With a proven track record of completing jobs to the highest standard, McGowan Builders’ enthusiasm and pride in their work will ensure that your project receives the attention it deserves. Building Ireland caught up with Managing Director David McGowan.
Based in Batterstown Co Meath, McGowan Builders specialise in creating unique bespoke homes, extensions and renovations. Their portfolio of successfully completed projects also includes various commercial projects, housing schemes, apartment blocks and school refurbishments.
This family-run company was established by Jim and Katherine McGowan in 1977. Fast forward forty-four years and their son, David, is carrying on the proud family tradition. David and his wife Catherine picked up the baton from his parents 10 years ago and are joined in the day-to-day running of the long-established business by Davids brother Ronan and a number of direct employees.
“Growing up I worked summers with the company and really enjoyed it. I joined full time in March 2000 as an apprentice carpenter,” David recalled. “I started my apprenticeship in a joinery shop and came back to the family business when moving onto site work.
“When I started we were working on commercial & housing developments for a number of years before the downturn happened. Once the downturn came we had to adjust our line of work back into the extension and renovations market.
“I took over the business in the middle of the recession. Work was quiet at the time but in some ways it was a good as I was able to learn about all aspects of the business. I was doing everything- including the accounts side of business, and I developed a greater understanding of that side of the company which stands to me well now.”
In the last number of years McGowan Builders has the luxury of concentrating their efforts locally.
“As previously mentioned, during the recession we got back into doing extensions and renovations,” David explained. “A lot of work was in Dublin, all of which was generated by word of mouth. In the last couple of years, however, we’ve got out more around Meath and we are focusing on new builds at the moment.”
How is business going at this point in time? “Great, very busy” he answered without hesitation. “There is a lot of work and thankfully very local, which is great with a young family. At the minute material shortages are creating their own challenges post covid which will hopefully settle down soon.
“We have five projects on the go at the moment and they are all local, all within 10 minutes of each other. I’ve found that once you do a good job you tend to get into an area, you end up doing the neighbours’ house and the friends down the road’s house as well.”
That suggests McGowan Builders are always true to their word when it comes to their commitment to delivering quality finishes on time and on budget.
“Our reputation is built on the high quality of our work,” David stated. “We pride ourselves on our high standards – on very high workmanship, quality work and our attention to detail as well as bringing projects in on budget.
“Our main aim is ensuring that there are no hidden costs when a job is completed. We pride ourselves on honestly. We aim to be competitive with our quotes, but quality of work is always our number one aim. You get a higher standard of work for a better price.”
The County Meath company boasts a long list of repeat clients that vouch for that.
“We are now at the stage where my father would have built a mother and father’s house and in turn I would have done the son or daughters house. All our work is based on word of mouth or recommendations.”
When the conversation turned to the future and the possibility for future expansion, David advocated a cautious approach.
“If we can grow, it is something that we would be very interested in. If we grow we have to be able to maintain the quality of work. It is very hard to plan anything in the current climate. Like everyone else we were severely impacted by Covid-19. We had to shut down for six months last year. However we would be optimistic for the future of the industry and our business.”
McGowan Builders has a long affiliation with trusted partners such CIF, Homebond and SEAI. They are also registered on the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI). If you like what you have read and are interested to find out more about the highly skilled McGowan Builders teams’ much sought-after services, feel free to contact David at the number below.
McGowan Builders
Rathregan
Batterstown
Co.Meath
Tel: 087 8237698
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mcgowanbuilders.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, November 2021, Vol 7 No 11
