Intro to Quality Homes & Renovations – Darcy Panke

I’ve worked at Quality Homes & Renovations since 2012, but Darcy Panke started the company in 2009. I didn’t know very much about the early days of the company, so I recently sat down with Darcy and asked him to dig into the archives.

What was your first experience with carpentry?

That goes back… My dad always built his own log homes, scribing the logs his own way. I became interested in that. When it really came into play, I was about 14, 15 and a family friend and neighbour, Mickey, who basically helped raise me, turned his cottage into a house. He built a little addition, and I did all the work with him, the V joint pine, the framing.

When did you decide to become a carpenter?

By the time that project was finished I was going on 16 and Bryan Fraser Contracting was also a neighbour. He would see me working on the weekends and he offered me a summer job. I did everything possible to get out of school, co-op, apprenticeship, you name it. Laughs. And Bryan Fraser Contracting paid me $6 an hour. That’s what really got me started. The more I did, the more I learned, the more interested I got.

How long did you work for Brian Fraser Contracting?

I worked there until I was 19 and left for a short time to work for Valley Window & Door in Pembroke. I was there for a few years, 3 maybe and then went back to work for Bryan Fraser Contracting.

What did you do at Valley Window & Door?

I did sales of windows, door and sunrooms and sunroom installations. We did sales at night and on the weekends and installations during the week.

After Valley Window & Door, you worked for Brian Fraser Contracting again. What made you decide in 2009 to start working for yourself?

Well, I think with Fraser, he knew my end goals. I always told him where I wanted to be in business and he showed me a bit of quoting, stuff like that. But then he wasn’t interested in showing me more of what I wanted to learn in the business. So I finally I just said I’m going to go ahead then on my own. He wished me the best and that was it.

It was a tough time though, in 2009, everything crashed just then. But there was a lot of government incentives then for small renovations and it didn’t take much to keep me myself busy.

What was the first big job for Quality Homes?

The first big job, there were two big jobs. The first was my brother’s roof, at his camp. Pretty complicated framing job. Then we built another home in the same location in Cormac. Log cabin, 2 stories, a big garage.

It was tough starting in 2009. When did you start to think that QHR would be able to stick around? When did you feel you were over the new business hump?

Well, I never feel like I’m over the hump, even today. When I started the goal was… I never really thought about if it got better. There were ups and downs. Even today you’re always thinking about keeping going, keeping current and making sure of your business. I don’t know if you ever feel like you’re over a hump, this is going to be a breeze. I’ll let you know if I feel that way, there’s no breeze yet. Laughs.

What are some of the rewards of working for yourself?

I think the biggest reward is freedom I guess. I never missed any of the kid’s concerts or school activities or sports. Somehow I made it to all that stuff. I’ll let you know if I’m going to retire before I’m 70. laughs

Good luck! What are some of the challenges at the end of 2024 in running a construction business?

I think the challenge for 2023, 2024 and going into next year is the market, sales of new homes, the interest rates. I think that will be the challenge for another year, to get people to spend a little extra. The cost of building has increased, not just in the carpentry but all the trades and materials. People who are moving to the area, retiring, some good customers like that will help keep things going.

You are in the office early every morning. What helps you get up and get to work every day?

Well, I like working. I like seeing everyone and seeing the accomplishments on the job. I just came back from a challenging project, but the end result looks pretty nice and the customers are happy. Going back to see the customer when it’s done, and even if there are some hiccups, going back to do that last visit and the customer is happy, that’s a nice reward. I think that’s one thing about us, we don’t stop until they are happy.

Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to start a business?

Be open. Be open to listen to other successful businesspeople. Keep your ears open, don’t be afraid to take advice from anybody. Be kind, do as much for your employees as you can, give them what you can. Work hard, strive through any hiccup that comes.

Never take no for an answer. Laughs When somebody says no, there is always a way around it. If it’s holding you back, push through.

If you can tell us, what’s the next big milestone for QHR?

The end goal would be to have all the trades in house, have a true in house one stop shop. That would be the end goal. To be the first call for anyone in Renfrew County, and they know whatever project they have we can handle. To be the #1 call, that would be it.

Abram Harrison is a Red Seal carpenter who has been working at Quality Homes & Renovations since 2012. Now part of the estimating team, working with Quality Homes & Renovations customers to realize their vision, he keeps the rust off his hammer working on his own home.