Builders in North Devonwho quote a fixed priceand stay on the job.
Renovations, alterations and general building work delivered by a core team of three plus trusted specialists, with a formal contract, stage payments and a 5-year guarantee.
16 years
hands-on trade experience
£2M
public liability insurance
5-year
workmanship guarantee
Free visit
then a fixed quote
Overview
Construction with Liveliwood Co
What it is
General construction covers the building work between a small repair and a full new build: knocking through walls, structural alterations, renovations, blockwork, groundworks, and the coordination of the trades that follow.
Who it's for
Homeowners in North Devon renovating a house they've bought, reconfiguring a layout that no longer works, or bringing a tired property up to standard, who want one builder responsible for the whole job.
When you need it
When the work is structural, involves more than one trade, needs Building Regulations sign-off, or simply needs a clear plan and a firm price before anything gets taken down.
Why experience matters
Building work is where costs run away if the planning is weak. A free site visit, a fixed quote, and a formal contract with stage payments give you control. With 16 years across most building disciplines, Ashley can see the knock-on effects of a change before they happen.
What happens if it's left
The cost of getting it wrong or putting it off.
Hidden problems discovered mid-job
Opening up walls and floors without a proper survey of what's there leads to surprise costs and delays once work has started.
Unsigned-off work
Structural work without Building Control approval can cause problems when you sell, remortgage or insure the property.
Trades out of sequence
Without one builder coordinating, trades wait on each other, redo each other's work and the programme slips.
Common mistakes we see
- Starting work on a day-rate with no fixed price or written contract.
- Paying large sums up front instead of stage payments tied to progress.
- Skipping Building Control on structural changes to save time.
- Managing multiple separate trades yourself to save money, then losing weeks to scheduling.
Our process
Five clear steps from first visit to guarantee.
Step 1
Free site visit
Ashley visits, looks at the space and listens to what you want. No charge and no obligation.
Step 2
Fixed quote
You receive a fixed price for the agreed scope, so you know the cost before you commit.
Step 3
Planning & Building Control
Where the project needs it, Liveliwood Co assists with or fully manages planning and Building Control.
Step 4
Contract & build
Larger projects run on a formal contract with a deposit and stage payments at agreed milestones. Ashley is involved throughout.
Step 5
Completion & guarantee
The work is finished, checked with you and backed by a 5-year workmanship guarantee.
What you get
Why homeowners choose Liveliwood Co for construction.
Cost certainty
A fixed quote after the free site visit, so you can make decisions with real numbers.
Payments tied to progress
Larger projects run on a formal contract with a deposit and stage payments.
Compliance handled
Help with (or full management of) planning and Building Control.
One accountable team
A core team of three with trusted specialists brought in where needed, coordinated by Ashley.
Protected work
£2M public liability insurance and a 5-year workmanship guarantee.
Joinery under the same roof
The building and the finishing timberwork come from the same team, so the details line up.
In detail
Construction services, materials and methods.
Structural alterations
Removing or altering load-bearing walls with properly specified beams and supports, forming new openings, and making good. Structural work is designed and signed off through the correct routes.
Renovations
Whole-house and room-by-room renovations, including stripping out, re-planning layouts, and rebuilding to a modern standard while keeping the character worth keeping.
Blockwork, brickwork and groundworks
Foundations, walls and the groundwork that underpins extensions, garden structures and new builds, coordinated with specialist trades where required.
Specialist trades
Electrical, plumbing, plastering and other specialist work is carried out by trusted subcontractors, sequenced within the programme rather than left to you.
Working in occupied homes
Most renovation work happens while people are living in the house. Phasing, dust control and keeping essential rooms usable are planned before work begins.
Older North Devon properties
Solid walls, cob, stone and lime construction behave differently from modern cavity walls. Materials and methods are chosen to suit the building, not fight it.
Related services
Construction near you
Available as construction in North Devon, including Barnstaple, Bideford, Ilfracombe, Bude, or contact Ashley.
Who you'll work with
Ashley Cole and a core team of three.
Liveliwood Co is a North Devon carpentry, joinery and building company run by owner Ashley Cole. Ashley started in the construction trade at a young age and has built up 16 years of hands-on experience across most building and woodworking disciplines. When you book construction with Liveliwood Co, that experience comes to your project directly; Ashley is personally involved in every job, from the first site visit to handover.
Ashley works with a core team of three and brings in trusted specialist subcontractors where a job needs them, such as electricians and plumbers. That means you have one point of contact and one company responsible for the result, rather than a list of separate trades to organise and chase.
Because the same business handles both fine joinery and structural building, projects that cross the two (a kitchen inside a new extension, fitted storage in a loft, a garden office with a built-in desk) are planned as one job. The details line up because the people building the structure also make what goes inside it.
What's included as standard
- A free site visit to assess the project and your requirements.
- A fixed quote, so the price is agreed before work starts.
- A formal contract with a deposit and stage payments on larger projects.
- Assistance with, or full management of, planning and Building Control where required.
- £2M public liability insurance on every job.
- A 5-year workmanship guarantee.
- New builds built to industry-standard structural warranties.
- Working hours of Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00.
Before you start
Planning your construction project in North Devon.
Before any building work begins, get clear on what you want to achieve rather than just what you want to remove. Knocking through a wall is a means to an end (better light, a sociable kitchen, a room that works) and understanding the goal leads to better decisions about structure, services and finishes.
Ask early whether the work needs planning permission or Building Control approval. Structural alterations nearly always need Building Control, and some changes need planning as well. Liveliwood Co can assist with or fully manage both, which keeps the paperwork in step with the build.
Budget for the unknowns of older buildings. Solid walls, old timber lintels and historic repairs are common across North Devon. A thorough site visit reduces surprises, and a fixed quote with a formal contract makes it clear how any genuine changes will be handled.
Consider how you'll live while work is under way. Many renovations happen in occupied homes, and phasing the work (keeping a bathroom and somewhere to cook usable, controlling dust, protecting floors) makes a big difference. These arrangements are agreed before work starts.
Finally, look at the whole project, not just the building element. If the renovation will also need new joinery, a kitchen or fitted storage, having one team responsible for both the building and the timberwork means the details are planned together and nothing is left for you to coordinate.
FAQs
Construction questions, answered.
Do I need Building Control for my project?
Structural alterations and many renovations do. This is assessed at the site visit, and Liveliwood Co can assist or fully manage the process.
Will you work while we live in the house?
Often, yes. How the work is phased around you is agreed before it starts.
Who carries out the electrics and plumbing?
Trusted specialist subcontractors, coordinated within the overall programme.
How much does construction cost in North Devon?
Every project is different, so there are no fixed package prices. You get a free site visit followed by a fixed quote for your job, so you know the exact cost before deciding.
How long will the work take?
Timescales depend on the size of the job. The programme is discussed at the site visit and agreed before work starts, so you can plan around it.
How do payments work?
Larger projects run on a formal contract with an initial deposit followed by stage payments at agreed milestones.
Is the work guaranteed and insured?
Yes. Every job carries a 5-year workmanship guarantee, and Liveliwood Co holds £2M public liability insurance.
Which areas do you cover?
North Devon, including Barnstaple, Braunton, Woolacombe, Bude, Bideford, Ilfracombe, Croyde and Saunton.
Can you come out urgently?
Call 07450 059875 during working hours (Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 17:00) to explain the situation and discuss how soon Ashley can visit.
Free site visit
Get a fixed price for your construction project.
Tell us about the job and Ashley will arrange a free visit. You'll get a fixed quote, no obligation.
- 5-year workmanship guarantee
- £2M public liability insurance
- 16 years' hands-on experience
Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 17:00
Contact Ashley directly, or allow the enquiry form to send your project details.