Timber iQ Dec 2017 - Jan 2018 // Issue:35 | Page 52

REGULARS - PERSONALITY PROFILE
Dawid van der Berg –
building up his footprint
Dawid van der Berg of Build Up (a timber and thatching
construction company) is a third-generation builder and loves the
different challenges that come with each job.
By Ntsako Khosa
WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN YOUR
CURRENT POSITION?
I’m an operations director. I’m responsible for the
longevity of the business and working environment. To
make sure the business lasts and is profitable, to ensure
clients are happy, improve general impression of the
business and to render professional services too.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR
CURRENT POSITION? WHAT HAVE YOU
ACHIEVED SO FAR?
To keep the company running, be professional and to
render quality services to our clients. I would also like
to achieve a good African footprint as well as
international exposure.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES, IN YOUR
OPINION, THAT THE TIMBER INDUSTRY NEEDS
TO OVERCOME?
It’s a difficult one, but with any industry, I find that
consumer education is lacking. To make sure that the
consumer knows the limitations and advantages of the
product and applying it within the spectrum. With
educating customers, you get to understand what they
define as quality. Quality is the attributes of the product
that are advantageous to the consumer. That’s why it’s
important to educate the client, so they know what kind of
wood they should get.
What I’ve found is that the end-user does not have
extensive knowledge of certain woods and their
capabilities. There is a generalised perception of say,
decking. Changing perceptions of woods, like it’s high
maintenance or it has a low life span. it’s the biggest
challenge we have. I’ve spent hours running through the
entire process of wood selection with clients.
EXPLAIN HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN YOUR
CAREER AND HOW YOU ENDED UP WHERE YOU
ARE TODAY.
I’m a third-generation builder, so it’s basically in my blood.
I’ve got a diploma from Port Elizabeth (PE) Technikon,
which is now the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
50 DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018 //
Dawid van der Berg, operations director of Build Up.
I started Build Up in 1999. I started the company because
there was a demand for alternative roofing structures, that
being thatch. I saw the gap and took it.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS INDUSTRY?
It is in my DNA . I like the challenges and the opportunities.
That’s the industry, you get opportunities and they lead to
problem solving which leads to improving peoples’ living
standards. It’s also nice to build something that will
outlive you.
DO YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU DO AND WHY?
I enjoy what I do. It’s a diversified environment to work in.
You get challenged every day and you have the
opportunity to solve those problems daily. You’re not in
the same environment every time, there are multiple sites
with different environments. I like using alternative
products to solve a problem, I’m passionate about that.
What drives me is using materials that are easily available
and getting the most out of them.