Carpenter in Exeterfor first and second fix
Doors that close cleanly, floors that don't bounce and trim that meets tight at every corner. Carpentry by a City & Guilds Level 3 qualified carpenter who started on the tools straight from school.
Backed by our 12-month workmanship guarantee
City & Guilds Level 3
Plus a Diploma in Site Carpentry
£2m public liability
Insured while we work
12-month guarantee
On all our workmanship
One point of contact
Small team, trusted regular trades
Carpentry
Why good carpentry matters
Carpentry sits underneath almost every home improvement. First fix covers the structural and hidden work: stud walls, floor joists, noggins, door linings, window boards and roof timbers. Second fix is everything you see and touch once the plastering is done: internal doors, architrave, skirting, staircases, handrails, boxing-in and shelving.
Our carpentry service is for homeowners in Exeter and across Devon who want timberwork that is set out properly from the start. That might be a single set of new internal doors, a full second fix after a renovation, or structural timber for a new opening or partition wall.
You usually need a carpenter when something is being built, changed or replaced: a new room layout, a renovation after buying a house, doors that have dropped or stick, a tired staircase, or skirting and architrave that were never fitted well in the first place.
Professional carpentry matters because timber is unforgiving. A lining that is out of plumb by a few millimetres means a door that swings open on its own. A joist that is notched in the wrong place weakens the floor above. Getting these things right first time costs less than putting them right later, and it is the difference between a room that feels finished and one that always looks slightly off.
Why it matters
What happens when carpentry is rushed
Poor carpentry rarely fails on day one. It shows up over the following months as doors that catch, gaps opening along skirting, squeaking floors and cracks in plaster where a stud wall was never properly fixed. By then the decorating is done, and putting it right means disturbing finished work.
Structural mistakes are more serious. Joists cut or notched in the wrong place, undersized lintels over new openings, or partition walls built without proper fixings can all lead to movement, sagging and cracked ceilings. That kind of repair costs far more than doing it correctly at first fix.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Hanging doors in linings that were never set plumb and square.
- Choosing the cheapest timber and trim, which moves and splits as the house heats up.
- Fitting skirting and architrave before checking the walls and floors for level.
- Notching joists for pipes and cables without considering the load.
- Leaving carpentry to the end of a project as an afterthought rather than planning it in.
Our process
How your carpentry job runs.
- Step 1
Site visit
Jake comes out, sees the job in person and talks through what you want, what's possible and anything that could affect the work.
- Step 2
Individual quote
Every job is different, so it's priced individually. Access, location and the layout and contents of your home all play a part, so you get an accurate quote rather than a guess.
- Step 3
Deposit and booking
A deposit secures your booking. The amount depends on the size and scale of the job.
- Step 4
The work
Our small team carries out the work, coordinating any trusted trades needed. Longer jobs use stage payments as the work progresses.
- Step 5
Completion and guarantee
We finish, check the work with you and hand over. Invoices are sent online and paid by bank transfer, and all our workmanship is guaranteed for 12 months.
What you get
The difference it makes.
Set out right first time
Linings, studs and joists are checked for level and plumb before anything is fixed, so the finished work lines up and stays that way.
Fewer call-backs
Doors that are hung, planed and adjusted properly don't need coming back to. That saves you time and disruption once you've moved back into the room.
Structural knowledge
Jake has built timber frame houses and worked across groundworks and bricklaying, so structural timber is set out with the rest of the build in mind.
One carpenter, start to finish
The same small team handles your first and second fix, so nobody is guessing what the last person did behind the plasterboard.
Guaranteed workmanship
All our work comes with a 12-month workmanship guarantee. Any materials or fixtures supplied by the client are not covered under this guarantee.
Insured
We hold £2 million public liability insurance, so you're protected while we work in your home.
Why JCK
Who'll be doing the work.
JCK Carpentry & Building is run by Jake Killen, a City & Guilds Level 3 qualified carpenter with a Diploma in Site Carpentry. Jake started an apprenticeship straight from school, spending three years on loft conversions, and went self-employed as soon as he qualified. He has since worked as a carpenter in Australia, fitted kitchens, built timber frame houses and worked as a groundworker with a house building company, alongside nearly every other trade on site.
That breadth is why your carpentry project is in good hands. Jake understands how carpentry fits with groundworks, bricklaying, plumbing, electrics and plastering, so he can plan the work in the right order and spot problems before they become expensive.
Jake works with a small team of carpenters and a regular, trusted network of plumbers, electricians, plasterers and decorators. He uses the same subcontractors wherever possible, so the people in your home know each other's work and standards. You have one point of contact from the first site visit to the finished job.
Every job is priced individually after we've seen it in person, insured with £2 million public liability cover, and backed by a 12-month workmanship guarantee. We work across Exeter, Exmouth, Dawlish, Cullompton, Tiverton, Crediton, Teignmouth, Silverton and Honiton, Monday to Saturday.
Read Jake's storyIn detail
Our carpentry work in detail
Carpentry covers a wide range of work. Here's what's involved in the jobs we're asked about most in Exeter and the surrounding towns.
First fix carpentry
First fix is the structural and hidden work done before plastering. It includes stud partition walls in timber, floor joists and trimming around stairwells, noggins for radiators, kitchens and wall-hung units, door linings, window boards and any timber needed for new openings. This is where accuracy counts most, because everything fitted afterwards relies on it.
Second fix carpentry
Second fix is the finishing work after plastering: hanging internal doors, fitting hinges, latches and handles, architrave, skirting, boxing-in pipework, loft hatches and shelving. We scribe skirting to uneven floors and mitre or cope internal corners so joints stay tight rather than opening up as the timber settles.
Internal doors and staircases
We hang solid, hollow-core, glazed and fire doors, and trim existing doors that have dropped or catch on new flooring. For staircases we can replace treads, balustrades, spindles and handrails, or fit a new staircase as part of a renovation or loft conversion.
Materials we work with
Structural work typically uses graded softwood, with engineered joists or timber where the design calls for it. Trim can be softwood, MDF for a smooth paint finish, or hardwood such as oak where you want it on show. We'll talk through the options at the site visit so the choice suits your home and your budget.
Old houses and new builds
Older homes in Exeter often have walls and floors that are far from level, so trim has to be scribed and fitted to the building rather than the other way round. Newer houses bring their own issues, such as settlement in the first few years. We plan for both.
Repairs and alterations
Not every job is new work. We also repair and alter existing carpentry: replacing rotten window boards and skirting, re-fixing loose stair treads, strengthening sagging floors, and forming new openings with the right lintel or trimmer so the structure above is properly supported.
Related services
Carpentry near you
Good to know
Carpentry questions, answered.
Can't see your question? Call Jake on 07487 872620 or send an enquiry.
What's the difference between first fix and second fix carpentry?
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First fix is the structural and hidden timberwork done before plastering, such as stud walls, joists and door linings. Second fix is the visible finishing work afterwards, such as doors, skirting and architrave. We do both.
Can you just hang a few doors, or do you only take on big jobs?
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Get in touch and tell us what you need. Every job is priced individually, so we'll talk it through and let you know how we can help.
Can you fix doors that stick or won't close?
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Usually, yes. Sticking doors are often caused by dropped hinges, a lining that has moved, or new flooring. We'll find the cause rather than just planing the bottom off.
Do you supply the timber and doors?
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We can supply materials or fit ones you've bought. Please note that materials or fixtures supplied by the client are not covered under our workmanship guarantee.
Do you do carpentry outside Exeter?
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Yes. We work across Exeter, Exmouth, Dawlish, Cullompton, Tiverton, Crediton, Teignmouth, Silverton and Honiton.
How much does carpentry cost?
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Every job is different, so we price each one individually after seeing it in person. Things like access, location and the layout of your home all play a part, so we'd rather give you an accurate quote than a guess.
How long will the job take?
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It depends on the scope of the work, access and how much needs moving in the property. We'll talk through the likely timescale when we visit and price the job.
Is the work guaranteed?
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Yes. All our work comes with a 12-month workmanship guarantee. Any materials or fixtures supplied by the client are not covered under this guarantee.
How do payments work?
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We take a deposit to secure your booking, with stage payments on larger projects. All invoices are sent online and paid by bank transfer.
Are you insured?
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Yes. We hold £2 million public liability insurance.
What if my job is urgent?
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Call Jake directly on 07487 872620 (Mon–Sat, 7:30am–7:30pm) and he'll tell you honestly what he can do and when.
Get carpentry that lines up and stays that way
Tell us what you need doing. Jake will come out, see the job in person and give you an accurate quote.
Next step
Ready to talk about
your project?
Get in touch to arrange a free site visit and quote. Jake comes out, sees the job in person and gives you an accurate price, not a guess.
Prefer to talk? Call Jake07487 872620Mon–Sat, 7:30am–7:30pm