In 2025, Laydex Building Solutions marks three decades at the forefront of Ireland’s building products distribution sector – a milestone that reflects a journey defined by ambition, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to its customers and partners.
Founded in 1995 by Ian Woods, the company emerged from a bold decision to leave an established role and build something entirely new. With ten trusted colleagues and the exclusive Irish distribution rights for two respected international brands, Laybond and Index, Laydex was launched with little more than determination, market insight, and a belief in the power of strong partnerships.
The early days were characterised by resourcefulness. Without premises or equipment, the team secured a Tallaght base just three days before opening and began operations with second hand desks and improvised solutions.The challenges intensified and these obstacles only strengthened Laydex’s resolve, pushing the company to diversify rapidly and identify new opportunities across Ireland’s evolving construction landscape.
From its earliest successes in adhesives and polyethylene films to innovative solutions such as Damtec acoustic underlays – anticipating changes in building regulations – Laydex established a reputation for quality, reliability, and adaptability. Expansion into Northern Ireland in 1996, coupled with ventures into flooring, sports surfacing, and other niche markets, further demonstrated the company’s ability to read market trends and respond with agility.
One of the most defining chapters in Laydex’s history came in 2002 with the acquisition of Bond It, a UK-based sealants and adhesives manufacturer facing receivership. In a move that required both commercial courage and strategic vision, Laydex transformed the struggling business into a profitable, well-respected operation over a twelve-year period, before selling it in 2014.
The global financial crisis of 2008 tested the entire construction industry, and Laydex was no exception. Turnover fell sharply as the market contracted. However, careful financial stewardship in previous years enabled the company to weather the downturn, emerge leaner, and refocus on its core strengths – roofing, flooring, and builders merchant supplies.
During these challenging years, Laydex’s ability to support merchants became increasingly important. Merchants were facing uncertain markets and needed reliable suppliers who could guarantee product availability, technical advice, and consistent service. Laydex’s approach of combining an expanding product range with a flexible service model allowed it to strengthen relationships that endure to this day. By offering breadth and continuity, the company became a trusted partner at a time when stability was in short supply.
The product offering that supports merchants today is both wide-ranging and carefully considered. It includes adhesives, cement board, breather membranes, damp proof courses and membranes, ironmongery, door furniture, loft ladders, paints, and composite decking and fencing. Many of these categories are underpinned by exclusive distribution partnerships with leading international and domestic brands, from Bond It adhesives and sealants to Basta and Fortessa door furniture, Rothley ironmongery, Permabase cement board, Corotop membranes, Memtech radon protection systems, Syn-oxide paint, Minka loft ladders, and Teranna outdoor solutions.
This diversity simplifies the purchasing process for a lot of its customers, reducing a large number of potential suppliers into one.
The company’s emphasis on innovation has been central to keeping its product lines relevant. By consistently introducing new solutions that respond to regulatory changes, design trends, and sustainability demands, Laydex ensures that merchants can remain competitive. By identifying these
opportunities early, Laydex ensures that the builders merchants of Ireland are able to keep up with the market’s demands.
Infrastructure has also played a critical role in sustaining this growth. In 2024, Laydex acquired a second warehouse in Dublin’s JFK Industrial Estate, expanding its total capacity to more than 120,000 square feet. This investment provides greater resilience, allowing for higher stock levels, faster turnaround times, and the flexibility to meet seasonal or unexpected surges in demand. For the builders merchant customer base, this means more stock availability, faster deliveries and a more robust supply chain.
Equally important is the company’s commitment to service. Laydex’s sales and support teams work closely with customers to provide not only the right products but also the technical knowledge and practical guidance that underpin their use. Many of these relationships span decades and are rooted in the same values that have guided the business since 1995: integrity, partnership, and resilience. For merchants, this consistency is just as valuable as the products themselves, reinforcing Laydex as a partner rather than simply a supplier.
Today, under the leadership of Peter Woods, son of the founder, Laydex continues to evolve while staying true to its founding principles. Investments in sustainable materials, smarter logistics, and new technologies reflect the company’s ambition to remain at the forefront of the Irish construction sector. At the same time, its focus on service and partnership ensures that the relationships built over thirty years remain central to its success.
As Laydex celebrates its 30th anniversary, the company reflects on a history of overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities and also looks ahead with confidence. The past three decades have been defined by strong relationships – with suppliers, customers, and employees alike – and it is this foundation that will shape its future. For merchants, contractors, and the wider construction community, Laydex represents a story of resilience and partnership. And for the company itself, the next chapter promises to be every bit as ambitious and determined as the one that began in 1995.
