CD Hood Ltd specialise in Cambridge loft conversions and are fully versed in necessary structural considerations. New beams will be needed in the roof and in the new floor to take the floor weight and strengthen the roof when the existing rafters are removed. If you live in a terraced or semi-detached house this work will probably require a Party Wall agreement with your neighbours. This refers to walls, ceilings or floors which are shared with other properties.

Planning permission is not always necessary, but as with any extension work, you should check if the work can be done within what is known as, permitted development. If the house hasn’t been extended since 1948 this is likely to be the case, but you must find out in advance. Even if your house has not been extended since 1948, you may be next door to a listed building. In some areas this means you will need permission for any changes which affect the appearance of neighbouring listed properties.

All loft conversions must meet Building Regulations, it is best to submit full plans to your local authority building control department so they can advise on any changes needed before work begins. One of the key areas when adding another storey to a property are the fire precautions required. Upgrading the fire resistance of existing ceilings and doors is usually necessary. Recent changes to Building Regulations require high levels of insulation, which will keep your extension warm in winter and prevent overheating in summer.

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.

The roof over your head is probably the most important part of your home. Many of us would be overwhelmed when confronted with the need for a new roof.  The actual cost of a new roof however is not necessarily as large or as daunting as it might seem. But sometimes the sheer magnitude of other seemingly unrelated repairs or new installations which might be suggested at the time of re-roofing can put people in a spin.

If you think your roof might need a bit of TLC why not get a reputable builder to take a look, and maybe take up some of the most common services your roofer might suggest after having done and inspection. Chances are, when you understand how best to maintain your roof you will be able to stave off any major work and you will understand why it is in your best interest to at least entertain the possibility of smaller works to keep your roof in good health

Leaks are obvious and need immediate attention but without a drama it is easy to forget about your roof and roof space.  When did you last check ventilation up there? If your loft or attic is improperly ventilated near the roof, you leave your home exposed to moisture building up in that area. Not only can this result in structural warping and damage, but it could also be the ultimate cause of black mold.

There are a number of ways in which that area can be ventilated and each system may be determined by the type of roof and attic you have. There may be several solutions to your ventilation problems, so take the time to discuss them with a builder like CD Hood Builders to find the one that suits you in terms of design and cost.