Driven By Professionals: Interview with Darrell Hoekstra

As a family owned Canadian company that began in 1929, we know that construction professionals need products and service they can count on.  Our slogan “Driven By Professionals” is the driving force behind all the products and services we offer. As part of a new initiative, we wanted to highlight some professionals in our industry who are doing some pretty incredible things. Each month we will be featuring two individuals in our industry to learn a little bit more about them and the type of work they specialize in.

This week we chatted with Darrell Hoekstra, a framing contractor from the lower mainland in Vancouver, BC. Active on social media, his instagram is filled with advice for framers as well as photos and videos of projects he is working on or has completed. Besides being passionate about sharing his knowledge of the trades with the world, Darrell is actively involved in raising awareness about Cystic Fibrosis and loves to participate in an annual cycling fundraiser called GearUp4CF. He can be reached at darrell.hoekstra@gmail.com.

Here is our interview with Darrell (@darrell.hoekstra):

1. Who are you? 

Hi my name is Darrell Hoekstra, I’m a 31 year old carpenter from the lower mainland married to a really great girl.

2. What’s your specialty?

Since starting my company three years ago I’ve focused on residential framing, but gained a lot of valuable experience prior to that working for a custom home builder in a form-to-finish capacity filling roles ranging from labourer to foreman and light project management.

3. How did you get into the trade?

I got into carpentry accidentally in between grades ten and eleven because I was getting sick of pumping gas.  The first week was rough but after that I haven’t looked back.

4. What’s your favourite part about work?

What I love most about this career is the camaraderie on a good crew and the intense satisfaction of building things with my hands.

5. What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the workplace?

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced onsite involved finishing a large custom home on a tight timeline in a management role which unfortunately required stacking the trades on top of each-other more than I’d have liked too.

6. What project/job(s) are you the most proud of?

I’m proud of a moment when the mechanical contractor flipped out under the pressure and just about walked until I was able to talk him down by promising to jump in for the afternoon and help him complete his scope before the insulators showed up.  An ongoing challenge is maintaining work/life balance and scheduling framing jobs so that there’s always enough to do without scrambling.

7. What advice would you give to someone getting into the trade?

My advice to someone who wants to make a career in carpentry is try to round out your experience somewhat early on; between forming, framing and various types of finishing this trade is very broad and experience in the different aspects of it will make you better at whatever you end up specializing in.  Pay attention, especially when someone is taking the time to share knowledge or explain something, and then don’t sell yourself short.  Provide value and then expect to be compensated for it.  Trades are a great way of life and can also be a good living.

8. What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time I like playing sports at a casual level, building boats, and walking with my wife.

BONUS! Favourite Bissett Product?

My favourite thing about Bissett Fasteners is the great customer service, and my favourite product is obviously bright 15 degree coils.  I am a framer after all.  Keep swinging that hammer brothers!

You can find Darrell on Instagram at @darrell.hoekstra or at his email darrell.hoekstra@gmail.com.

Do you know someone who should be featured next in our series? Let us know!

Check out our other interviews by clicking the links below:

• Interview with Thibault Nivarro
• Interview with Byron Schmidt
• Interview with Aron Jones
• Interview with Joshua Robinson