It’s in the middle of the winter with snow and cold when we arrive in Gerby, but inside the house where Kaj Wiik and Joakim Antfolk from Byggservice Kronqvist are carrying out a complete renovation, it’s warm and dry.
Almost all that remains of the house is the frame. The floor is protected with paper to preserve it as it is, but the rest has been blown out. So far, only the demolition stage has taken place, but now they are starting to rebuild. When we enter, Kaj is in the space that will now be converted into a bathroom. This building used to be a kindergarden, and now instead of toilet cubicles, there will be shower, bathroom fittings and only one toilet seat instead of three.
Together with Pia Gammal, supervisor at Byggservice Kronqvist, they laughingly say that Kaj is very self-sufficient. He likes to order goods, take responsibility and keep track of his projects himself. But when it comes to larger deliveries, such as panels for the roof, it is Pia who takes care of it. Pia has worked as a supervisor at Byggservice Kronqvist since autumn 2023, and says she enjoys it.
Kaj joined Byggservice Kronqvist in 2020, after fifteen years of self-employment in the construction industry. But he has previous experience of the industry, having started building back in 1990.
“It almost doesn’t feel like work, because building is my biggest interest,” Kaj says. At the moment, he is building an extension to his own house in the evenings, if he’s not busy with the association life at Björköby local history museum.
He also has experience of renovating old houses in the traditional way, and tells of major projects where outbuildings, farmhouses and large cottages have been renovated. “Being able to do a building project from start to finish is the best, then you get to see the whole picture and you have better control over the result” says Kaj.
In a few weeks, two trainees will join Kaj on this project, and he says it’s good that students get to work on real buildings. Getting a good internship is very important for a student, it can even determine whether they will continue in a certain industry or not.
For most of 2023, Kaj and Joakim worked mainly on construction projects for the Ostrobothnia Welfare Area. Many elderly people are living at home for longer than before, and then they need, for example, adapted ramps to easily get in and out of their home with a walker or wheelchair. Byggservice Kronqvist also has a long-term construction contract with the Wellfare Area of Ostrobothnia and carries out major changes at, for example, Vaasa Central Hospital.
Listening to Kaj describe his everyday life at work, where he gets to do what he likes most – building – is an inspiring reminder of what is possible when you mix your passion with your daily work.