Kitchen fitting in Exeterby a qualified carpenter
Units that sit dead level, doors that line up and worktops joined so you can barely see the seam. One point of contact who coordinates the plumber, electrician and plasterer for you.
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
Kitchen Fitting
Why a carpenter should fit your kitchen
A kitchen is one of the biggest investments you'll make in your home, and most of how it looks and lasts comes down to fitting. Kitchen fitting covers setting out and levelling base and wall units, fixing them securely to the wall, cutting and joining worktops, fitting doors, drawers, end panels, plinths and cornice, and making the whole thing work with the room's walls, floors and services.
Our kitchen fitting service is for homeowners in Exeter and East Devon who are replacing a tired kitchen, redesigning the layout, or fitting a kitchen as part of an extension. You might have already chosen and ordered your kitchen, or you might want to talk through the practicalities before you buy.
Very few rooms are perfectly square or level, especially in older Devon homes. A carpenter-fitter works with that: packing and levelling units, scribing panels to uneven walls and planning where cuts will fall so filler panels look intentional rather than improvised.
Because Jake works with a regular, trusted network of plumbers, electricians, plasterers and decorators, you don't need to find and schedule each trade yourself. You have one point of contact for the whole job.
Why it matters
What goes wrong with badly fitted kitchens
When a kitchen is fitted in a hurry, the problems show quickly: doors that don't line up, drawers that drift open, gaps along the worktop edge and joints that lift when water gets in. Wall units that aren't fixed properly can pull away under the weight of crockery.
Worktop joints are a common failure point. A poorly cut or badly sealed joint on a laminate or timber worktop lets water in, and the core swells. Once that happens the worktop usually needs replacing, which means removing the sink and hob and often damaging tiling.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying an expensive kitchen and choosing the fitter on price alone.
- Not checking the floor and walls for level before the units arrive.
- Leaving plumbing and electrical positions to be worked out on the day.
- Fitting worktops without properly sealing the cut edges and joints.
- Not allowing for filler panels, so the last unit won't fit or the doors clash.
Our process
How your kitchen fitting 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.
Level, square and aligned
Units are packed and levelled before fixing, so doors and drawers line up along the whole run and stay that way.
Clean worktop joints
Joints are cut accurately, and cut edges are sealed to keep water out of the core.
Trades coordinated for you
Plumbing, electrics, plastering and decorating are handled through our regular network, so you have one point of contact.
Less time without a kitchen
Planning the order of trades before starting means less waiting around between stages while you're without a working kitchen.
12-month guarantee
All our work comes with a 12-month workmanship guarantee. Materials or fixtures supplied by the client are not covered.
Clear payments
We take a deposit to secure 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 kitchen fitting 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
Kitchen fitting in detail
Here's what goes into fitting a kitchen properly, and the choices worth thinking about before you start.
Flat-pack, rigid and bespoke kitchens
We fit rigid (ready-assembled) units, flat-pack units from the major suppliers, and more bespoke kitchens. Rigid units are generally quicker and stronger to install; flat-pack can save money but need careful assembly. We'll give you an honest view at the site visit.
Worktops
Laminate worktops need accurate jointing and sealing. Solid timber worktops, such as oak, need oiling and room to move with changes in moisture. Stone and composite worktops are usually templated and fitted by the specialist supplier once the units are installed and level, so getting the base right matters even more.
Doors, panels and finishing
Handleless, shaker and slab doors all need accurate hinge adjustment to line up. End panels, plinths, cornice and pelmets are scribed to walls and floors so the kitchen looks built-in rather than dropped into the room.
Layout changes and services
Moving a sink, hob or appliance usually means moving water, waste, gas or electrical supplies. Our trusted plumbers and electricians handle this, planned in before the units go in so everything lands in the right place.
Kitchens in extensions
If your kitchen is part of an extension, we can manage the build and the kitchen fit together. That means the structure, first fix, plastering and kitchen are all planned by the same team.
Planning before the units arrive
Before the units are delivered we check walls, floors and ceilings for level and square, confirm service positions and plan where filler panels and cuts will fall. That groundwork means fewer surprises on fitting day and a kitchen that lines up along every run.
Old kitchen removal
Stripping out the old kitchen is part of the job. Once it's out we can see the condition of the walls and floor, make any repairs, and deal with things such as uneven plaster or old pipework before the new kitchen goes in.
Related services
Kitchen Fitting near you
Good to know
Kitchen Fitting questions, answered.
Can't see your question? Call Jake on 07487 872620 or send an enquiry.
Can you fit a kitchen I've already bought?
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Yes. We regularly fit kitchens that customers have bought directly. Please note that materials or fixtures supplied by the client are not covered under our workmanship guarantee; our workmanship is.
Do you handle the plumbing and electrics?
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Yes, through our regular network of trusted plumbers and electricians. You deal with Jake as your one point of contact.
Can you fit stone or quartz worktops?
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Stone and quartz worktops are normally templated and fitted by the supplier. We install and level the units so they're ready for templating.
Can you change my kitchen layout?
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Often, yes. Moving units usually means moving services, which we coordinate with our plumbers and electricians. We'll look at what's possible at the site visit.
Do you fit kitchens outside Exeter?
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Yes. We work across Exeter, Exmouth, Dawlish, Cullompton, Tiverton, Crediton, Teignmouth, Silverton and Honiton.
How much does kitchen fitting 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 kitchen that's fitted as well as it's designed
Tell us about your new kitchen. Jake will visit, measure up and give you an accurate quote for the whole job.
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