Garden rooms in Exeterbuilt for use all year round
A dry, comfortable room at the bottom of the garden for working, a hobby or extra living space, without the disruption of building onto the house. Built by carpenters, from the base to the trim.
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
Garden Rooms
More space, without moving house
A garden room is a timber building designed to be used as a proper room, not a shed. That means a solid base, an insulated floor, walls and roof, good doors and windows, and an interior finished to the standard of the rest of your home.
Our garden rooms are for homeowners in Exeter and across Devon who need more space: a home office away from the household, a studio, gym, playroom, or somewhere to relax. They suit gardens where an extension isn't practical or would cost more than you want to spend.
People usually start thinking about a garden room when working from home becomes permanent, when the family outgrows the house, or when they want a dedicated space for a hobby without converting a bedroom.
Building a garden room properly matters because it has to cope with Devon weather all year. Without a good base, ventilation and insulation, timber buildings can suffer damp, condensation and rot, and become too cold in winter and too hot in summer to use.
Why it matters
Why cheap garden buildings disappoint
Many garden buildings are really sheds with a nicer front. Without an insulated floor and walls they're cold in winter and hot in summer. Without a breathable membrane and ventilated cladding, condensation builds up in the walls, and in time the timber starts to rot.
The base is where many problems start. A building on an uneven or poorly drained base will twist, doors will stick and water can sit against the timber. Putting that right usually means taking the building apart.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a building on price without checking the insulation and construction.
- Skimping on the base, or building on ground that holds water.
- Forgetting to plan the electrics before the walls are lined.
- Not checking planning rules on height, size and position.
- Siting the room where it's hard to reach or overshadowed all day.
Our process
How your garden rooms 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.
Usable all year
Insulated floors, walls and roof with proper ventilation make the room comfortable in winter and summer.
Built to last
A proper base, treated timber, breathable membranes and ventilated cladding protect the structure from damp and rot.
Finished like a real room
Interior linings, doors, windows and trim are fitted by carpenters, so it feels like part of your home.
Electrics coordinated
Our trusted electricians handle power and lighting, planned in before the walls are closed up.
12-month guarantee
All our work comes with a 12-month workmanship guarantee. Materials supplied by the client are not covered.
Clear payments
A deposit secures your booking, with stage payments on larger projects. 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 garden rooms 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
How we build garden rooms
Every garden is different, so each garden room is planned around the space, the ground and how you'll use it.
Bases
The base depends on the ground and the size of the building. Options include a concrete slab, ground screws or a timber frame on pads. Whatever is used, it needs to be level, stable and keep the timber clear of the ground and standing water.
Timber frame and insulation
Walls, floor and roof are framed in treated timber and insulated. A breathable membrane on the outside and a vapour control layer on the inside help manage moisture so the frame stays dry.
Cladding and roofing
Cladding can be softwood, thermally modified timber, cedar or composite, fixed over battens to create a ventilated gap. Roofs are commonly flat or shallow mono-pitch, finished with a durable membrane.
Doors, windows and interior
Glazed doors and windows bring in light and air. Inside, walls are usually lined and finished, with skirting, architrave and flooring fitted to the same standard as a room in the house.
Planning considerations
Many garden rooms can be built without planning permission, but it depends on height, size, position and your property. Listed buildings and conservation areas have tighter rules. Always check with your local planning authority; we'll talk it through at the site visit.
Size and layout
Think about how you'll use the room day to day. A home office needs space for a desk, storage and good natural light; a gym needs head height and a strong floor; a relaxing space may benefit from wide glazed doors onto the garden. We'll help you size the room to suit.
Access and position
Where the room sits in the garden affects how easy it is to build and use. Clear access for materials, the path to the house, sunlight through the day and the distance for power are all worth thinking about before you decide.
Looking after it
Timber cladding and doors need occasional maintenance depending on the finish. We'll explain what's needed for the materials you choose so the room keeps looking good.
Related services
Garden Rooms near you
Good to know
Garden Rooms questions, answered.
Can't see your question? Call Jake on 07487 872620 or send an enquiry.
Do I need planning permission for a garden room?
+
Often not, but it depends on the size, height and position of the building and on your property. Check with your local planning authority, especially if you're in a conservation area or your home is listed.
Can I use a garden room in winter?
+
Yes, if it's properly insulated and ventilated. That's how we build them.
Can you add electrics?
+
Yes. Power and lighting are installed by our trusted electricians and planned in before the walls are lined.
What base will my garden room need?
+
It depends on the ground and the building. We'll look at your garden at the site visit and recommend the right base.
Do you build garden rooms outside Exeter?
+
Yes. We work across Exeter, Exmouth, Dawlish, Cullompton, Tiverton, Crediton, Teignmouth, Silverton and Honiton.
How much does garden rooms cost?
+
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?
+
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?
+
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?
+
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?
+
Yes. We hold £2 million public liability insurance.
What if my job is urgent?
+
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 extra room you need, at the bottom of the garden
Tell us how you'd use it. Jake will look at your garden 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