client wants to discuss, we will go through it with him / her in detail and find the right solution.
“The client will often have an idea in their mind as to how the project will look. That’s where our experience comes in; we can guide them through the whole process and keep them informed on what is happening. Jobs grow organically – there will be changes along the way and we have to work together. Once people are prepared to work together and buy into the process with honesty and transparency, you will get a good level of finish.”
Reflecting on the genesis of Derek Collins Construction, Derek recalls: “I’ve been in construction since 1989. I’m a plasterer by trade and I went into building around 15 years ago. After working as a sole trader for six or seven years, I set up Derek Collins Construction Ltd. eight years ago.”
Outside of construction, Derek’s other great passion in life is hurling. Originally a member of the Ballina dual club in Tipp – home of Premier County hurling full back Michael Breen and county footballer Steven O’Brien – he married Siobhan, a Dublin girl, and relocated to Celbridge, County Kildare in 1998. Since then, as well as providing unrivalled construction services, he has also been working tirelessly to promote the ancient game in Celbridge as much as he can.
Quality workmanship lies at the very heart of everything Derek Collins Construction does. “I have a steady crew of five skilled and experienced men and after that we tend to bring in the same team of contractors on a regular basis. We nearly always use the same subbies because they are reliable, punctual, we can trust them and they do a good job every time.
“You gain a lot of knowledge over 25 years and that stands to you. Because we have gathered a huge amount of experience in the company, we can quickly identify and solve problems and that’s massive when it comes to finishing jobs early and to a high standard.”
Complementing private one-off residential new builds, extensions and refurbishments, Derek also takes on a lot of maintenance work with the OPW and the Legal Aid Board. Obviously, the OPW demands a very high-quality finish and the Tipp native is honoured to have been enlisted to work on a variety of landmark sites nationwide for coming up on 15 years.
These include a complete renovation of Ardmore Coast Guard Station in Waterford; various projects in the Four Courts; the iconic Green Street Courthouse; upgrades to virtually every Garda station in Leinster; and regular work in the Phoenix Park including the Rangers Cottages, Dublin Zoo and Garda Headquarters and interesting projects on listed buildings.
“Alongside the public sector work, we take on one-off houses, extensions, renovations, bathroom refurbs, etc.,” says Derek. “Most of the private work is around the Kildare / Dublin area. We go eastwards as far as Malahide and Bray, across Dublin and the greater Dublin commuter belt. For the maintenance work for the Legal Aid Board and OPW, we generally cover Leinster.
“I always enjoy the work and it’s a real pleasure to deal with people. When people are happy with the job, you get great satisfaction from that. Once you see a happy client, you can be proud of what you have done. It’s important to take pride in your work.
“Between the GAA and the business, I’m more like a politician sometimes because you get to meet so many people and you end up making a lot of friends. There are a lot of good people out there.”
Repeat business and positive referrals are what has driven the ongoing success of Derek Collins Construction down through the years. “It’s very satisfying to be recommended for a job on the back of work you have previously carried out,” says the hands-on MD. “When clients are spending so much money on their projects, you like to give them the best service.
“All our work comes through word of mouth. Although I have a website, I don’t advertise at all and am not on social media. People can see the quality of our work. If a client is happy, they will happily recommend us to others. The onus is on us to maintain our quality and keep reaching those high standards so that this continues to happen.”
Going forward, there will be no compromise on either quality or the provision of the all-important personal touch for which Derek Collins Construction is renowned.
“I like to deal with customers myself. It’s my name on the invoice and on the business, and I like to deal with everybody face to face and maintain good working relationships.
“I pride myself on having a solid, reliable team that insist on quality workmanship. We all work together to make sure the client is happy with the end result.”
Derek Collins Construction Ltd.,
Celbridge,
County Kildare.
Tel: 087 2840791
Email: [email protected]
Web: dcconstruction.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, October 2023, Vol 9 No 10
