Cut and truss roofsin Exeter
A roof structure that's true, strong and ready for the roofer. Built by a carpenter who has worked on timber frame houses and understands the whole build below it.
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
Cut & Truss Roofs
The roof structure is the frame everything else sits on
Roof carpentry is the timber structure of a roof: wall plates, rafters, ridge, hips, valleys, purlins, ceiling joists and bracing, or engineered trusses where the design calls for them. Once the carpentry is done, the roofer adds the membrane, battens and tiles or slates.
Our roofing carpentry service is for homeowners and projects in Exeter and across Devon that need a new roof structure. That's most often on extensions, garages, garden buildings, dormers and loft conversions, or where an existing roof structure needs rebuilding.
You need it when a new roof is being built, when a roof shape is changing, such as a hip-to-gable loft conversion, or when an old roof structure has sagged or been damaged.
Getting the roof structure right matters because every error is magnified at the top. A rafter cut at the wrong angle, a ridge that isn't straight, or a wall plate that isn't level shows up in the finished roofline and can cause problems with tiles, flashings and water run-off for years.
Why it matters
What happens when a roof structure isn't right
A roof that isn't set out accurately can have a visible dip in the ridge, uneven tile courses, or valleys that don't meet cleanly. Poorly braced or undersized timbers can deflect over time, which puts stress on the walls below and can lead to leaks where the roof covering no longer sits as designed.
Structural roof work usually needs to follow approved drawings and Building Regulations. Changing a design on site, cutting trusses to make room in a loft, or missing out bracing can mean failing an inspection and paying to put it right.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Cutting or altering trusses to create loft storage without an engineer's design.
- Building off a wall plate that isn't level or properly secured.
- Missing out bracing and restraint straps.
- Choosing timber sizes by guesswork rather than the approved design.
- Treating the roof as the roofer's job alone, without a carpenter setting it out.
Our process
How your cut & truss roofs 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.
An accurate roofline
Rafters, hips and valleys are set out carefully so the finished roof looks straight and the covering sits as it should.
Built to the design
We work to your approved drawings and engineer's details, which helps the job pass inspection first time.
Whole-build understanding
Jake has built timber frame houses and worked in groundworks and bricklaying, so the roof is built with the walls and structure below in mind.
Coordinated with the roofer
The structure is ready for the roof covering, with the trades lined up through one point of contact.
12-month guarantee
All our work comes with a 12-month workmanship guarantee. Materials supplied by the client are not covered.
Insured
£2 million public liability insurance for work at your property.
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 cut & truss roofs 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
Cut roofs, trusses and roof types
Both cut roofs and trussed roofs have their place. Here's how they differ and where each is used.
Traditional cut roofs
A cut roof is built on site from individual timbers: rafters, ridge, purlins, hips and valleys, each cut to fit. It's the traditional way of building a roof and leaves open space in the roof, which makes it well suited to rooms in the roof, vaulted ceilings and complicated shapes.
Trussed roofs
Trusses are engineered, factory-made triangular frames that are lifted into place and fixed at set spacings with bracing. They're quick to install and economical for simple spans, but the webs take up space inside the roof, and trusses must never be cut or altered without an engineer's design.
Roof shapes we build
Common shapes include gable, hipped, lean-to and flat roofs, as well as dormers. The shape affects the timber layout, the amount of cutting and how the roof meets existing walls and roofs.
Extensions and garden buildings
Most of our roof work is part of a bigger project, such as a single-storey extension, a garage or a garden room. Building the roof as part of the same job means the structure, first fix and finishing are all planned by the same team.
Timber and fixings
Roof timbers are typically treated, strength-graded softwood, sized to the design. Restraint straps, hangers and bracing are fitted as specified to tie the roof to the walls and keep it rigid.
Working with existing roofs
Where a new roof meets an existing one, such as on an extension or dormer, the new timbers have to line up with the old roof and walls, which are rarely perfectly straight. We set out from the existing building so valleys, hips and flashings meet cleanly.
Roof repairs and rebuilds
Older roofs can suffer from sagging rafters, failed purlins or rot where water has got in. Depending on the condition, timbers can be strengthened, replaced in sections or the structure rebuilt.
Related services
Cut & Truss Roofs near you
Good to know
Cut & Truss Roofs questions, answered.
Can't see your question? Call Jake on 07487 872620 or send an enquiry.
What's the difference between a cut roof and a truss roof?
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A cut roof is built on site from individual timbers and leaves open space in the roof. A truss roof uses factory-made frames that are quicker to fit for simple spans but take up more room in the loft.
Do I need Building Regulations approval for a new roof?
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New roofs on extensions and structural roof changes normally do. We work to your approved drawings and engineer's details.
Can you alter my existing trusses to make loft space?
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Trusses should never be cut or altered without an engineer's design. If you want to use your loft, we can talk through the options, including a loft conversion.
Do you do the tiling as well?
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We build the roof structure and coordinate the rest of the job through our network of trusted trades, so you have one point of contact.
Do you build roofs outside Exeter?
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Yes. We work across Exeter, Exmouth, Dawlish, Cullompton, Tiverton, Crediton, Teignmouth, Silverton and Honiton.
How much does cut & truss roofs 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 a roof structure that's built right from the plate up
Send us your plans or tell us about the project. Jake will visit 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