Specialising in remedial treatments of all dampness as well as buildings renovations and refurbishments, DampRite Ltd recently came to national attention when it featured on the hit TV show ‘The Great House Revival’.
Fronted by Jerry Galvin, the Killarney, Co. Kerry-based company took on the task of restoring and damp proofing a charming Victorian townhouse and shop front in Douglas Street, Cork. Artist Cora Murphy, who always dreamed of owning her own home and art studio in Cork City, bought the property for €182,000. As well as converting the dilapidated building into her first home, Cora planned on converting the old shop floor into her artist studio – all with a budget of €120,000.
Of course, period restoration is far from simple – from unsalvageable windows to asbestos discoveries, mortgage uncertainties to planning complications, her dream home was harder to achieve than she thought.
The building, once described as a ‘front-room shop’ run by Mary and Desmond Lynch, now houses a ‘chilled-out’ exhibition area / lounge (where the former shop was located), a living room and a kitchen, with Cora’s artist’s studio availing of a roof light, and on the top floor, Cora’s bedroom, bathroom and spare bedroom.
Presented by architect Hugh Wallace, ‘The Great House Revival’ follows homeowners across Ireland as they try to restore and transform their derelict properties into comfortable homes fit for today – while saving a piece of the country’s architectural heritage.
Every aspect of the work is documented, from missed deadlines and budgets to battles fought and challenges overcome. Every property is different and each brings its own unique set of problems for the brave homeowners, for whom every restoration is a personal passion project.
“It was a very challenging, but very enjoyable project to work on,” Jerry says.
“We enjoyed a terrific rapport with Cora, Hugh and all ‘The Great House Revival’ crew. We had been recommended to Cora by four different individuals. The feedback from the show was very positive and everyone was extremely pleased with the outcome. Once our clients are happy, we’re happy.
“Having started out specialising in treating dry and wet rot, woodworm and dampness, we’ve evolved into a business that can provide a full renovation service from top to bottom. Our advice to anyone buying a property over 50 years old is to have it inspected first. If you don’t, it could come back to haunt you.”
Pre-purchase inspections are a key service offering of DampRite. “We get a lot of referrals from architects and engineers to carry out inspections on their behalf. It’s a strong part of our business,” Jerry explains.
“We do three or four pre-purchase inspections every week. Our reports are very comprehensive. Our damp metres and experience show us where the problems are. We go in with a torch and screwdriver, and quickly diagnose any problems that may arise.”
Covering all of Munster, DampRite’s other services include woodworm, condensation, rising damp, dry and wet rot treatments, pipe leaking and flooding, buildings renovation and refurbishment, and timber materials supply.
“We provide a specialised service, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of damp, defects to wood and rot problems,” the affable managing director adds.
“Health & Safety is paramount. To this end, we are very proud of our exemplary safety record. Sensitivity to the environment is also a top priority, and our objective is to minimise use of preservatives to essential requirements only. We are also a bat-friendly company and all our treatment procedures are implemented in a manner which does not disturb the bat habitat.”
A native of Glengarriff in West Cork, Jerry took over the running of DampRite eight years ago after his brother and company founder Michael retired. Prior to that, Jerry had worked alongside Michael in the business for many years. The company continues to go from strength to strength, employing 20 people directly and the same number on a subcontract basis.
“We have our own team of carpenters and block-layers who are fine-tuned in the whole area of dry rot treatment. They are supported and supplemented by our subcontractors who include dry-liners, plumbers, electricians and painters. We employ only the most skilled and enthusiastic tradespeople to ensure projects not only meet, but exceed our clients’ expectations.”
Furthermore, the contractor’s reputation for quality construction and ability to complete projects on time and within the agreed budget is borne out by the high volume of repeat business and referrals it receives from satisfied clients. By employing highly-skilled people, collaborating with clients’ design teams and engineers, and using only the very best building products, this fully-insured company is able to deliver construction projects of the highest standards.
“We have between 25 and 30 live projects at any one time. We have the experience and expertise to take on the type of jobs other contractors shy away from. We guarantee complete customer satisfaction,” Jerry concludes.
Jerry would like to take this opportunity to thank his clients and suppliers for their continued support as well as his top-class team for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
DampRite Ltd
Deerpark,
Killarney,
Co. Kerry.
Telephone: 087 256 8839
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.damprite.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, August, Vol 11 No 9
