Based in Blarney, Davocal Construction Ltd. is an industry-leading building contractor which consistently delivers premium properties across Cork, with quality workmanship and keen attention to detail ever-present prerequisites on every project undertaken. We spoke to proprietor David O’Callaghan to find out how Davocal has succeeded in developing a stellar reputation for excellence within the construction industry.
There are myriad reasons why Davocal Construction Ltd.’s services are in unprecedented demand but ultimately it comes down to quality. The eponymous founder and owner David O’Callaghan deploys an exceptional team of experienced, skilled and meticulous tradesmen to invariably deliver a comprehensive range of outstanding construction projects.
Acting as one point of contact and with the capacity to project manage and / or provide design-and-build solutions where required, Davocal can seamlessly coordinate all aspects of the projects they take on, from demolition and groundworks through to planning, construction and handover. They have a proven track record completing residential and commercial projects both large and small, their skilled team excelling in everything from high-end new builds to extensions, refurbishments, renovations, restorations, attic conversions, carpentry, roofing, kitchens, bathrooms, decking, etc.
Over the last decade or so, working to the most exacting standards, Davocal have earned a particularly strong reputation for building supreme high-end private residential homes, delivering a succession of magnificent one-off new builds across the Rebel County, frequently within the €500,000 to €800,000 price range. Complementing these spectacular homes, they also design and build their own small luxury residential housing developments in and around the general Tower / Blarney catchment area.
To this end, they have recently completed Foxwood – an upmarket private development in Firmont, Blarney comprising seven 2,100 sq ft four-bedroom detached homes. Located in a peaceful, rural setting but within close proximity to both Blarney and Cork city, these stunning, modern A3-energy-rated two-storey homes have underfloor heating on the ground floor and air-water heat pump providing a responsive and highly efficient central heating system. They are finished to the highest detail internally and externally, boasting extensive manicured gardens and tarmacadam driveways. All seven were occupied in time for Christmas 2021.
Next up is a ten-unit development on the outskirts of Cork city, where David and his team will break ground as soon as they receive the green light from Cork City Council.
Focussing on reliability and attention to detail whilst collaborating closely with the client, Davocal Construction build both traditional and contemporary style new homes encompassing a range of materials and building techniques. Bringing together experienced multi-disciplinary teams, they provide all the construction expertise and building solutions necessary to deliver every project to programme, on time and within budget.
“Budget is key to every project and, while you never want to start a conversation by talking about money, it dictates the conditions or limitations of the project whether it’s a private house of a multi-unit development,” says David. “Whether people want to hear it or not, the biggest problem facing construction at the moment is that the rising cost of everything is unsustainable long-term – and getting worse.
“Even outside of Covid and the soaring cost of materials, you have VAT bills and other contributions to Irish Water and local authorities, etc., and the total of additional fees can go close to €100,000 on a €450,000-€500,000 house. While the actual cost of building the house has gone up 30%, the overall cost of construction is up 150% – it’s crazy.”
Generating direct employment in-house for up to ten people, Davocal Construction also enlist the services of a tried-and-trusted network of subcontractors with whom they enjoy long-term working relationships. “Good men are like gold dust and that’s why we try to hold onto them,” David continues. “We have our own tradesmen in-house and we bring in subbies to fill in the gaps. Most of those subbies have been with us for a long time now and we tend not to chop and change.”
Davocal own and operate their own fleet of heavy machinery and thus have the option of taking on the civils element of the project themselves or taking in outside civil engineering contractors – a choice which will be determined by the nature of the project at hand and how busy they are at any given time. “We have the skillset to completely build a house from start to finish in-house if we need to, but we approach each one on its own merits and always adopt the approach that will get the best results.”
Established in 2004, Davocal Construction are focused primarily on domestic work at present – specifically the aforementioned high-end new builds and small developments. They also have a wealth of experience operating within the commercial sector, however, including more than a decade maintaining and renovating premises for AIB Bank. “We still do the occasional renovation for them but we are concentrating almost exclusively on the private new builds and our own residential developments,” David confirms.
“We are extremely busy and are always reasonably close to full capacity. Things really snowballed in the last year or so and – between our own projects and private jobs – we are nearly fully booked out already for 2022.”
Construction was of course adversely affected by the public health restrictions implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and Davocal Construction did not escape unscathed: “Fortunately we had a couple of social housing projects to work on and that kept us going but the fact that we couldn’t get at the private work during the shutdowns didn’t help. It has affected everybody, with shortages of men and materials as well as costs spiralling.
“We were back on track by December, 2020 and then they locked us down again two weeks later,” David concludes. “That was a blow but we are getting back on course again now.”
Going forward, Davocal Construction are ideally placed to focus on doing what they do best: building homes of distinction.
Davocal Construction Ltd.,
22 The Green,
Gleann Na Ri,
Tower,
Blarney,
County Cork.
Tel: 087 9648273
Email: [email protected]
Web: davocal.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, March 2022, Vol 8 No 3
