For three-and-a-half decades Branton Construction has been delivering exceptional building services to an ever-expanding list of satisfied customers across County Kildare. We touched base with director Clive Mooney to get an insight into this outstanding, family-run contracting business, which continues to go from strength to strength.
Since its inception in 1987, Branton Construction has developed an unrivalled reputation as one of Kildare’s premier building contractors, invariably delivering industry-leading solutions to the highest standards. Specialising in residential new builds, extensions / renovations and insulation and bathroom refits, the vastly-experienced and thorough team at Branton Construction combine excellent workmanship and knowledge to produce high-quality, efficient buildings backed up by excellent service.
A hands-on service is provided by the father and son team of John and Clive Mooney, both of whom are experienced tradesmen themselves and take an active on-site interest in every project from first point of contact through to completion. Overseeing a tight crew of four direct employees plus a regular team of tried-and-trusted subcontractors, the directors engage with the client throughout the construction process and keep lines of communication open to ensure complete customer satisfaction.
These high levels of workmanship and engagement have resulted in Branton Construction developing a superb reputation through word of mouth, with the vast majority of their work secured through positive referrals. In construction, reputation is everything and Clive is forever cognisant of the fact that a contractor is only as good as his last job:
“We’re very hands-on and that’s important,” he confirms. “I don’t stand back; I like to get involved on site. I get into it from the start and do the groundworks right through to finishing stage. I talk to the client at the pricing stage and will help them with picking out materials during the process.
“We give them that help because we understand that building a new home or renovating your existing one can be a very stressful experience. It’s a huge investment and we have experience of what does and doesn’t work, so we like to share that with people if they need any guidance along the way.
“I’d strongly recommend using quality materials in every aspect of the building. Once you put quality into the building, there will be no unforeseen problems down the line. It’s always worth paying a little bit more attention at the start to make sure you have a reliable and durable building that will stand the test of time. Once the client is content and the architect is satisfied and you are happy the work will flow quicker and you will end up with a building that has real value.
“Buildings are much more energy efficient these days and this comes at the cost of a larger outlay at the beginning. They may be dearer to build, with air tightness and air-to-water heat pumps, etc., but they are way more efficient to run and will provide better value in the long run.”
Fully registered with the CIF, CIRI and HomeBond, the business was established in 1985 by John Mooney, who had worked previously as a plastering subcontractor before deciding to diversify and provide a complete house building contracting service. Today, Branton Construction provides a complete range of residential construction (new builds, conversions, extensions, renovations, refits) across County Kildare – from Clane to Prosperous, Celbridge to Maynooth, Kilcock to Straffan and everywhere in between – as well as occasionally venturing into South Dublin.
Like his father and business partner, Clive is a fully qualified plasterer and this gives him a particularly critical eye when it comes to the aesthetics of the finish: “As a plastering tradesman, you tend to be instinctively very fussy about the finish. We have an eye for detail and the reality is that if you didn’t pay close attention to detail then you wouldn’t be in business for 36 years.”
At the time of writing, Branton Construction were in the process of finishing off a new build in Sallins and an extension / renovation in Leixlip, with two further new builds and two new extensions ready to commence once the public health restrictions on the construction sector are lifted.
Good men are central to everything Branton Construction does. “You have to use the best,” says Clive. “Outside of our own crew, we use subcontracted plumbers, electricians, carpenters and block layers who have all been with us for years. We bring in the same tradesmen all the time and there is a mutual understanding of what needs to be done. We know how they work and they know how we work … they are like an extension of the business, really.
“If you have somebody on site who isn’t knowledgeable, then it will show in the final result. Apart from the actual work side of it, you also have to consider dealing with the client. The tradesmen on the site have to be able to engage with the client. For example, the subcontractor will be better versed than me in the intricacies of what he’s doing and should be able to communicate with the client if necessary.
“I need to be confident that the subcontractors are going to be able to do that. There has to be trust built up between all parties – the main contractor, the client and the subcontractors. We all have to have a good working relationship and must keep a line of communication open so that everyone remains in the loop.”
Down through the decades, Branton Construction have strived to provide a superb level of customer service and this has certainly stood them in good stead. Clive notes. “You will end up getting more business from family or friends of these customers. I’ve built houses for children of people my father built for, which is great. By providing quality work and a good service, it will pass down through the generations.”
Looking to the future, the Kildare man is hopeful that a return to some sort of normality is nigh for the construction industry, the economy in general and society as a whole: “Hopefully when its safe and possible to lift restrictions we will be able to move forward, there is a big demand built up for construction services at the moment hopefully it will continue and the company can grow and flourish with keeping with the same work ethic that has served us well over the years and, with more people working from home, there could be a bigger market than ever for home renovations and expansions” he concludes
Branton Construction,
Upper Hodgestown,
Donadea,
Naas,
County Kildare.
Tel: 045 863623
Mobile: 087 2522052
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, August, Vol 7 No 8
