Established since 1986, Dartmouth Building Works Ltd are building contractors that specialise in refurbishments, renovations, extensions, fit-out contracts and new builds. Building Ireland touched base with Managing Director, Paul Merriman to learn more about the Dublin-based company.
Next year will see Dartmouth Building Works Ltd mark 35 years in existence and right now business is thriving for the firm in south Dublin.
Originally founded by business partners Paul Merriman, Gerard Doherty and the late David O’Brien, the company has grown a reputation for delivering quality projects down through the years.
Today the company is headed up by Paul Merriman and employs 25 direct staff from its base at Dartmouth House, 11 Turnpike Road in Ballymount, Dublin 22.
Building Ireland caught up with Paul recently to hear about some of the origins of the business along with some of the projects it has on-going at the moment.
“We employ 25 staff here which includes Alan Merriman and Martin Doherty (Directors/Contracts Managers), Lorraine Moran (Financial Director), Eamon Mulqueen (Quantity Surveyor) and Samantha Lyons (Office Administrator) all involved in the running of the company. We also have a fantastic team of experienced operatives and trades people who contribute to the success of the company. Our philosophy and approach is a straight forward commitment to provide the best possible service, quality and value for money for our clients.
“On the domestic end, we carry out a lot of high-end refurbishment jobs in Dublin in general and specialise in one-off houses and high-end extensions.” Examples of such work can be found on our website www.dartmouth.ie
“We specialise in office refurbishments in and around Dublin for offices that have become vacant. Some buildings built in the 80’s and 90’s are in need of upgrading to align with the current building standards. We also carry out an increasing number of civil works in factories where upgrading of machinery and equipment means major bases, pits and adjustments are required within existing structures.
Due to our varied experiences and shared passion for the Irish construction industry, our extensive knowledge and expertise is often called upon to assist with carrying out essential maintenance on office and apartment buildings where roof works are failing and causing problems. Recent works in the south Dublin area included replacing all parapet cappings, installing new flashings over bay windows and works to screens to prevent water ingress beneath them.
The company also supplies general maintenance work for both commercial and domestic clients.
Dartmouth Building Works Ltd has experience in all aspects of building work and has worked with many clients, architects, engineers and interior design teams on major projects all over the capital over the past three-and-a-half decades.
In 1986 Paul, Gerry and David set up the company after having gained years of experience with one of the biggest construction companies in the country at the time.
“Originally, myself and Gerry (Doherty) were Contract Managers with McLaughlin & Harvey before it moved out of the republic of Ireland in 1986,” he explained. McL&H was a large building company around Dublin during the 60’s, 70s and ‘80s and when it closed its offices in Dublin, we set up a new company. The name ‘Dartmouth’ comes from ‘Dartmouth Road’ in Ranelagh where McLaughlin Harvey’s main offices was based.”
Today the company is managing with an array of projects in and around Dublin City Centre and county Dublin.
These are challenging times indeed for Dartmouth Building Works Ltd and the company takes pride in the fact that it hasn’t had to decrease its staff, even a decade ago during the most testing times for the Irish construction industry.
We have 20 operatives, tradespeople on site and we have access to almost 20 regular sub-contractors and suppliers.
Over the years, we have had to adapt the business to meet the changing influences within the construction sector. Whether this is keeping up to date on the ever changing statutory and regulatory requirements of our industry, with greater emphasis being placed on CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and training of all staff, or the ever changing building regulations and product changes, and sustainable construction practices.
Experience and reliability are what sees Dartmouth Building Works stand out from its competitors, working closely with clients, architects and design teams so that they can achieve the finished project that all parties are working towards.
The company works from the initial design phase to completion and it ensures that each project runs smoothly and within budget.
DBW understands that all projects are a partnership between the design team, contractor and most importantly the client. We believe that our clients deserve honesty and trust so we work with a cooperative team approach eliminating any form of confrontation.
The company has grown an excellent reputation for quality work when it comes to its projects, and will no doubt continue the trend through 2021 and for many more years to come.
Dartmouth Building Works Ltd
Dartmouth House,
11 Turnpike Road, Ballymount,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22
Tel 01 4594011
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, January 2021, Vol 7 No 1
