Judging by the hustle and bustle of T&R Contracting’s three local sites, the business is flourishing with expansion and partnerships.
Now in its second season under the ownership of Dan and Bonnie Robinson and Shaun and Raeann Gloslee, the company has broadened its scope since taking over the business in the fall of 2014, including locally produced aggregate products, yard and garden materials and lot and property services.
The two local couples have seen the family owned and operated business grow over the past year and their West Lake Pit site on Padgett Road is now the pivotal point for all of its operations.
With a larger sales office and an increasing variety of products and services, T&R has become a one-stop shop for commercial and residential projects and materials. T&R staff will answer questions about all of its products and services and welcomes customers to the public site where they can learn more.
T&R serves commercial, trades and residential customers. The company’s locally produced aggregate products are made from blue granite and come directly from its West Lake Quarry, just 10 minutes from the public sales yard.
“People like the look of the blue granite and it’s a super hard rock, so it doesn’t break down like other rock, and it’s very durable for things like driveways,” says Dan.
T&R runs three locations. West Lake Quarry is where it makes the aggregate products, Cranberry Lake Sand Pit is where all of the round rock and sand is mined and used for bedding sand, cement gravel and decorative rock, and the West Lake Pit public sales location is where it offers a wide selection of construction, yard and garden materials.
Customer service is a top priority at T&R. The staff is available for requests and questions and will spend time with visitors discussing options and making suggestions for customer projects.
T&R offers a full range of products, including an impressive variety of sand, gravel, granite (washed and with fines) and river rock, as well as fish and mushroom compost, organic soil amender, ready-to-use garden and turf soil and mulches and rocks for garden focal points.
“We’ve had amazing response to every product, and we have people purchasing bulk orders, but we also do smaller sales by pail,” says Bonnie.
T&R’s different grades of aggregates can be used for everything from driveways to drainage. Rip rap can be used for retaining walls and breakwaters, and road base is very popular for road-building projects. T&R offers delivery of all of its products, as well as pickup at the yard on Padgett.
“It’s a one-stop shop. We’ve got everything for your home or yard, whether it be landscape material or construction aggregate,” says Shaun. “Whether you’re building a house or finishing a yard, you can get it all here.”
T&R recently announced a partnership with Courtenay-based cement-products manufacturer Hyland Precast, becoming an exclusive depot for the Vancouver Island company’s cement products, such as catch basins, septic tanks, curb stops for parking lots and highway barriers.
“We’re looking forward to a long-term relationship with T&R and expanding to what the local needs are in Powell River,” says Hyland operations manager Chris Huber. “Our focus is to bridge the gap between the Island and the mainland.”
The owners of T&R have had a professional and personal relationship with Chris at Hyland for years and saw an opportunity to provide cement products directly to Powell River residents.
“The more products we can have locally in our community, the better,” says Bonnie.
T&R also has a range of trucks available, including a Hiab crane truck for heavy-lifting jobs and a year-round potable water truck for deliveries of clean drinking water for a variety of needs. A slinger truck is also available to place products in difficult locations wherever customers need them, avoiding back-breaking work. Dumptrucks, excavators and a full line of machinery are also available.
Having raised their families in Powell River, the four owner-operators of T&R stress the value in giving back to the community, providing donations and sponsorships to local charities and non-profit societies.
“It’s very important for us to share whenever we can and help the community be as successful as it can,” says Bonnie.
T&R welcomes customer questions about its residential and commercial products and services. For more information call 604.485.2234 (after hours, call Dan at 604.483.6978 or Shaun at 604.414.5455), email tandroffice@gmail.com or visit the website at TandRContracting.ca.
T&R Contracting is located at 4240 Padgett Road, just past Valley Building Supplies. Hours are 7 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday (open Saturdays 9 am to 4 pm starting March 12).
