FENLAND’S ever-growing business park is a “spectacular, recession-beating success”, according to the leader of the district council Alan Melton. Recently the FDC leader Alan Melton at the South Fens Business Centre at Chatteris officially cut the ribbon to open their new extension.

The £730,000 extension already has two of its eight business units filled and there is interest in the remaining space. “In times of economic recession, this has been a spectacular success and we intend to build on it,” Cllr Melton said. “I am so proud of it. It shows that the public sector working with the private sector can really achieve something. “I feel completely vindicated that we have invested this sort of money and now we plan to start thinking about phases 4 and 5.”

The Fenland District Council leader said the enterprise park provided the support needed for small and medium-sized business in Fenland but would also help service sector work. Prodir, a promotional merchandise company, was one of the first to move into the extension.  Office and accounts manager Wendy Jones said: “It’s quite exciting. It’s nice going to a new building. We needed the warehouse space so this place is brilliant.“ Malcolm Lyons of the Federation of Small Businesses in Fenland said: “Cambridge is stuffed full of business and it’s time that started to expand up here.”

Experience Cambridgeshire commercial builders CD Hood Ltd are here to help any small to medium sized business with extensions or refurbishments.

Another leading renewable energy solution is the Aeromax Plus Air Source Heat Pump. “Specifically designed for use in UK housing applications in Northern European climates, these highly efficient heat pumps can supply up to 100 percent of Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water all year round and can extract heat from temperatures as low as -20ËšC.
 
It’s part of Kingspan’s Ultimate Air Source Heat Pump package.It is custom-made to suit the needs of each application, this unique package is suitable for both new build and refurbishment projects. CD Hood Ltd are experts in incorporating old and new technology into refurbishment or new builds in Cambridgeshire.

The pump collects and utilises thermal energy from the outside air to heat the home and provide Domestic Hot Water, ensuring the desired temperature is reached quickly and maintained without fluctuations. The range is available in three outputs (6kW, 8kW and 12kW) to suit individual requirements, and operates to optimum performance all-year-round, providing water temperature up to 60ËšC for both radiator and Domestic Hot Water applications.
 
Cameron Holroyd, Kingspan Renewables managing director says: “With almost 30 percent of the UK’s man-made COâ‚‚ emissions originating from the home, the brand new Aeromax Plus Air Source Heat Pump is part of a wider commitment to providing an environmentally friendly solution for future generations. Aeromax Plus heat pumps are an efficient and sustainable alternative energy source. They have low running costs and can reduce energy costs by as much as 50 percent.” Experienced Cambridgeshire builders CD Hood Ltd are happy to work with technology.

If you are trying to plan a staircase to go up into a loft conversion experience Cambridge loft conversion specialists CD Hood Ltd know that the best place to start is in the loft itself this is because you are usually limited to where you can exit the staircase in the loft space due to the head room.

Care needs to be taken as to where you are planning to put your staircase especially when going into loft you need to make sure you stair well opening is big enough at both the top and the bottom. You will also need to consider if you want any door closing off the loft space at the top or the bottom of the stairs. 

If you have a door opening in to the space at the bottom of the staircase you need to be 400mm of space so the door can open.


In many instances of loft conversion experienced Cambridge loft convertors CD Hood Ltd have found that a straight flight of stairs will not fit.  When it comes to corners in stairs you have a number of options the simplest option is a 90º quarter turn landing for this you only need to allow the width of the staircase, the next option is a 3Nº tread kite winder for this you need to allow approximately 900 x 900mm for a standard width staircase (860mm) in the corner, depending on your going and the width of your staircase the size of a 3Nº tread winder changes, a good guide for the minimum size is 750 x 750mm for a 600mm wide staircase, the next option is a 4º tread winder for this you need to allow approximately 960 x 960mm on a standard 860mm wide staircase, again depending on your going and the width of the staircase this size will change. CD Hood Ltd are happy to make sure all the measurements a right for your loft conversion.

One of the trickiest parts of any loft conversion is getting the stairs right. CDHood Ltd who are experienced builders and specialise in Cambridge Loft Conversions know that getting the stairs right is vital to extending your home into the loft.

The first thing to focus on is the layout of the staircase and the size of the staircase. Will it take up and the size of the stairwell or indeed have you got enough room for the required stair case? More often than not space is a problem but one that CD Hood Ltd can help you solve.

The first thing to do when planning for new staircase is to figure out the total rise, this is the measurement from finished floor to finished floor level. Once you have established the rise the next step is to establish the number of risers required for this particular staircase, for a domestic staircase the individual step rise must be no more than 220mm to stay within building regulations.

The height of a riser on a standard staircase is 200mm so ideally you should be looking to get as close to this as possible.(Eg :- 2600mm Total Rise (floor to floor) divided by 13 would equal 200mm, equalling 13Nº risers.) When you know the number of risers required you automatically know the number of treads required, you require one less tread than the number of risers. Eg :- 13Nº risers 12Nº treads. The top tread is only a nosing that attaches to the Trimmer Joist at the top of the staircase. Too much jargon wells it’s good to know what you are investing in but CD Hood Ltd can take care of all your Cambridge loft conversion requirements starting with the stairs.

Experienced Cambridge loft converters CD Hood Ltd know that provided there is sufficient headroom, most lofts can be converted into a useful living space. The main thing you need to think about is what type of loft conversion you want, where the stairs will go and what changes may be needed to the plumbing system. 

Professional loft conversions from CD Hood Ltd recognise that  most roofs can be converted into  stylish loft conversion, from the traditional rafter and purlin to the modern trussed roof. Generally the older type of roof is easier to convert as it has a steep pitch that gives the headroom required. Most houses built before the 1960s will have the traditional rafter and purlin design.  As a general rule the headroom you need will be a minimum height of 2.3 metres across around half of the floor area to make a conversion worthwhile. There isn't much point having an extra room if you can't stand up in it!

An important consideration is where the stairs for the new loft conversion will go. There are all sorts of interesting and creative possibilities when it comes to creating access to your new loft conversion, sometimes there is simply enough room for normal stairs to continue up, sometimes a spiral staircase can work, it is even possible to shave a bit of space from the corner of  the master bedroom to make room for the stairs.  To access your loft Cambridge, loft conversion CD Hood Ltd are happy to look at all the possibilities.