Serving Torbay · Building across South Devon jbcarpentryandbuilding@yahoo.com07511 309544 AboutServices Areas Our WorkReviewsContact07511 309544Get Your Plans Priced - Home - Areas We Cover - Builders in Totnes # Builders in TotnesLed by Jake Brown Period homes and rural plots need a builder who understands old structures. We build your approved plans in Totnes with the groundwork and structure done properly. Get Your Plans Priced, Free - Director: 18 years' trade experience - 11+ years trading in South Devon - 1-year indemnity-backed guarantee - Public liability insured - City & Guilds bricklaying & carpentry ## Building in Totnes, with care for what's already there We serve Totnes from our Torbay base. Older properties may need careful structural assessment before an extension, alteration or refurbishment. We work in Totnes itself and the surrounding area: Bridgetown, Dartington, Berry Pomeroy, Harberton, Ashprington, Staverton and the villages along the Dart valley. Our services include extensions, structural alterations, barn conversions and underpinning. Send your drawings to discuss the work needed for your property. Director Jake Brown is City & Guilds qualified in bricklaying and carpentry, two of the trades that matter most when working on traditional buildings. ## Totnes's period and rural buildings The town centre is full of historic buildings, many listed, with narrow frontages, deep plots and steep streets. Beyond the centre are Victorian and Edwardian homes, later estates in Bridgetown and the outskirts, and a wide ring of farmhouses, cottages and agricultural buildings. Some older properties may have stone or solid masonry walls. The materials, moisture behaviour and structural condition should be assessed individually. ### Building work for Totnes properties - Extensions to period and Victorian homes - Barn conversions on Dart valley farms - Structural alterations in older layouts - Underpinning where old foundations have moved - Septic tanks for rural properties ## Our services in Totnes We offer the services below across our South Devon service area. Contact us to discuss the scope for your property in Totnes. Our core team handles groundworks, brickwork, blockwork and structural carpentry, with specialist trades managed through the company. ### House Extensions in Totnes Extensions that tie properly into older Totnes homes, from foundations to roof. View house extensions ### Barn Conversions in Totnes Structural repair and shell construction for barns and outbuildings around Totnes. View barn conversions ### Underpinning in Totnes Foundation strengthening for older homes showing signs of movement. View underpinning ### Structural Alterations in Totnes Steels and wall removals carried out safely in period buildings. View structural alterations ### Basement Conversions in Totnes Turn a damp, unused cellar into dry, usable space. We carry out the structural conversion and waterproofing to the system specified for your project. View basement conversions ### Refurbishments in Totnes Bring a tired or neglected property back to life. We tackle the structural upgrades first, then manage the trades through to the finish you want. View refurbishments ### Flat Roofing in Totnes A flat roof that keeps the weather out. As approved rubber roofing installers, we fit rubber membranes on properly built decks for extensions, garages and replacements. View flat roofing ### Septic Tank Installation in Totnes Reliable drainage for properties off the mains. We prepare the ground, excavate and install your tank to the agreed drainage design and installation requirements. View septic tank installation ### Driveways in Totnes Driveway excavation, sub-bases and surfacing. We prepare the ground and build to the agreed levels, drainage design and surface specification. View driveways ### Landscaping in Totnes Make a sloping or awkward garden usable. We re-shape levels, build retaining walls, patios and steps on solid foundations to the agreed design for your site. View landscaping ## Why choose us in Totnes ### Local base We're based at 156 Newton Road, Torquay; within our South Devon service area. ### Director’s trade experience Director Jake Brown is City & Guilds qualified in bricklaying and carpentry, with 18 years of trade experience. ### 11+ years trading The company has been building across South Devon for over 11 years. ### In-house structural team Groundworks, brickwork, blockwork, structural carpentry and underpinning are handled by our own core team. ### Building Control liaison We work alongside client architects and engineers and can liaise with Building Control officers on site where needed. ### Guaranteed and insured 1-year indemnity-backed workmanship guarantee, plus business and public liability insurance. ## Building issues common in Totnes Older structures, access constraints and ground conditions can influence a project. ### Shallow historic foundations Older buildings often sit on minimal footings, so new loads and openings may need underpinning or careful design. ### Solid walls and damp Traditional masonry needs detailing that lets moisture escape. The wrong materials can trap damp. ### Tight town-centre access Narrow, steep streets make deliveries and plant access a planning exercise, not an afterthought. ### Low-lying river ground Areas close to the Dart can have softer, wetter ground, affecting foundations and drainage. ## Building in Totnes: what to know ### Planning and consents in Totnes Listed-building consent, planning permission and Building Regulations requirements depend on the property and proposed work. Your architect should confirm the relevant approvals and any conservation restrictions. We build to the project drawings and can liaise with Building Control officers where needed. ### Working with old masonry Totnes's older buildings are typically built in local stone or rendered solid masonry. These walls behave differently from modern cavity walls: they move, breathe and manage moisture in their own way. When we extend or alter them, the junction between old and new needs careful detailing, and openings need properly sized lintels or steels with sound bearings. Director Jake Brown’s City & Guilds qualifications in bricklaying and carpentry is directly relevant to this kind of work. ### Dartington, Bridgetown and the Dart valley Beyond the historic centre, Bridgetown and the outskirts have later homes that suit conventional extensions, while Dartington, Berry Pomeroy, Harberton and Ashprington bring farmhouses, cottages and barns. Rural plots often need septic tanks, longer drainage runs and better access, all of which our groundworks team handles. Totnes is within our South Devon service area. ### Flood risk and river ground Parts of Totnes and Bridgetown sit close to the River Dart, where the ground can be softer and wetter and some areas carry flood risk. On these sites, foundation design, floor levels and drainage need extra thought, and your architect or engineer may specify particular measures. We follow those designs closely and raise anything unexpected found during excavation straight away, so decisions are made properly rather than improvised on site. ## How we work in Totnes - Step 1 ### Send your plans Share your drawings for your Totnes property, plus any structural calculations. - Step 2 ### Free site visit We visit the site in Totnes to check access, ground conditions and how you'd like it finished. - Step 3 ### Clear written price You get a written quote for the work, with any fit-out priced separately if you want it. - Step 4 ### Managed build Groundworks, shell and specialist trades coordinated, with Building Control liaison where needed. - Step 5 ### Completion and guarantee Handover of the finished work, covered by our 1-year indemnity-backed workmanship guarantee. ## Building in Totnes: common questions ### Do you serve Totnes? Yes. We serve Totnes from our base at 156 Newton Road, Torquay. ### How quickly can you get to Totnes for a site visit? Call Jake or send your drawings to arrange a free site visit in Totnes. Timing depends on availability. Our hours are Monday to Saturday, 6:30am to 6:00pm. ### How much does building work cost in Totnes? Every project is priced from its own drawings, ground conditions and access, so there's no fixed rate. Site visits and quotes are free, and you'll receive a clear written price before any work starts. ### Do you offer emergency call-outs in Totnes? Contact Jake to discuss project availability in Totnes. If a structure appears unsafe, seek urgent advice from a qualified structural engineer or the appropriate emergency service. ### Is the work guaranteed and insured? All completed work is covered by a 1-year indemnity-backed workmanship guarantee, and the company holds business and public liability insurance. ### Do you work on listed buildings in Totnes? We build to the approved drawings and any consent conditions set out for the building. Your architect will confirm what consents apply. ### Do you cover Dartington and the Dart valley villages? Yes, including Dartington, Berry Pomeroy, Harberton, Ashprington and Staverton. ### Can you convert a barn near Totnes? Yes. Barn conversions are a core service, from groundworks and structural repair to the finished shell. ### Do you work in Totnes town centre where access is tight? Yes. We plan deliveries, skips and plant around the narrow, steep streets, and build access into the programme and the quote. ### Can you open up the layout of an older Totnes house? Yes. We carry out wall removals and install steels to your engineer's design, with temporary support throughout. ### Nearby areas we cover - Dartmouth - Paignton - South HamsBack to the homepage or contact us. ## Building in Totnes?Get your plans priced. Free site visit and a clear written quote. Director Jake Brown brings 18 years of trade experience. All completed work carries a 1-year indemnity-backed workmanship guarantee. Get Your Plans Priced, Free +44 7511 309544 JB Carpentry and Building Ltd Groundworks and structural building specialists serving Torbay and South Devon. Contact 156 Newton Road, Torquay, Devon +44 7511 309544jbcarpentryandbuilding@yahoo.comMon–Sat, 6:30am – 6:00pm Pages AboutServicesAreasOur WorkReviewsContactPrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsCookie PolicyCookie settings Services House Extensions TorbayBarn Conversions TorbayBasement Conversions TorbayUnderpinning TorbayStructural Alterations TorbayRefurbishments TorbayFlat Roofing TorbaySeptic Tank Installation TorbayDriveways TorbayLandscaping TorbayAll building services Areas Torbay: Torquay, Paignton and Brixham Builders in TorquayBuilders in PaigntonBuilders in TotnesBuilders in DartmouthBuilders in KingsbridgeBuilders in SalcombeBuilders in South HamsBuilders in TeignbridgeBuilders in South DevonAll areas we cover © 2026 JB Carpentry and Building Ltd. 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