Recently featured on the new TG4 series ‘Na Builders’, Warm Home Construction in Ratheniska, Co. Laois has earned an enviable reputation for building beautiful bespoke one-off homes using the game-changing Amvic ICF construction system.
As a pioneer in the field, Warm Home Construction owner Dave Fingleton integrated the Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) system into his services over 20 years ago. This innovative approach has since become the driving force behind his business.
ICF is an increasingly popular method of building construction using lightweight and hollow insulation forms that fit together and are then filled with concrete. Once set, the concrete becomes a high-strength structure and the formwork remains in place as thermal insulation.
A building constructed using the Amvic ICF system will achieve far higher thermal, sound and fire performance standards than traditional construction methods such as block or timber frame, and at a much lower cost for comparable performance than any other building system available today. A house built with Amvic ICF will easily meet the building regulation’s requirements for air-tightness, junction thermal bridging minimisation and U-Value needed for an A3-rated home as standard.
Produced in Naas, Co. Kildare, the Amvic ICF system can be used to construct any kind of building, including residential developments, self-build homes and extensions, basement and earth-sheltered development, commercial units and industrial buildings.
“As a forward-thinking and progressive company, we decided to go down the ICF route in 2004 and haven’t looked back since. We were one of the first in Ireland to embrace ICF,” Dave explains.
“Like many builders, I began my trade as a carpenter. I started building houses using the traditional concrete block system before switching to ICF. Jean-Marc Bouvier, a Canadian builder who was working in my locality, introduced me to the ICF method and to NUDURA products. Even back then, I could see that ICF was the future.
“We used the NUDURA system up until the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 when supply issues arose. Fortunately, we were able to switch to Amvic. We also use a unique ceiling insulation product from NUDURA in Canada which Warmbuild Ltd imports and sells in Ireland along with the NUDURA ICF system.
“With ICF construction, you can build better, more comfortable and energy efficient homes faster. Using an ICF system makes it much more straightforward to achieve a passive standard than traditional concrete block or timber frame systems. It’s less labour intensive and is built by carpenters rather than block-layers. We have carried out up to 100 ICF builds to date and never had any issues with them.”
Warm Home Construction builds stunning, super-insulated, energy efficient homes, extensions and renovations across the midlands. As well as being an expert in ICF, the company has vast experience of renewables, geothermal, air-to-water heat pumps, solar collectors and underfloor heating systems. A turnkey service, including everything down to landscaping, is available for one-off new builds.
“Irrespective of what finish the client wants, they’ll have a structurally solid, air-tight home that will perform well for them. That’s a given,” Dave asserts.
Superior workmanship, attention to detail, value-for-money and a commitment to working closely with clients to deliver total satisfaction are the hallmarks of Warm Home Construction. Health & Safety is also paramount. From concept to completion, Dave and his small, but highly-skilled team are with you every step of the way, ensuring that your new project is built to your specific needs, and that there are no hidden or extra costs involved.
Warm Home Construction’s one-stop shop approach will ensure that the building process is smooth, comfortable and hassle-free. The Co. Laois 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 scores of satisfied clients.
By employing highly-skilled people, working closely with design teams and using only the very best building products, this fully insured contractor is able to deliver the highest quality construction to its clients.
“I only employ the best possible tradesmen, so not only will your new home be structurally sound and cost-effective to heat, it will also be beautifully and professionally finished. I take a hands-on approach and oversee all the trades to make sure all work is carried out to the highest possible standard.”
Dave recently came to national attention when his thriving company featured on the first show of the new TG4 TV series, ‘Na Builders’. With over 160,000 people employed in the construction industry in Ireland, ‘Na Builders’ shines a light on construction workers from across the country as they battle the elements – and occasionally each other! – to get the job done.
The first episode, which aired on March 20 last, showed Dave working on an extension to a pre-existing cottage owned by Florent Villiard in the picturesque Slieve Bloom Mountains. The programme gives a real sense of where we are in building Ireland these days. From bricklayers to electricians, plumbers to roofers, plasterers to carpenters, these hard-working men and women are part of our everyday lives.
As Warm Home Construction continues to go from strength to strength, Dave would like to take this opportunity to thank his customers and suppliers for their continued support as well as his top-class team for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Warm Home Construction
Munny,
Stradbally,
Co. Laois.
Telephone: 085 126 4875
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.warmhomeconstruction.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, Summer 2025, Vol 11 No 7
featured, Warm Home Construction
