House extensionsin Exeter
More room without moving house, and one person running the whole build. Jake has worked across groundworks, bricklaying and carpentry, so he understands every stage of your extension.
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
Extensions
One point of contact for your whole extension
A house extension adds new space to your home, most often a bigger kitchen-diner, a family room, a bedroom or a utility. Building one involves many stages: groundworks and foundations, walls, the roof structure, windows and doors, first fix carpentry, plumbing and electrics, plastering, second fix and decorating.
Our extension service is for homeowners in Exeter and across Devon who want more space and would rather not manage lots of separate trades themselves. We handle single and two-storey extensions, coordinating our small team and our regular, trusted network of plumbers, electricians, plasterers and decorators.
You usually need an extension when the family has grown, when you want an open-plan kitchen and living space, when you're working from home, or when moving house would cost more and mean leaving an area you like.
Professional management matters because an extension is a sequence of trades that each rely on the last. Delays and mistakes at one stage knock on to the next. Jake's background as a groundworker with a house building company, working alongside nearly every trade, means he can plan and run the job from start to finish.
Why it matters
Where extension projects go wrong
The biggest problems on extensions usually come from poor coordination. When separate trades are booked independently, gaps appear in the programme, nobody takes responsibility for how one stage affects the next, and you end up acting as project manager, often without the knowledge to spot problems early.
Mistakes early in the build are the most expensive. Foundations dug to the wrong depth, a floor level that doesn't match the house, or a roof pitch that doesn't work with the existing roof all cause problems at every stage afterwards.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a builder purely on the lowest price.
- Managing several trades yourself without a clear programme.
- Starting without approved drawings or the right permissions in place.
- Not thinking about how the new space will join the existing house.
- Leaving decisions on kitchens, flooring and finishes until the last minute.
Our process
How your extensions 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.
One point of contact
You deal with Jake throughout. He coordinates the team and trusted trades, so you're not chasing people.
Whole-build experience
Experience in groundworks, bricklaying and carpentry means the whole build is understood, not just one trade.
Consistent, trusted trades
Jake uses the same subcontractors wherever possible, so the team knows each other's work and standards.
Carpenter-quality finish
Roof structure, first and second fix and any built-in furniture are carried out by qualified carpenters.
12-month guarantee
All our work comes with a 12-month workmanship guarantee. Materials or fixtures supplied by the client are not covered.
Stage payments
A deposit secures your booking, with stage payments as the work progresses. Invoices are sent online and paid by bank transfer.
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 extensions 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
Extension types and how they're built
Every extension is different, but most follow the same main stages. Here's what's involved.
Single-storey extensions
Rear, side-return and wraparound extensions are the most common way to create a larger kitchen-diner or family room. They're often finished with a flat roof and roof lanterns, or a pitched roof that ties in with the house.
Two-storey extensions
Building up as well as out can add bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs with living space below. It's a bigger project, with more structural work and usually more involved design and approval.
Groundworks and structure
Every extension starts with foundations suited to the ground and the design, then the walls, floor and roof. The roof may be a traditional cut roof or trusses, set out to match the approved drawings.
Permissions and regulations
Some extensions fall within permitted development, while others need planning permission. Almost all need Building Regulations approval. We work to your approved drawings; check with your local planning authority and an architect or designer early on.
Fitting out
Once the shell is weathertight, the fit-out begins: first fix carpentry, plumbing and electrics, plastering, then second fix, flooring, kitchen or bathroom fitting and decorating, all coordinated by the same team.
Joining the old and new
The point where the extension meets the house needs careful detailing: floor levels, the opening between old and new, the roof junction and the finishes. Getting this right is what makes an extension feel like part of the house rather than an add-on.
Choosing finishes
Kitchens, flooring, doors and windows all need choosing before the relevant stage of the build. We'll talk you through when each decision is needed so the work keeps moving.
Living with the build
Building work affects daily life. We'll talk through access, noise, dust and which rooms will be affected at each stage, so you know what to expect.
Related services
Extensions near you
Good to know
Extensions questions, answered.
Can't see your question? Call Jake on 07487 872620 or send an enquiry.
Do I need planning permission for an extension?
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It depends on the size and position of the extension and your property. Some fall under permitted development. Check with your local planning authority or your architect before starting.
Do you draw up plans?
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We build to approved drawings. If you don't have them yet, talk to us and we can discuss how to get started.
Can I stay in the house during the build?
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Often, yes, particularly in the early stages. We'll talk through how the work will affect you at the site visit.
Who manages the other trades?
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Jake does. He coordinates plumbers, electricians, plasterers and decorators from his regular network, so you have one point of contact.
Do you build extensions outside Exeter?
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Yes. We work across Exeter, Exmouth, Dawlish, Cullompton, Tiverton, Crediton, Teignmouth, Silverton and Honiton.
How much does extensions 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 the space you need, with one person running the build
Tell us about your plans. Jake will visit, look at the site 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