USA construction writer Kendall Jones wrote that “Tech-savvy millennials aren’t flocking to careers in construction as past generations have,” which, he felt, “will continue to cause issues for firms as they seek to meet growing demand.”
With these kind of thoughts in our mind, Design & Build felt that it was time we put the question in the above title of this article to the test locally – and how this reflects on the quality of the output in the local construction industry.
That’s when Leonardo Brunetti came into our focus for this interview…. We met with a young 28-year-old construction entrepreneur who hails from Torino, in northern Italy; the director of the ever-growing Edil Rustico.
As implied within the company’s very name, Leonardo’s speciality is on constructing rustic works…. Though not only! He has been involved in this line of work in Italy since his first day of work. So when he brought his business over to Malta, he decided to continue on the same lines he was so familiar with while also studying and developing the rustic techniques mostly suitable for Malta’s needs.
His driving motto is “What I start, I finish.” Leonardo added that he easily adapted to the local style and brought in a new aspect to local construction – reflected through his company name, since Edil is short for the Italian “edilizia” which means construction. He has therefore been combining the Italian know-how and style with the Maltese one.
What I start, I finish
Leonardo has brought to Malta what one could call as the Italian touch and style to construction work. For example, he believes in less torba and more screed. But he also underlined that some local clients tend to go for the price rather than the actual quality that a good job perforce requires.
photo: a rustic renovation project conducted by Edil Rustico in Italy
He obviously didn’t agree that this was a good concept but he underlined that notwithstanding it all, Edil Rustico will always do its utmost to deliver the project to the highest standard possible.
“We are always doing our utmost whatever the circumstances,” he emphasised, adding that he will deliver to the best possible standards as if it were his own house that his organisation would be working on. “The important thing is that the finished product satisfies our client, and that I too am satisfied with our results since our reputation is reflected in every project delivered.”
I have personally chosen my team and we work well together – all the time
At this point you too might be asking yourself the obvious question – how did Leonardo end up in Malta?
HOW IT ALL STARTED…
Leonardo had worked with his father in Italy, having started off by working mostly with electrical installations. He then got a good grounding in all other aspects of Italian contracting. This infused the wish to branch out on his own and Leonardo found that Malta – a country he experience in his travels and grew to love, was the ideal place for him to further develop his skills. Today Leonardo’s roots within the construction sector have embedded themselves steadfastly into these grounds to the point that Edil Rustico has branched further through two construction agencies in Croatia and in Bucharest.
Edil Rustico’s full-time workforce in Malta is made up of 7 employees, hailing from Italy, Bangladesh and Bulgaria. The organisation also employs part-timers. When necessary, this local workforce is jetted off to their overseas operations. “This arrangement has tuned my role predominantly into that of Edil Rustico’s primary project manager,” he explained. “I’m an on-site person, not one solely stuck in an office with paperwork! I have personally chosen my team and we work well together – all the time – on all the turn key contracts we undertake.“
Our experience has shown us how to sift the absolute return wheat from the chaff, and to then train, maintain and retain our coveted workforce
The outsourced workers who are living here in Malta are picked personally and are initially tried out on a job to assess their capabilities. “If they are living abroad then it is a bit different…. I first check their qualifications, then ask for a video of them doing some work following which I do an actual interview. Employing workers from abroad is always a bit difficult – and different – as you are not able to actually see them doing the work directly. Our experience has shown us how to sift the absolute return wheat from the chaff, and to then train, maintain and retain our coveted workforce.”
WORKS IN PROGRESS , AND ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
“Though we are proper specialists in rustic renovations, and alterations, we handle the whole range of construction and interior works; from the physical building of developments to their internal finishings. Styles range from traditional to modern; from homely to industrial,” Leonardo explains. Edil Rustico is presently working on projects in St Julian’s and in Qawra. The latter project includes three houses with pools. Before this significant project, they were tasked with five apartments in Qawra, and were sub-contracted on a large-scale development in Naxxar.
photo: Leonardo on the job
As we discussed his works, he also mentioned an upcoming big apartment in Tigne Point where he will be converting and combining two apartments into one. This will include all the finishings as well. He explained that “Edil Rustico is able to convert and adapt any existing building to new needs and standards, in a typical Maltese requirements but with an Italian sense of style and quality.”
People come today and want their work done tomorrow! It’s always like this. And we can handle it
As an example, he explained, by using double brick walls and also what is known in Italy as “lana di roccia” in between, the people inhabiting the building will spend less in winter to keep the place warm while in summer it also creates a comfortable cooler atmosphere. “In short,” he passionately exclaimed, “both cooling and heating costs are reduced, and thus compensate for the slightly higher building costs.” This, coupled with the additional and vital benefits of sound insulation within busy environments, ought to mitigate the cost factor, as the increase in well-being rises above proportion to it.
“People come today and want their work done tomorrow! It’s always like this. And we can handle it” he declared with a smile. “Under pressure or not, we are used to doing what needs to be done! When we start a job, we finish it… we don’t start it, leave it for a bit, then come back again to continue etc, as some others are wont to do.
Edil Rustico also makes sure that the products used are of the best quality to deliver the best job to the clients “according to their budgets, of course!” he said. The client has to be kept happy too!” he added.
Leonardo spoke about the importance of implementing quality standards in all projects in Malta. He gave as an example a pool built on the roof of a development without there having been including its required kontra bejt so that “a wall of one room in an adjacent building was absolutely laden with water!”
Edil Rustico is accustomed to solving such matters. “Sometimes you find such issues even in domestic bathrooms. I point these problems out to my clients while proposing workable solutions for them using liquid membrane and other stratification materials to reduce if not eliminate these issues,” he concluded.
When asked for his parting words, Leonardo passionately and convincingly exclaimed “What I start, I finish. I am a responsible person who cares for his clients! I am passionate about my work and am trustworthy with the aim of keeping the client always happy!”
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