REGULARS - IN PROFILE
Taking timber to
greater heights
Working in the timber industry runs in the Lucas family; Denvin
Lucas' father and grandfather were both carpenters, as fate would
have it, he would soon follow in their footsteps.
By Dineo Phoshoko
42 JUNE / JULY 2019 //
A
s managing director of Timbercraft, Denvin Lucas has
many responsibilities which include seeing to the
day-to-day operations of the business, dealing with
procurements and liaising with clients. Before getting into
the industry, Lucas pursued a brick building business,
however he realised that it was not exciting enough for him.
That’s when he decided to do a course in timber frame
building in 2008 and attending that course turned out to be
the best decision he made as that’s where he met Jim
Bunyan and, through him, Lucas’ career in the timber
industry took off. Lucas says carpentry has always been
something that he wanted to do, and his uncles told him
that from an early age he could always found with a hammer
and nail in hand.
Although Lucas has been in the industry for close on
three decades, is hasn’t always been easy as he encountered
many obstacles which include lack of money, lack of
exposure and lack of industry knowledge. “God puts people
on your path that just walk alongside you, one of them
being Jim Bunyan,” he explains. Bunyan used to own
Timbercraft and now Lucas and Theo Jurgens are partners in
the business.
When he is not busy with work, Lucas enjoys spending his
free time doing handyman work at home. When he is not
running or gardening, he also enjoys spending quality time
with his wife and children.
“This industry is one of a kind,” explains Lucas. Even if
that is the case, he still believes that most South Africans
have yet to latch onto a building style which uses timber.
“We have aligned ourselves with respectable industry
professionals who promote us well and my partners and I
offer a personalised sales package to our clients, with great
after sales support,” he says. He also mentions that there is
a stereotype in the industry about timber being inferior to
conventional building.
Although people may still have their reservations about
timber as a building material, their perceptions are slowly
changing.
“More and more we are finding people open to
alternative building methodology – timber,” he says. Even
though this is the case, Lucas still finds it particularly
Denvin Lucas has been involved in the timber industry for
almost 30 years.
challenging to convince people about the benefits of
building with timber. “We need to work very hard to market
and sell ourselves – all timber builders.” He believes that
increased public awareness and local municipalities
approving plans faster for all building systems, can help
improve the image and perception within the timber
industry.
Looking ahead, Lucas would like to collaborate with other
like-minded individuals to pioneer an entire multi-storey
timber building in South Africa. A building of this kind would
be a first for the country.
“We are seeing an open mindset change [to alternative
building] of the general public. Project numbers are growing
and anyone who can join and contribute positively to the
industry would just be a win-win for all,” he adds.
The future looks promising for timber construction and,
according to Lucas, through timber society needs to play a
crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability.
“Timber construction worldwide has been identified as a
major role player in the fight against global warming, that’s
our contribution,” he concludes.
www.timberiq.co.za