Offering a full range of services including new builds, extensions, refurbishments, restorations and conservation work, LMD Build is a multifaceted operation that has been delivering breath-taking construction solutions throughout the greater Dublin area for twelve years and counting.
Building Ireland sat down recently with LMD Build founder and managing director Lee McDougall, who has a particular penchant for taking on the kind of awkward, tricky jobs that other main contractors tend to avoid. Based in Dublin 4, LMD Build is a progressive and dynamic building contractor with a wealth of experience in transforming spaces into functional and well-designed homes or commercial properties.
LMD Build’s immaculate, unerring eye for detail and unfaltering approach to high quality workmanship results invariably in every project being delivered to meet if not exceed client expectation. From striking home extensions and refurbishments with deep retrofits, to stunning architectural new builds, the reimagining and restoration of listed buildings and the complete rebuild of derelict houses, LMD consistently achieves the highest standards of excellence on every project undertaken.
The magnificent portfolio of completed works stands testament to the exceptional nature of this outstanding family-run business and the high esteem in which Lee McDougall’s company is held by its peers throughout the industry is reflected in the fact that LMD Build has been shortlisted for the Residential Project of the Year Award at the prestigious 2023 Irish Construction Industry Awards (for a truly spectacular transformation of No.7 Tubbermore Road, Dalkey).
Commenting on the age-old question of what are the vital ingredients that combine to make an excellent building project, Lee notes: “It’s all about teamwork, really, and getting along with everybody. A lot of people have this stereotype about builders, that they don’t get along, but we do. It’s important that everybody involved in a project gets along and is working together as part of a team – we always instil that ethos on site.
“The quality of our work is ultimately down to the quality of our team. We currently have a team of six direct employees and in addition to that we use the same subbies time and time again. We know them and trust them and have forged good working relationships together.”
All of this leads to a harmonious working environment which enables LMD Build to achieve a level of consistency and excellence that many contractors would give an arm and leg for. It’s interesting that Lee never mentioned quality workmanship or coming in on budget – presumably because these are a given?
“Of course – the quality should always be there no matter what and the quality of our projects speaks for itself. As for budget, well, with all the regulations around what has to go into a building these days, clients need to have a healthy budget. There’s no getting away from it. Building isn’t cheap and clients have to be prepared to put money into their project.”
Lee is a second-generation builder who inherited his love of all things construction from his father, John McDougall: “I’ve been in construction for 20 years now. I’m a tiler by trade and I served my time initially with my father, who had a small company. I set up my own business around 2010. Things were quiet in the early days but after a few months it started to take off…”
The Celtic Tiger had gasped its last breath and Ireland was still in the throes of a severe recession. “I started off doing small jobs – bathroom renovations, etc.,” Lee recounts. “People simply didn’t have money to spend on extensions at the time but things gradually got back to normal and we got into extensions, refurbishments, conversions and new builds, which is still what we specialise in today.”
LMD Build covers the capital, both north and south of the Liffey. “We’ve been working predominantly on the southside for the past two years,” Lee continues. “We’ve just handed over a high end loft conversion in Dalkey incorporating a roof top terrace and snug with curved glazing offering views overlooking Dubin Bay. The works involved the refurbishment of bathrooms and master bedroom complete with a bespoke glass staircase. Everything had to be brought in through the house and manually carried up to the third story of the period building.
“Meanwhile, another of our projects in Dalkey that has been shortlisted for the ICI award was the extension and complete transformation of an old fisherman’s cottage that was fully demolished (apart from the front wall of the house) and rebuilt.
“That was 60 square metres when we started and 144 square metres when we finished. It was located in the middle of Dalkey village, and it was a logistical nightmare getting in and out of site, but we managed to keep everything in order and most importantly to keep the neighbours happy.”
While this might sound extremely unappealing to some, Lee enjoys the challenge of taking on non-standard projects that are labour intensive and / or in awkward locations. “We’re not just standard builders,” he states. “We are attracted to awkward jobs that bring logistical challenges and / or are in a tight situation. For that loft conversion we just finished in Dalkey, the clients had been waiting two years to even get a price on the work given the site constraints. An architect we work with thought it might appeal to me and asked us to have a look at it; we felt that it was something we could accomplish.”
And, true to form, accomplish it LMD Build did!
A hands-on director who likes to give his full attention to every aspect of each project undertaken, so as to ensure a finish of the highest standards, Lee feels that LMD Build are exactly where they want to be and doesn’t envisage any radical changes to the business model going forward:
“I’m not interested in expanding beyond are capabilities and risk compromising on quality,” the down-to-earth Dublin contractor concludes. “We have found our niche and are very comfortable with the work we are doing and the pace we are moving at. We can comfortably take on any project ranging from circa 100k up to 1.5m. As a rule, I don’t like to take on any more than two building projects at once. That’s the best way to make sure the quality doesn’t drop below the high standards we set for ourselves.”
LMD Build,
Ringsend,
Dublin 4.
Tel: 087 1209364
Email: [email protected]
Web: lmdbuild.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, December 2023, Vol 9 No 12
